Editor’s note: This year, UA and ASU football will face off for the 100th time in what has come to be known as the Territorial Cup game. Leading up to that Nov. 28 matchup, which will be played right here in Tucson, we will be republishing the Arizona Daily Star’s coverage of each rivalry game — one a day — going back to their first meeting in 1899. Tune in daily for a blast from the past.
Some important things to keep in mind: This isn’t the 100th anniversary; the upcoming meeting will be the 100th time the teams have gone head-to-head. There were a number of years that they didn’t compete against one another. The Wildcats lead the all-time series vs. the Sun Devils, 52-46-1.
Dauntless Red Devils of Tempe Edge Out Arizona Wildcats 20 to 18
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Matchup: Game 26
Date: Nov. 8, 1952
Where: Tucson
Winner: ASU, 20-18
What was reported at the time:
By ABE CHANIN
Star Sports Editor
Arizona matched 20-point favorite Tempe touchdown for touchdown only to lose a heart-stirring football battle, 20-18, here last night on the breaks of the game and the inability to kick extra points.
Before a rain-soaked throng of 26,700 — just 287 short of the largest crowd ever to see a sports spectacle in the state — the Wildcats rebounded magnificently from the 61-14 thrashing they took last year.
Only the misses on three extra-point tries kept Arizona from upsetting Tempe, even though the Sun Devils got one of their touchdowns on a fumble on the two-yard line and another with the aid of an intercepted pass and fourth-down penalty.
Giant-Killer Role
Kenny Cardella, a 160-pound junior, played the role of David the giant killer almost perfectly. He scored all three of Arizona’s touchdowns and, in as great a ball-carrying performance as has been seen here in years, romped for 193 yards. The little fellow from Los Angeles averaged six yards per crack.
Eight and one-half minutes after this battle of the state’s collegiate giants began, Arizona electrified the crowd by striking 66 yards to score. Cardella, who gained 45 of those 66 yards, bounced over from the three; Bobby Hudgins missed the kick for point and Arizona led, 6-0.
Early in the second period, following a short 27-yard Arizona punt, Tempe paraded 53 yards in seven plays with Dick Curran ramming over from the two. Bob Pavlich kicked the 7-to-6 point.
Chance Missed
Before the half was over, Arizona missed a scoring chance after driving 57 yards to the one-foot line where Tempe held brilliantly. Arizona had first down on the five and couldn't make it. The half ended, 7-6, Tempe.
Then in the first six minutes of the second half Arizona booted the game away. Remove those six minutes and Arizona might easily have scored one of the great upsets in western grid history.
Less than two minutes after the second half began, a bad pass from Center Tex Boykin was dropped by Freshman Marty Lang on the two. It was fourth down and Tempe took the ball there. Marvin Wahlin, Tempe’s best ball-carrier of the game, shot over standing up and Bob Pavlich kicked his second point.
That made it 14-6 and just a few minutes later Gene Mitcham intercepted an Allan Stanton pass that had been knocked into the air. From its own 46, Tempe struck for its third touchdown with a 44-yard pass from Quarterback Dick Mackey to End John Allen carrying 44 yards to the three. Harley Cooper barrelled over and Pavlich missed his kick for a 20-6 advantage.
U. A. Penalized
Tempe, on the march, had gone to fourth down on the Arizona 47 and was ready to kick when Arizona was penalized five for substituting Bobby Jackson at safety illegally. The penalty gave Tempe first down, and two plays later Mackey hit Allen with the pass.
A visible pall settled over the crowd, and there was the feeling that perhaps Tempe was off to its fourth straight rout. But the Fighting Wildcats didn’t let the fans sit back. Before the quarter had ended, Arizona scored on two great 80-yard marches.
The first drive started when Allen took a Mackey pass on the Arizona 20 and fumbled there. Kurt Storch pounced on the fumble. From the 20, Arizona marched straight downfield to score. Of the 80 yards, Cardella picked up 43. And quarterback Freddy Schuh had 18 on a beautiful sweep around the end. The TD came with Cardella going over from the one with 40 seconds of the fourth quarter gone.
Bobby Hart started Arizona’s sustained march when he intercepted a Mackey pass in the end zone. Taking the ball on the 20, the Cats moved to their last score. This time Cardella drove over the left side and ousted the defense on a 42-yard touchdown sprint. Corley again missed the extra point.
Last Chance Missed
In the dying seconds of the game, Arizona got one last chance to score. Schuh heaved a long pass that was picked off in the end zone by John Henry Johnson, who wasn’t pulled down until after he had crossed the midfield stripe.
Tempe, primarily a ground-attacking team, had to strike through the air to turn back Arizona. Arizona’s rugged line play led by Buddy Lewis held Tempe to 186 net yards rushing. The Sun Devils had 105 yards passing to edge Arizona on total offense, 291-288. Arizona had the bulge in first downs, 19-13.
Here is the way the game went:
First Quarter
Arizona kicked off to open the game and the Devils got the ball in play from their own 19. They moved all the way to the Arizona 39, where Harley Cooper fumbled and Buddy Lewis recovered for Arizona.
The first time Arizona got hold of the ball, the Cats went on to score. On 14 plays, they paraded 66 yards after a penalty set them back five more. Little Kenny Cardella collected 45 of those yards in the steady downfield drive. It was on 4th down from the three that Cardella circled right end for the score with 8:25 remaining. Bobby Hudgins missed the extra kick try.
The highly-touted John Henry Johnson was slammed down on the six on the kickoff after he gained four yards. Arizona held Tempe and the quarter ended.
Arizona 6; Tempe 0.
Shortly afterward, Tempe gambled on fourth down and failed to make the yardage, and Arizona got the ball on their own 42 after the Devils had begun to drive. Arizona, with Beasley again running beautifully, moved 57 yards to the Tempe one-foot line where the Cats lost the ball on downs.
Arizona had first down on the five, but the Tempe line stopped the Cats cold. The half ended after the Cats and Devils passed freely, trying to score.
At the half, it was Tempe 7; Arizona 6.
Third Quarter
The Sun Devils kicked off to open the last half and Arizona took the ball on its own 23. On the first play, Mike Kelly fumbled a pitchout and recovered back on the 10. Three plays later, Lang fumbled a low pass from Center Boykin and Tempe got the ball on the two.
Wahlin drove over standing up, Pavlich kicked the point, and Tempe led, 14-6 with 1:50 gone.
Arizona started downfield again, but Mitcham speared a Stanton pass to give Tempe the ball on its own 46. Three plays gained Tempe seven net yards. On fourth down, Jackson was sent in at safety for Arizona and officials called a delay of the game. That gave Tempe first down. Two plays later, Mackey passed 44 yards to Allen on the three. Curren hit off right tackle to the one and Cooper drove over with six minutes remaining.
Devils Lead
Pavlich’s kick was blocked and Tempe led, 20-6.
Johnson, after the kickoff, leaped high in the air to intercept a Stanton pass and give Tempe the ball on the Arizona 40. But on the third Tempe play, Allen fumbled after taking in a Mackey pass on the 20. Storch recovered there for Arizona.
There an 80-yard march began. Kelly carried three times for a first down, and then Cardella took the ball three times in a row for another first down. Schuh rolled around right end for a 17-yard romp to the Tempe 34.
Fourth Quarter
Cardella continued to push downfield and finally carried over from the one with 40 seconds of the final period gone.
Tempe again started to drive and went all the way to the Arizona 17, but John Henry Johnson was caught back-pedaling and lost to the 32. Mackey then passed long and Hart intercepted in the end zone.
Arizona took the ball on its 20 and shortly afterwards Cardella broke over the left side and sped 42 yards to score with 3:10 left in the game. Corley’s kick was no good.
With seconds to go, Arizona got one more play. Schuh dropped back and whipped a long pass into the end zone. Johnson pulled it down and raced past the mid-stripe as the gun sounded and he was pulled down.
The triumph now leaves Tempe needing only one more victory to gain the Border Conference championship. Only Texas Western stands in front of the Devils, who have a 3-0 conference record. Tempe meets the Miners Nov. 22 at home.
The 26th game of the rivalry was cleanly fought — except for the mud of the field, which was churned up after rain began falling eight minutes into the second period . . . Coach Clyde Smith of Tempe never would don a raincoat and his jacket and open-necked shirt were soaking wet. Arizona’s Warren Woodson wore a field jacket, but constantly had to wipe his specs.
John Henry Johnson, who had carried only 14 times all season for Tempe, lugged the ball eight times last night. He gained only a net of nine yards. But the highly-touted star, whom Arizona fans had felt was being saved for Arizona, made up for his lack of offensive power with great defensive play. His teammate, John Jankans, played brilliantly at tackle.
Climb into the Arizona Daily Star’s time machine as we revisit every Territorial Cup matchup between U of A and ASU football ahead of the Nov.…
