The Motel 6 Cactus Bowl was filled with big plays and lead changes all night long, but the West Virginia Mountaineers were victorious in the team’s final game of the season.
The Sun Devils, who had dropped four of their last six coming into the Cactus Bowl, had the lead at multiple points in the game. At the end, it was WVU that was able to capitalize on big plays and use ASU’s mistakes to its advantage.
A slow first quarter ended with WVU leading 6-3 after WVU quarterback Skyler Howard hit Ka'Raun White with a 53-yard pass, White's career-long. ASU's points came off an Salamo Fiso's first interception of the season.
The Sun Devils took their first lead of the game in the second quarter after senior redshirt wide receiver Devin Lucien finished a 40-yard drive with a touchdown to take a 10-9 lead.
Lucien recorded 116 receiving yards on seven catches in the first half. He broke 1,000 yards in the season. It's the third straight year that ASU has a 1,000 yard receiver (Jaelen Strong was the other in both years).
WVU answered back, taking a 16-10 lead on an 80-yard drive. After a Sun Devil drive to the WVU one yard line got them only a field goal, the Mountaineers secured a second touchdown.
WVU scored to take a 22-13 lead, but the kick was block and redshirt junior wide receiver Time White returned it for a defensive PAT.
ASU received the kickoff and drove down field for a field goal, bringing the score to 22-18 at half. WVU led.
The second half was defined by lead changes and clutch moments. Redshirt senior quarterback Mike Bercovici capitalized on the first possession with a 40-yard pass to White, and then a two-yard touchdown pass to the same receiver.
WVU followed with a 64-yard touchdown pass to cap a 75-yard drive. White answered with another touchdown minutes later, giving ASU a 32-29 lead.
WVU answered with another touchdown, but freshman defensive back Kareem Orr intercepted a pass on WVU's next possession to help ASU hit a field goal.
Senior wide receiver Gary Chambers broke through the defense to score a 58-yard touchdown and give ASU a 42-36 lead. Todd Graham’s decision not to try for two points after the touchdown came back to haunt ASU, as a WVU touchdown with about two minutes left in the fourth quarter gave the Mountaineers a 43-42 lead.
ASU failed to score beyond that, allowing West Virginia to secure a Cactus Bowl victory.
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