Check out a slideshow from the Sun Devils exciting overtime win over the Tigers!
Arizona may be a top vacation destination for some; the Missouri Tigers, however, will be content to avoid the state for the foreseeable future as their last two losses have come in Sun Devil Stadium.The No. 21 Tigers (1-1) lost to Iowa 27-24 in the Insight Bowl, and then lost a 37-30 heartbreaker to the ASU Sun Devils (2-0) Saturday night in overtime.
“It’s been a tough stadium, I don’t think I’m going to come back here,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.
Junior wide receiver T.J. Moe echoed the coach’s comments, but did admit that Saturday’s atmosphere was exciting.
“It’s a good place to play,” Moe said. “This isn’t my favorite stadium in the world.”
Sun Devils stadium appears to have the Tigers’ number, but the penalties, something ASU is accustomed to, are what caught Pinkel’s attention.
“It’s the most penalized game I’ve ever seen,” Pinkel said. “I’m just frustrated. We’ve got to be a more disciplined football team.”
The Tigers committed 11 penalties for 114 yards.
Yellow flags littering the field may have been the most glaring mistakes, but the usually reliable Tiger defense gave up 492 yards, including five plays of 20 or more yards.
“They made some plays downfield,” Pinkel said. “Good defenses can’t give up big plays. Can’t do it.”
While there are certainly things to improve upon and more plays to be made, the Tigers were fond of their offensive effort, especially their 14 point fourth quarter comeback.
“We were right there,” senior wide receiver Wes Kemp said. “We fought back in a hostile environment, came down to overtime, but we couldn’t punch it in.”
Despite the loss, the coach saw some things he was proud of.
“It was a battle out there,” Pinkel said. “It was a war. My guys battled back in a really really tough environment and (we) put ourselves in a position to win it.”
The 14 point fourth quarter comeback and 501 yard offensive performance can largely be credited to the play of sophomore quarterback James Franklin, who was making his first career road start.
“For a second (game) starter in this environment, to play like that I think this guy is going to be pretty special,” Pinkel said. “The first thing (ASU coach Dennis Erickson) said to me is ‘That guy is going to be really good.’ It’s exciting to know that.”
Franklin threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 94 yards on the ground.
“He is a warrior,” sophomore running back Henry Josey said. “He played his heart out. He was a little banged up and he just kept going and kept fighting for us.”
While his poise was on display at several points in the game, most notably during a three yard touchdown pass to tie the game on fourth down, Franklin is still young and just tapping into his potential.
“He’s always poised,” Pinkel said. “The guy’s got a chance to be a great player.”
Reach the reporter at william.boor@asu.edu
