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.
Underdog Wildcats Beat Tempe Sun Devils 7 To 6
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Matchup: Game 29
Date: Nov. 26, 1955
Where: Tempe
Winner: Arizona, 7-6
What was reported at the time:
By ABE CHANIN
Star Sports Editor
TEMPE, Nov. 26 — Arizona’s Wildcats scored a first-quarter touchdown on a 20-yard sprint by national record breaker Art Luppino, got the extra point from the toe of the Cactus Comet, and then threw up a magnificent defense to defeat rival Arizona State at Tempe, 7 to 6.
It was a classic of classics as Arizona’s Wildcats, two-touchdown underdogs and badly crippled, played their greatest game of the year in the season’s finale.
A crowd of 17,500 in Goodwin Stadium tonight saw the Wildcats smash Tempe’s vaunted passing attack with seven interceptions. Two of them came in the fourth quarter with Gove Allen, a substitute all season, coming off the bench to pull down two Sun Devil passes. Allen stopped a last-minute Tempe drive when he intercepted a Bob Mulgado pass to give Arizona the ball on the eight-yard line with a minute and 15 seconds left to play.
Arizona’s triumphal thriller knocked the Sun Devils out of the Border Conference football championship. Unbeaten previously in conference competition, Tempe saw the 1955 loop title go to Texas Tech, which tripped Hardin-Simmons, 16-14 earlier in the day at Lubbock, Tex.
Arizona started the game without Center Paul Hatcher and Wingback Pete Arrigoni and in the first half Fullback Ed McCluskey was tossed out for unnecessary roughness and Max Burnett, fullback who was shifted to wingback, was ejected for arguing with the officials.
But the Wildcats’ patched-up backfield — sometimes playing with three freshmen in the lineup during the second half- met the challenge squarely. The victory closed Arizona’s season with a 5-4-1 record and chalked up the closest score in this 56-year-old rivalry.
Fumbles and interceptions marked the first half in this hard-hitting contest. One of the fumbles started Arizona toward its game-winning touchdown. Guard Bob Griffis, playing a tremendous defensive game, broke through to recover Dave Graybill’s fumble on the 50 in the first quarter.
Eight plays later, Luppino shot over left guard, cut to the right and ran 20 yards for the touchdown. He kicked the ball squarely between the uprights for the seventh point and the difference in the final score.
It was the only breakaway run of the night for Luppino. Tempe set on the Wildcat star on every play, but Luppino still gained 68 net yards, and that was enough for him to become the first major college back to win the national rushing championship for two consecutive seasons. His total of 1,312 topped the 1,283 figure posted by Jim Swink of TCU.
After Luppino’s scoring romp with 45 seconds left in the first quarter, Tempe came right back. The Sun Devils scored after a 72-yard pass-run-lateral play that was aided by a penalty. Graybill passed to Gene Mitcham on a screen play and the Tempe right half cut downfield to the Arizona 45. There he lateraled to End Charles Mackey. Mackey sped to the 11 where Bill Codd, playing masterfully on offense, cut him down. But a personal foul was called against Arizona, and the ball was moved to the one.
An illegal substitution by Arizona pushed the ball a half-yard from the goal and on the first play Mulgado sliced over left tackle to score. Mulgado’s important kick for an extra point was no good, and Arizona held a 7-6 lead.
With Burnett and McCluskey both out, Arizona had to put together a makeshift backfield, calling on a fourth-string fullback. But Allen and Quarterback Ralph Hunsaker weren’t to be outdone. It was their pass defense that made the difference over the long run.
How close Tempe came was shown as Tempe ended the first half with the ball on the Arizona 23. And at the end of the game, it was Allen intercepting on the Arizona eight.
Tempe, trying 22 passes and completing nine for 187 yards, outdid Arizona statistically. The Sun Devils had 286 yards of total offense and 14 first downs to Arizona's 256 and 11 first downs.
But Arizona's battling linemen — Griffis, tackles Jack Davis, Clarence Anderson and John Mellekas, end Bill Codd and guard Ed Brown — slowed Tempe's running attack to a walk. The Sun Devils had led the Border Conference in total offense, but tonight they could pick up only 99 net yards rushing.
Here is how the game went:
FIRST QUARTER — Tempe won the toss and elected to receive. In the hard-hitting first quarter, Arizona intercepted two Tempe passes, and Tempe intercepted one Arizona aerial. Then Luppino fumbled for Arizona, Graybill fumbled for Tempe and Hunsaker fumbled for Arizona. The fumbling continued, with Bob Griffis pouncing on Graybill's bobble on the 50 to give Arizona the ball.
Eight plays later, Luppino shot over left guard, cut to the right and ran 20 yards for the touchdown. Luppino kicked the extra point and Arizona led, 7-0, with 45 seconds left in the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER — Tempe got the touchdown back quickly on a pass-run play that covered 72 yards with the aid of a penalty. Graybill hit Mitcham on a screen pass and Mitcham broke away to the 45, lateraled to Charles Mackey. Mackey raced to the 11 where Codd tackled him. But Arizona was called for a personal foul and the ball moved to the one. Arizona substituted illegally, and the ball went to within a half yard of the goal. On the first play, Mulgado went over left tackle to score.
Mulgado's kick was no good. Arizona 7, Tempe 6.
Fumbles and interceptions continued in the second quarter and washed away any scoring chances for either team. Tempe had the ball on the Arizona 23 as the half ended.
In the first half, Arizona had 192 yards of total offense to Tempe's 162. The first downs were 8-7 for Tempe. Tempe lost three fumbles and had four passes intercepted. Arizona lost one fumble and had one pass intercepted. McCluskey gained 51 net yards in the first half and Luppino 47.
THIRD QUARTER — Arizona took the kickoff to open the second half, but the Wildcats could not gain. Tempe threatened when Mitcham ran a punt back 43 yards to the Arizona 25. But the Wildcats held and took over on the 21.
Tempe came right back knocking when Bob Sedlar intercepted Hunsaker's pass on the Arizona 37 and ran to the 26. The Sun Devils moved downfield, but Hunsaker intercepted Graybill's pass on the five.
Arizona 7, Tempe 6.
FOURTH QUARTER — When the Sun Devils started downfield again, Gove Allen intercepted Mulgado's pass at midfield. The Wildcats couldn't move, and Tempe took over with a brilliant passing attack that carried to the Arizona 32. But again Allen intercepted a Mulgado pass, this time on the eight with 1:15 left in the game. Arizona ran out the clock.
Press Box Notes
There wasn't a great deal new in the Arizona attack tonight — except for the addition of a great fighting spirit that saw the Wildcats stand up under as great pressure as has been turned against a football team.
Tempe, with its fine quarterbacking by Graybill, the running of Bob Mulgado and the great line play of Chuck Mackey and Tackle John Jankans, made a great show of it. But Arizona won on the running and kicking leg of Luppino and sheer courage on defense.
With Arrigoni in the hospital with a broken bone in his face, Arizona figured to be vulnerable on pass defense, but two Arizona youngsters who played their high school ball six miles from here at Mesa High School plugged the gap.
Luppino had his fewest yards of the season, but he was still the leading ground-gainer in this rugged game.
McCluskey, before he was tossed out of the game, was the leading ground-gainer for the first half with 51 net yards.
Although not a reviewer of music, this writer also gave the nod to Jack Lee's Arizonans in the great battle of marching bands.
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.…
