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.
Matchup: Game 33
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Date: Nov. 28, 1959
Where: Tempe
Winner: ASU, 15-9
What was reported at the time:
By ABE CHANIN
Star Sports Editor
TEMPE, Nov. 28 — Arizona State broke open a furious defensive battle with a pair of second-half touchdowns to defeat Arizona's underdog Wildcats, 15-9, here Saturday night.
The greatest sports crowd in the history of Arizona — an estimated 32,000 — watched a torrid duel that saw the Wildcats, rated 14 to 19-point underdogs, hold a 2-0 lead until the second quarter.
Arizona State put together a 26-yard field goal in the second period and touchdowns in each of the final quarters for its fourth consecutive triumph over rival Arizona.
But the game was in direct contrast to last year's game in Tucson. On that November day, Arizona State won as it pleased in a smashing 47-0 triumph.
Arizona State, defeated only once this season and already champions of the Border Conference, was the nation's fifth highest scoring team with a 17-point average going into last night's game, but it took the powerful Sun Devils 36 minutes and 34 seconds to score their first touchdown against the crushing defense thrown up by the Wildcats.
Arizona State, which had averaged 314 yards gained per game, could gain only 179 yards total offense. Arizona gained 171.
Arizona State, its great fleet of running backs slowed to a walk, scored touchdowns on a two-yard plunge by Quarterback Joe Zuger in the third period and a nine-yard pass from Zuger to fullback Joe Camut in the final period.
Led by sophomore Quarterback Eddie Wilson, Arizona drove 70 yards to score in the fourth period. The score came on a three-yard end sweep by the twisting, spinning Warren Livingston.
With the score at 15-9, Arizona got the ball on its 14-yard line with only three minutes remaining. The Wildcats tried a running game up the middle, gaining short yardage as the clock sped ahead. Wilson moved the ball to the Arizona 35. Then he tried two long passes. One went off the outstretched fingertips of Larry Williams and the next was intercepted by Allen Benedict.
That killed Arizona's desperate attempt to upset the Sun Devils.
Aside from the first-quarter fumble that brought Arizona a safety and a 2-0 lead, the Sun Devils played a flawless game in this defensive struggle. The safety came when Arizona Tackle Hal Tomlin hit Ossie McCarty. The Sun Devils halfback fumbled and then dove on the ball in the end zone, with Livingston making the tackle.
Arizona made that 2-0 lead stand up until Bill McCormick, who caught two touchdown passes in last week’s 14-19 defeat of Texas Western, fumbled on the Arizona 26. It was the first of his two fumbles that led to Sun Devil scores. Jess Bradford recovered the first fumble. But even from the 26, Arizona State could not score a touchdown. The Devils had first down on the Arizona 11 and didn’t move the ball an inch on three running plays. It was on fourth down that Nolan Jones kicked his 26-yard field goal and the Devils led 3-2 at halftime.
The Sun Devils had to wait for their first touchdown 36:43 minutes after the opening kickoff. The Devils’ other touchdown came after McCormick caught Wilson’s pass and then fumbled at the Arizona 41. This time it was Camut who recovered for the Sun Devils.
Even with the score at 15-2, Arizona continued to push its attack, but Arizona State, throwing up a great defense both against rushing and passing, stopped the Wildcats.
Arizona was able to complete only 3 of 10 passes against the Sun Devils, who turned loose a great charging line and employed a tight secondary.
This was the battle football fans of both schools had waited for. Although the Sun Devils were overwhelming favorites, they faced a tremendous battle in continuing their recent supremacy over Arizona on the gridiron.
This was the Sun Devils’ eighth victory over Arizona in the last 11 games. But Arizona still holds a wide edge in this series that began in 1899. Arizona is ahead 23 games to 10.
Here is how the game went:
First Quarter
Arizona State won the toss and elected to receive. Neither team could gain an advantage during the early part of the quarter. They exchanged punts, and it was Wilson’s boot that led to the first score of the game. Wilson’s punt took a lucky bounce and rolled dead on the Arizona State 10. On the second Sun Devil play, Halfback Ossie McCarty fumbled. He was hit by Arizona tackle Hal Tomlin.
The ball rolled into the end zone and McCarty dove for the ball and was tackled there by Warren Livingston for a safety. There was 6:20 left to play in the quarter.
Arizona 2, Arizona State 0
After taking the kickoff following the safety, Arizona drove as far as the Sun Devil 26. But the Devils held and then marched into Arizona territory. They went to the Wildcat 29 but were forced back by a holding penalty and strong Arizona defensive play.
Second Quarter
Livingston made a beautiful 29-yard punt return from his 12 to the Arizona State 49. On fourth down with four to go, the Wildcats gambled and Minner Williams got as far as the 40 where the Devils took over.
With 6:54 left in the half, Bob McCormick fumbled a handoff and Jesse Bradford recovered for the Devils at the Arizona 26. The Devils went to the Arizona 11 and then could not gain a yard on three plays. Jack Gillespie made the third-down tackle on Allen Benedict. On fourth down, Nolan Jones kicked a 27-yard field goal with 4:18 left in the half.
Arizona State 3, Arizona 2
The statistics clearly showed the fury of the defensive play in the first half. Arizona State had five first downs to Arizona's four. The Sun Devils had 70 yards on total offense to Arizona’s 40.
Third Quarter
Arizona had control for the first five minutes of the second half, but in reality the officials had more of the control.
They called five penalties in five minutes and Arizona ended up back at its four-yard line. Jim Geist, punting out of the end zone, booted the ball out on the Arizona 42. On the second play, quarterback Joe Zuger, not finding a receiver, broke up the middle for 27 yards to the Arizona 22. Two plays later, Zuger hit John McFalls with a pass on the six. On third down, Zuger drove over the middle of the line from a half-yard out for the score with 7:17 left in the quarter. Nolan Jones's kick was wide.
Arizona State 9, Arizona 2
The Sun Devils started a touchdown march at the close of the third quarter when Bill McCormick caught Wilson’s pass but fumbled at the Arizona 41, where Joe Camut recovered for the Devils. A 17-yard run by Ossie McCarthy took the ball into scoring territory and the Devils had first down on the Arizona four when the quarter ended.
Fourth Quarter
Lining up in a single-wing formation, Zuger passed to Camut for nine yards and the touchdown. There was 14:46 left in the game. Zuger’s attempted pass for the two points missed.
Arizona State 15, Arizona 2
Arizona went on a 70-yard march to score. Walt Mince, Joe Carroll and Warren Livingston led the 15-play drive. With 7:22 left in the game, Livingston scored from 2½ yards out. Wilson kicked the point.
Arizona State 15, Arizona 9
Arizona got its final chance to score in the last three minutes after Zuger had punted out on the Arizona 14.
Carroll led the Wildcats to the 35 on bull-like charges, and then Wilson went to the air. One pass was just off the fingertips of Larry Williams and then Allan Benedict of ASU intercepted a Wilson pass with 1:05 left in the game.
The Devils then ran out the clock.
Final Score: Arizona State 15, Arizona 9
Press Box Notes
The tremendous crowd of 32,000 broke the record of 29,000 set here last year when San Jose and Arizona State played. For the seven home games in the Sun Devil Stadium, a total of 181,300 fans took in games. Both that figure and the average attendance of 25,900 were new Arizona State records — and also the largest crowd figures in the state’s sports history.
High up on the hill behind the east stadium, several hundred more non-paying fans watched the game. The temperature was in the middle 50s and the hilltoppers lit dozens of fires to keep warm.
The battle of the bands probably was a draw. Both Arizona and Arizona State put on a brilliant pre-game and halftime show.
So furious was the defensive play in the first half that it took Arizona State 13 minutes to get its initial first down.
It was a furious battle, but there was good feeling among the players after the game. They met at midfield after the final gun and shook hands. When A-State tackle Dick Locke was hurt in the fourth period, Arizona players rushed to his stretcher to wish him good luck.
The closeness of the game indicated that perhaps now the annual Arizona-Arizona State grid battle will be a more even conflict than in recent years.
For Arizona, the game closed a remarkable season with four wins against six losses. The Wildcats had been expected to win only two games.
And for Arizona State, the victory pushed the season record to 9-1, and Friday the Sun Devils play the University of Hawaii in Honolulu.
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.…
