This article ran in the Nov. 25, 1996 issue of the State Press
TUCSON -If the UofA defense put up as much of a fight as
Arizona Stadium's goal posts, maybe ASU's 56-14 dismantling of
the Wildcats would not have been one for the record books.
The goal posts stood, the UofA defense didn't and the Sun
Devils made this a historic victory.
"I'll never forget this game," senior wide receiver Keith
Poole said after hauling in four catches for 123 yards and two
scores.
Poole, along with senior quarterback Jake Plummer and
junior tailback Terry Battle all etched their names into the Sun
Devil record books with their performances against the Wildcats.
Plummer had another solid game, completing 10 of 19
passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
The three touchdown passes tied him with Danny White for
the most career touchdown passes with 64. The Snake padded all
his other all-time marks in yards passing (8,626), completions
(613), attempts (1,107) and starts (39).
Battle, who has started only five games, went over the
1,000-yard mark for the season and scored his 20th touchdown.
Eighteen of the tds have come running the ball. That ties
the record of Woody Green, who did it in 12 games in 1972.
Battle's 1,043 yards ranks 13th all-time at ASU, and he
became the first Sun Devil tailback to rush for 1,000 since Mario
Bates (1,111) in 1993.
The tailback had been on a mission to get those numbers
against the Wildcats. During the week prior to the game Battle said
he heard rumblings from Tucson that UofA would stop him cold.
"Like I said during the week, we knew Arizona couldn't
stop the run," he said. "We just kept pounding and pounding it at
them. We knew that they would crack. It was great (setting the
record) here."
Offensive tackle Kyle Murphy said the offensive line made
it a goal for the Sun Devils to run all over the Wildcats. In last
years game, ASU gained only one yard on the ground in the second
half.
"(Offensive coordinator/ line) coach (Dan) Cozzetto
challenged us," Murphy said. "We did not play well at all last year
in the fourth quarter. It was the offensive line's fault. As a line we
are proud of Terry Battle getting 1,000 yards."
UofA coach Dick Tomey said the play of the Sun Devils'
linemen was key.
"The offensive line (was good)," he said. "They won the
war up front. That's where you win football games."
Poole, whose third-quarter one-handed grab could be the
highlight of the year, got the team's last record by tying Doug
Allen (1981-84) with his 25th career touchdown reception on a 40-
yard bomb from Plummer four plays later.
The senior wideout also is third all-time in receiving yards
(2,261), only 33 behind second-place Aaron Cox (1984-87). His
139 career catches placed him fourth.
On the record setting performances of himself and his
teammates, Poole said he loved every minute of it.
"It was awesome," he said. "That's great (all the records). It
just makes it sweeter to do it all here."
