Senior quarterback B.J. Denker exits the field after UA's defeat to ASU. The Sun Devils defeated UA 58-21 and clinched a home field advantage for the Pac-12 chcampionship. (Photo by Dominic Valente)
Before playing ASU, UA senior quarterback B.J. Denker had thrown only four interceptions the entire season. He would throw nearly that many in 60 minutes against the Sun Devils.
Denker threw for 175 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions in UA's 58-21 loss to ASU Saturday night.
The Sun Devils got ahead of the Wildcats in a hurry.
After a pair of field goals from ASU freshman kicker Zane Gonzalez, redshirt junior quarterback Taylor Kelly would find senior tight end Darwin Rogers for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Sun Devils (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
That was when Denker was picked off for the first time. ASU senior safety Alden Darby snagged the ball out of the air setting up a one-yard touchdown rush from redshirt junior tight end De’Marieya Nelson to make it 27-0 for the Sun Devils with 8:04 to play in the half.
“The (interception) over the middle, I think it was the first one, I thought it was cover zero.” Denker said. “The backside safety played down like it was zero and then read that it was pass and played both. Just didn’t trust my eyes.”
The Wildcats would answer 12 plays and 78 yards later on a one-yard touchdown rush from Denker, making it 27-7 but a field goal from the Sun Devils would make it 30-7 at halftime.
UA would find some momentum in the second half, opening the third quarter by driving 75 yards in seven plays, capped off by an eight-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Ka’Deem Carey. Carey would finish with 157 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries.
After stopping ASU on the next drive, it looked like the Wildcats could claw back to within nine points.
But the momentum the Wildcats had would be gone when Denker threw his second interception. ASU sophomore safety Damarious Randall picked off Denker and ran the interception back 64 yards to make the score 37-14 ASU.
“We made a few adjustments on both sides of the ball and had a little momentum going there and then obviously they took it away with a pick-six,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said.
The final interception would come in the fourth quarter when, down 51-21, Denker was picked off by ASU redshirt senior cornerback Osahon Irabor setting up a one-yard touchdown from Nelson to make it 58-21.
“The last one, (Irabor) undercut it … if I just put it on his chest that doesn’t get intercepted,” Denker said.
The loss is especially bitter for UA, which was coming off the high point of its season last week when it knocked off No. 5 Oregon 42-16.
The focus for UA now is preparing for a bowl game and ending its season on the upswing.
“This one sucked, it stings,” Denker said. “Luckily we have a bowl game … if we go out with a win in our bowl game it will taste a lot better than it does right now.”
Reach the reporter at ejsmith7@asu.edu or follow him on twitter @EricSmith_SP.
