A win in the Territorial Cup would go a long way towards erasing the memories of the 2011 UA football team’s season.
“It’d be huge,” UA coach Tim Kish said of the importance of winning this weekend’s game. “It really doesn’t matter what the records are (or) what the situations are year in and year out. Beating your rival, for us ASU, is the key game each year. It would mean a lot.”
Although the Wildcats (2-8, 1-7 Pac-12) will be motivated to defeat their rival Sun Devils (6-4, 4-3), UA will limp into this weekend’s contest with a three-game losing streak and four defensive linemen on the injury report.
UA would like to put the losses in the past and begin a new chapter this weekend, but Kish cannot ignore the lack of effort and performance that has plagued the team in recent weeks.
“We’re just going to play the guys that prepare the hardest and practice the hardest this week,” Kish said. “Definitely want to make some moves. We’re probably going to make a few changes. We want to get the best 11 on the field.”
Kish believes there are players on his team with a lot of heart, but does not feel everyone is as committed as they should be heading into an important game and mentioned he does not sense a competitive nature “across the board.”
However, rivalry games are always intense and have the ability to revitalize and refocus any team, even one with only two wins on the season.
“The seniors can go out winning three out of four (versus ASU) and that should be important to them,” Kish said. “It should be as important as any game we play this year. Bragging rights in state, no doubt about that. That’s something we feel strongly about.”
For UA to have success against ASU, they will need strong performances on both sides of the football. UA’s defense has struggled all year as they rank No. 110 in the nation in points allowed at just over 36 per game. But, the offense, led by senior quarterback Nick Foles is clearly the strength of the team.
This season, Foles has completed 69 percent of his passes and thrown 23 touchdown passes. The Wildcats currently rank No. 4 in the country in passing offense with just over 368 yards per game.
Foles, who has 16 career 300-yard games, will throw to senior wide receiver Juron Criner as the duo attempt to expose the ASU secondary.
Although the Sun Devils gave up over 500 yards through the air in last week’s loss to Washington State, Kish believes ASU’s defensive performance was an anomaly.
“(Washington State) hit some big plays on them which typically doesn’t happen to Arizona State,” Kish said.
It is yet to be seen how the Sun Devil secondary will play against UA, but ASU coach Dennis Erickson said the Wildcats pass happy offense will probably be “licking their chops.”
If the Wildcats have success in the air, Criner will likely tie the school record of touchdown receptions in a season of 30 as he currently has 29 and Foles will set the school mark for passing yards in a season as he only needs 72. Foles has also thrown a touchdown pass in a school record 15 straight games.
ASU is 5-0 at home this season, but UA leads the all-time series 48-37-1.
Reach the reporter at william.boor@asu.edu
Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
