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.
WILDCATS CRUSH BULLDOGS IN OPENER, 67 TO 0
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Matchup: Game 20
Date: Sept. 28, 1946
Where: Tucson
Winner: Arizona, 67-0
What was reported at the time:
By ABE CHANIN
Arizona's terrific Wildcats opened their 1946 gridiron season last night, displaying a lovely-to-watch offensive that rolled back Arizona State College at Tempe, 67-0, before an overflow crowd of 12,000 fans who lined both end zones of Varsity Stadium. From the first touchdown — some six minutes after the game had opened — until the tenth touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats dished up severe migraine headaches to scouts from six future Arizona opponents who sat in the press box.
The game was the first peacetime show since 1941 when End Hank Stanton set a national pass-catching record as Arizona was defeated by Utah U., next on the list for the Cats. It was also the second-highest score Arizona has rolled up against a collegiate opponent since 1922 when the Cats drubbed Texas Mines, 74-0.
Bulldogs Outclassed
Arizona's offensive punch—at least three deep in material—and its staunch forward walls completely outclassed the Bulldogs. Only twice did the Dogs get over the 50-yard stripe into Arizona territory, both times in the second half of the walkaway.
Tempe came out of the game owing 19 yards rushing to the Wildcats. The Bulldogs gained 43, lost 62. Arizona, using four complete teams, collected 413 yards rushing, losing only 19. In first downs, Arizona amassed a total of 20 to Tempe's skimpy two.
In the air, the Cats racked up a .556 percentage with 10 completions in 18 attempts. Here again the Bulldogs were on the outside looking in. The Dogs made four good in 13 attempts.
But the biggest washout attributed to Tempe was the failure of Joe Batiste, former Tucson High athletic star, and Fullback Morrison Warren to show anything of football ability. At least those rugged forward walls—and it took more than a pair of scouts to single out the outstanding line performers, for they were all tough—didn't give those highly-touted backs a chance.
Pollard Scores Three
Art Pollard, a tricky-legged left halfback on the first eleven, scored three of the touchdowns with his graceful, deceptive running. The Royse City, Texas, back who played for Bainbridge Naval Institute while in the service opened the disrespectful whitewashing of the Tempe Bulldogs.
Pollard first ran back a Joe Batiste kick 20 yards to the Arizona 47. Then the versatile back pitched a 13-yarder to Bill Penn. After a penalty and a recovered fumble, Pollard scampered around his right end to the Tempe 14. Then after a pair of plays that took the ball to the 10, Pollard passed to Wingman Tommy Black on the three.
Hard-running Art carried the ball over the goal with a plunge over tackle. Five minutes and 40 seconds were gone; the rout was on.
After an exchange of punts that included a 61-yarder by the versatile Pollard, Quarterback Shanty Hogan took a kick from End Jim Montgomery and ran 79 yards behind beautiful downfield blocking.
Joe Goff, the automatic Arizona after-goal kicker, converted after Hogan's touchdown after missing his first attempt. During the course of the evening, Goff made seven of 10 conversion attempts good.
On Pollard's kickoff after the touchdown, Batiste made his only threat of the evening. He grabbed the kick and raced 29 yards upfield before he was hauled down from the rear. At that point, Arizona's second string was rushed into the contest.
Enke Goes In
Fred Enke was now in the ball game, and it was still first string as far as Tempe's defense was concerned. Enke started the third scoring march by intercepting Harry Broderick's pass intended for Tip Killingsworth, former Wildcatter before the war. Arizona took over on the midfield stripe.
Fullback Bill Lovin took two on a line plunge and then powered 16 yards to Tempe's 33. On the next play, Enke fired a nifty pass to Lowell McDonald for 16 more yards.
The quarter ended after that play, but the Arizona march continued. It terminated in a touchdown with Peterson scoring on a quarterback sneak.
Scoring Sequence
Peterson scored shortly after the quarter when he intercepted one of Broderick's passes and breezed 35 yards to paydirt. The scoreboard lit up 27-0 after Goff converted.
The remainder of the first half scoring went like this:
34-0—Enke went off tackle, lateraled to Lovin for a 53-yard gain; McDonald then carried over on a 29-yard run. Goff converted.
41-0—Arizona recovered a Tempe fumble on the Tempe 25; Lovin broke through a big line hold, lateraled to End Junior Crum, who took the ball over the last six yards. Goff converted.
Then came the Wildcats' third team and a more-or-less even game, with the half ending 41-0 with Arizona deep in Tempe territory. Jim Lochner and Cecil Crouch worried the Dogs aplenty with their running.
Arizona's first team, getting more game-condition scrimmage, started the second half. Tempe was forced to kick after the kickoff, and Pollard ran the punt back 31 yards behind usual good blocking. That was the set-up for the second-half scoring sequence that went like this:
Second Half
48-0—Pollard passed to Black, moving the ball to the 8-yard line; a holding play moved the ball back to the 24, but Pollard went around end behind Hogan for a 24-yard pay-off dash. Goff made his kick good.
54-0—After another touchdown was called back because of backfield in motion, Pollard ran to the 22 and then shiftily carried the ball over on a 15-yard jaunt. Goff failed to convert.
60-0—Pollard set up the next score with a 25-yard run to the 14; then he pitched to Hogan for the touchdown. Goff missed.
67-0—Before the final score, Enke had a 76-yard run called back because of offensive holding. Then after an exchange of the ball, Enke tossed an 18-yard pass to Steve Chalmers and Goff converted.
The game closed with Arizona deep in Tempe's backyard. Halftime entertainment was supplied by a sweet-playing, neatly-garbed University of Arizona band. Gov. Sid Osborn and Senator Ernest W. McFarland attended the game. Next week, Arizona travels to Salt Lake City to meet Utah.
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.…
