Arizona-ASU Game 66: UA’s missed opportunities open the door for ASU upset

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 66

Date: Nov. 21, 1992

Where: Tucson

Winner: ASU, 7-6

What was reported at the time: 

By Anthony Gimino

The Arizona Daily Star

The rivalry has a new legend.

His name is Kevin Galbreath.

Arizona dominated almost all but one play in last night's game with Arizona State, but Galbreath's play mattered most.

ASU beat the 16th-ranked UA 7-6 in front of a sellout crowd of 58,095 at Arizona Stadium, with the winning points coming on Galbreath's 51-yard run in the fourth quarter.

"I don't see how I can go through another spring and summer knowing we lost to ASU," said UA running back Billy Johnson, a junior.

Arizona finished the regular season at 6-4-1 and 4-3-1 in the Pac-10, fifth place. ASU is 6-5 and 4-4.

The Wildcats and their vaunted Desert Swarm defense are still likely to be invited to the John Hancock Bowl in El Paso, which is played on Dec. 31.

The UA had big plays and good luck on its side during its nine-year unbeaten streak against ASU, which ended last season. Last night, it was a reversal of fortune.

"It was a game of missed opportunities on our part," said UA coach Dick Tomey. "(ASU) hung in there and did what they had to do."

The Sun Devils had first-and-10 at their 49 when Galbreath, a senior from Phoenix, ran a counter trap off right tackle. Linebacker Sean Harris made the first hit near the line of scrimmage, but it wasn't enough.

Strong safety Brandon Sanders made the next hit, but Galbreath kept powering forward and to the right. He escaped the tackle and was gone.

Safety Tony Bouie couldn't catch Galbreath, who sprinted along the sideline into the end zone with 14:15 left in the game.

"Obviously, when there's a play like that, there's a breakdown," Tomey said. "He hit the hole and kept fighting and made a great run."

"We missed tackles. It was a team breakdown."

Lineman Rob Waldrop admitted he had a breakdown.

"People stopped running to pursue and I was one of them. The biggest thing was lack of pursuit," he said.

The Wildcats, who twice squandered scoring opportunities inside the ASU 5 in the first half, gave Steve McLaughlin a shot at the lead with 4:35 left.

The UA's drive stalled at the ASU 40 and McLaughlin attempted a 57-yard field goal with a slight wind at his back. His career best is from 51 yards; he was making kicks from 60 yards in pregame warmups.

While the attempt was in the air, McLaughlin raised his arms, believing the kick was good, but the ball fell just short.

"I know I have the leg," McLaughlin said. "When it comes up short, it just kills me."

The UA's final possession ended when George Malauulu was sacked by Israel Stanley on fourth down at the UA 20 with 1:26 left.

"Desert Swarm, Desert Quarm, whatever they are called, we outplayed them tonight," Stanley said.

McLaughlin, who had given the UA a 6-0 lead with kicks of 48 and 47 yards, also missed from 46 yards in the third quarter.

One play away from disaster. That's what Arizona was, despite controlling most of the game.

The stats:

– Arizona gained 298 yards; ASU had 191;

– Arizona rushed 63 times for 221 yards; ASU was 35 for 112;

– Arizona won time of possession, 35:34-24:26;

– ASU didn't run a play in UA territory in the second half until UA turned the ball over on downs with 1:26 left.

"They weren't very productive in their offensive, but they were very productive point-wise. They were very patient," Tomey said.

"And they made enough plays to keep us in bad field position as the game wore down."

The Wildcats spent the first half wasting opportunities.

On the Wildcats' first possession, they drove 53 yards to the ASU 5. On second-and-goal, Malauulu threw into double coverage in the end zone, and cornerback Lenny McGill intercepted a pass intended for Richard Griffith.

"We still had opportunities to make the plays we needed and we just didn't do it," Malauulu said.

A penalty took the UA out of a chance early in the second quarter. Arizona was going for it on fourth-and-1 at the ASU 30, but guard Vincent Smith was called for an offsides penalty. Arizona was pushed back 5 yards and punted.

Arizona drove inside the 10 on its next possession, when a trick play backfired.

The UA was at the ASU 4 when Chuck Levy took a pitch right. Malauulu sprinted to the left — a play nearly identical to the one on which USC scored last week against the UA — but he was covered by a defender. Levy, under pressure, fumbled the ball, which was recovered by ASU's Stanley.

The Sun Devils managed 20 rushing yards on 18 attempts in the half but trailed only 3-0 at halftime.

Malauulu had his best rushing game of the season, as the UA utilized the option effectively. He gained 92 yards on 21 attempts. Malauulu completed 7 of 19 passes for 77 yards.

ASU's Grady Benton completed 10 of 20 passes for 79 yards. He was intercepted once.

"They stonewalled my performance," Benton said. "I tried to run around and I still could not make anything happen. Our defense kept us in the game."

Arizona's Desert Swarm defense allowed only 98 points this season, UA's lowest total since 1964 when it yielded 76 points. The Wildcats' nine touchdowns allowed is their lowest figure since the 1936 team gave up eight in 10 games.

Not that it mattered last night.

"We had a losing season last year and turned it around. We had a winning season this year, but a loss is a loss and it really hurts when it's to ASU," Johnson said.

"We just have to build on it and come back a lot more desperate to win."