Bowls

Last Updated 2/14/06

In one of the most offensively explosive games the country has seen, the Arizona State Sun Devils beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 2005 Insight Bowl, with the two teams combining for an all-time bowl record 1,211 total yards.

The Sun Devils took the lead for good on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Offensive MVP Rudy Carpenter to Matt Miller with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, going on to win 45-40.

Carpenter finished 23 of 35 for 467 yards and four touchdowns to go along with his 37 rushing yards and no interceptions, finishing the season with a passing efficiency rating of 175.01 which led the nation.

ASU started the game slowly and found itself down 17-7 after the first quarter. Rutgers struck first with a one-yard pass from Ryan Hart to Clark Harris on its opening drive. As a sign of things to come, the Sun Devils scored on their first drive as well with a 43-yard pass from Carpenter to Matt Miller, tying the game 7-7.

The Sun Devils scored just before half when Carpenter threw a one-yard pass to tight end Zach Miller, cutting the Scarlet Knights' lead to 24-17.

ASU started the second half with the ball, sending Rudy Burgess into the endzone from one yard out. Burgess would be key down the stretch, playing the same crucial football that helped Arizona State win the 2004 Sun Bowl.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils were up 31-30, following a 22-yard touchdown pass from Carpenter to Terry Richardson, while the Devil defense held Rutgers to field goals.

With 4:26 to go in the game, Burgess found the endzone again, this time from four yards out, effectively clinching the game, provided the defense would hold.

It did, and the Sun Devils won their second bowl in as many years.

Jamar Williams shared MVP honors with Carpenter as the Defensive Most Valuable Player with seven solo tackles, one for loss, and one forced fumble.

ASU      7 10 14 14 - 45
Rutgers 17  7  6 10 - 40


Scoring Summary
RU	-	Harris 1-yard pass from Hart
ASU	-	M. Miller 43-yard pass from Carpenter
RU	-	Leonard 31-yard pass from Hart
RU	-	Ito 25-yard field goal
ASU	-	Ainsworth 20-yard field goal
RU	-	Leonard 3-yard run
ASU	-	Z. Miller 1-yard pass from Carpenter
ASU	-	Burgess 1-yard run
RU	-	Ito 23-yard field goal
ASU	-	Richardson 22-yard pass from Carpenter
RU	-	Ito 52-yard field goal
RU	-	Ito 48-yard field goal
ASU	-	M. Miller 42-yard pass from Carpenter
ASU	-	Burgess 4-yard run
RU	-	Moses 29-yard pass from Hart

Arizona State and Purdue made up for a slow start in the 71st Vitalis Sun Bowl by combining for 45 second-half points and a spectacular finish in front of the largest crowd (51,288) in the history of El Paso's bowl game.

Sun Devil running back Rudy Burgess scored on a 19-yard screen pass from Sun Bowl MVP Sam Keller with 43 seconds remaining to give ASU a 27-23 come-from-behind victory over heavily-favored Purdue.

"Nobody gave us a chance," said ASU head coach Dirk Koetter, whose team played without its starting quarterback, running back and safety. "I'm proud of the way we came back, time and time again."

ASU, which finished the season 9-3 and ranked No. 19, led 3-2 after an uneventful first half. But the Sun Devils overcame deficits three times in an action-packed second half, including twice in the final quarter thanks to a pair of touchdown passes by Keller, making his first career start (for the injured Andrew Walter).

Keller completed 25 of 45 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

A 22-yard field goal by Jesse Ainsworth gave ASU a 3-0 lead with 2:35 to play in the first quarter. Purdue scored a safety in the second quarter.

The Boilermakers scored on the first play from scrimmage to open the second half to make the score 9-3. ASU answered quickly when Keller hit wideout Derek Hagan with a 27-yard touchdown strike to retake the lead, 10-9 five minutes into the third quarter. Less than a minute into the fourth, Purdue's Kyle Orton found Taylor Stubblefield with a five-yard touchdown pass to give Purdue a 16-10 advantage.

A 34-yard field goal from Ainsworth cut the lead to three points with 10:33 remaining and Burgess gave ASU back the lead when he broke free on a 41-yard screen play for a touchdown with 6:23 to go.

A punt block by Purdue allowed the Boilers to score on a six-yard touchdown pass from Orton to Charles Davis, giving them a 23-20 lead with 1"14 left to play.

But Keller marched ASU down the field in four plays, capping the drive with his second fourth-quarter screen pass to Burgess for a touchdown to give the Sun Devils their first bowl victory since the 1997 Sun Bowl.

"(Burgess) did all the work (on the game-winning touchdown play)," said Keller, who thought his teammate should have at least shared the Sun Bowl MVP trophy with him. "Maybe there needs to be a plate on there that says, 'Thank you Rudy.'"

ASU    3 0 7 17 - 27
Purdue 0 2 7 14 - 23


Scoring Summary
ASU	-	Ainsworth 22-yard field goal
PU	-	Villareal safety
PU	-	Hare 80-yard pass from Orton
ASU	-	Hagan 27-yard pass from Keller
PU	-	Stubblefield 5-yard pass from Orton
ASU	-	Ainsworth 34-yard field goal
ASU	-	Burgess 41-yard pass from Keller
PU	-	Davis 6-yard pass from Orton
ASU	-	Burgess 19-yard pass from Keller

The Sun Devils traveled to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl as the biggest underdogs of the bowl season against the No. 6 Kansas State Wildcats. Although they were facing the best defense in the country, the Sun Devils never trailed until the final 75 seconds of the contest.

The first quarter featured no scoring and to the surprise of almost 60,000 in Qualcomm Stadium and a national television audience, the Wildcats started the second quarter with a total of minus-five yards rushing and had not advanced the ball past their own 33-yard line. The Sun Devils' following possession began what would be their second of six consecutive drives to start in Wildcat territory and ASU scored on a six-yard TD pass to Justin Taplin from Walter. Linebacker Mason Unck forced KSU quarterback Ell Roberson to fumble on the Wildcats' next possession, which led to a Mike Barth field goal to put ASU up 10-0. Darren Sproles finally got K-State its first points as he scampered 41 yards for a score on the next Wildcat drive, making the score 10-7. The exact same sequence of ASU TD, KSU fumble, ASU field goal, KSU TD would occur again before halftime, with the score being 20-14 going into the locker room.

The flow of the second half would mirror the first; a scoreless third quarter and a wild final period with Roberson leading off the fourth quarter with a three-yard TD run to leave the game tied after the extra point was fumbled. The Sun Devils had an immediate reply with a perfectly executed scoring drive as Walter threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to running back Mike Williams, giving the Sun Devils a 27-20 lead with 10:30 remaining. But another Roberson touchdown and a Derrick Evans score gave the Wildcats the 34-27 victory as the game was nearing its end. ASU defensive end Terrell Suggs sacked Roberson twice to extend his NCAA sack record to 24 on the year and was named the Defensive Player of the Game.

Kansas State  0 14 0 20 - 34
Arizona State 0 20 0 7 -  27

Scoring Summary
ASU	-	Taplin 6-yard pass from Walter
ASU	-	Barth 26-yard field goal
KSU	-	Sproles 41-yard run
ASU	-	Hill 9-yard run
ASU	-	Barth 39-yard field goal
KSU	-	Roberson 32-yard run
KSU	-	Roberson 3-yard run
ASU	-	Williams 10-yard pass from Walter
KSU	-	Roberson 1-yard run
KSU	-	Evans 10-yard pass from Roberson

After an emotional pre-game speech on Christmas Day, Arizona State head coach Bruce Snyder made his last run onto the field with his Sun Devils. But, hoping for a pleasant Christmas gift in the warm tropics, ASU fell short in its second consecutive Aloha Bowl, losing to the Eagles of Boston College 31-17.

The Devils jumped out early in the first quarter on a 14-yard burst by Tom Pace on the second play from scrimmage. However, less than two minutes later, Boston College quarterback Tim Hasselbeck got loose for a 52-yard scramble that set up an Eagle score from 10 yards out to tie the game. On the ensuing ASU drive, quarterback Jeff Krohn fumbled after being sacked, and Boston College's Derric Rossy picked up the loose ball at the Sun Devil' 19 yard-line. After two costly Eagle penalties, Boston College had to settle for a Mike Sutphin 50-yard field goal to leave ASU trailing, 10-7. Early in the second quarter, Krohn found Pace and wide receiver Richard Williams open on several key passing plays that resulted in Mike Barth' 28-yard field goal to even up the score again. The rest of the quarter would remain quiet, and both teams went in at half time knotted at 10-10.

Boston College stole the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns and keeping the Devils from getting and offensive power generated. After backup ASU quarterback Griffin Goodman was sacked for a mighty loss, ASU' Nick Murphy was forced to punt deep in ASU territory. His 49-yard punt salvaged the Devils, but on the first play from scrimmage for the Eagles, quarterback Tim Hasselbeck hooked up with wide out Dedrick Dewalt for a 58-yard passing score. After another change of possession, the Eagles started from the ASU 45 yard-line, and Hasselbeck found flanker Ryan Read for a 40-yard score to put the Eagles up by touchdowns. Boston College added another seven points when it scored early in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard rushing score by halfback Cedric Washington. The Sun Devils were able to score late in the fourth quarter after quarterback Matt Cooper connected with Shaun McDonald for 42 yards to set up Ryan Dennard' 31-yard scoring grab. Boston College held on to the ball for the final minute to run the time out, spoiling the Devil' Christmas hopes and farewell to Coach Bruce Snyder.

Boston College  10  0   14  7 - 31
Arizona State   7   3   0   7 - 17

Scoring Summary
ASU -   Pace 14-yard run
BC -   Washington 10-yard run
BC -   Sutphin 50-yard field goal
ASU - Barth 28-yard field goal
BC -   Dewalt 58-yard pass from Hasselbeck
BC -  Read 40-yard pass from Hasselbeck
BC -   Washington 11-yard run
ASU -  Dennard 31-yard pass from Cooper

Christmas in paradise turned out to be anything but merry for Arizona State, which fell to Wake Forrest 23-3 in the Aloha Bowl. The Sun Devils, rewarded with the trip to Honolulu and their third bowl appearance in four years after trouncing rival Arizona in the regular season finale, finished the year with a 6-6 record. The Aloha Bowl was a tale of two halves, with the first playing itself out as a defensive struggle. Each team could only muster one field goal, with the Demon Deacons'Mike Burdick scoring at the 8:18 mark of the first quarter and Mike Barth putting one through the uprights with 11:22 remaining in the second. After halftime Wake Forrest took advantage of a big play on special teams to get its offense in gear. ASU, forced three-and-out on its first possession of the half, had the ensuing punt by Nick Murphy blocked by the Deacons'Melvin Chalmers and downed at their own 36. Wake drove all the way to the seven-yard line before Burdick chipped in a 24-yarder. The ASU offense then appeared to receive its wake up call when J.R. Redmond powered his way for 38 yards on a critical third-and-three situation to advance the ball to midfield. On the next play reserve tailback Gerald Green would scamper for another 15 yards. However the drive stalled when newly -inserted quarterback John Leonard was sacked by Bryan Ray. Barth then missed a 42-yard field attempt which would have knotted the score at six. The Demon Deacons took over at their own 24. Four plays later, quarterback Ben Sankey connected with wide receiver Jimmy Caldwell for a 56-yard touchdown strike at the 4:13 mark. From that point on the Deacon defense would clamp down, surrendering just three more first downs and not allowing the Sun Devils to advance past midfield. On offense Wake continually fed the ball to tailback Morgan Kane, who finished with 83-yards and increased the lead to 20-7 with his drive over the goal line with 11:11 left in the game. A late field goal by Burdick would ensure Wake Forrest (7-5) of its first winning season since 1992. Arizona State, which racked up 558 yards of total offense against Arizona, managed just 164 in the Aloha Bowl. Redmond was responsible for 89 of those, and finished his stellar collegiate career as ASU' third all-time leading rusher with 3,223 yards.

Wake Forest     3   0 10 10 - 23
Arizona State   0   3  0  0 - 3

Scoring Summary
WF -   Burdick 22 field goal
ASU -  Barth 46 field goal
WF -   Burdick 34 field goal
WF -  Caldwell 56 pass from Sankey (Burdick kick)
WF -   Kane 1 run (Burdick kick)
WF -   Burdick 43 field goal

After missing the 1997 Rose Bowl, oft-injured tailback Michael Martin capped a somewhat adverse career at ASU with a heroic curtain call and led ASU to a 17-7 win over Iowa. Martin carried the ball 27 times for 169 yards, including a third quarter touchdown that gave the Sun Devils a 17-0 lead. Martin's MVP performance eased the pressure off backup quarterback Steve Campbell, who started in place of injured freshman Ryan Kealy. Campbell put ASU on the scoreboard with a 35-yard strike to Lenzie Jackson in the second quarter. Campbell completed on five passes for 109 yards. Just before halftime, Robert Nycz kicked a 20-yard field goal to give the Sun Devils a 10-0 lead. The 10-point spot was all the Sun Devils defense needed, slamming the door on Iowa's offense. Iowa's heralded running back Tavian Banks was limited to 52 yards on 14 carries. Other Iowa runners netted only nine more yards. Big play wideout Tim Dwight caught only three passes and returned six kicks for only 60 yards. Iowa quarterbacks Matt Sherman and Randy Reiners combined for 12 completions on 27 passes for 190 yards. Jeremy Staat was the defensive standout for the Sun Devils with three sacks. Defensive lineman Quincy Yancy recorded a seven-yard sack and another tackle for a loss of a yard. Hamilton Mee and Pat Tillman also found their way to the quarterback. This Sun Bowl appearance marked the first time in 10 years that ASU played bowl games in consecutive seasons. Former Sun Devil football captain John Folmer served as the chairman of the Sun Bowl selection committee.

Iowa            0   0   0  7 - 7
Arizona State   0   10  7  0 - 17

Scoring Summary
ASU -   Jackson 35 pass from Campbell (Nycz kick)
ASU -   Nycz 20 field goal
ASU -   Martin 1 run (Nycz kick)
UI  -   Carter 26 pass from Reiners (Bromert kick)

Arizona State quarterback Jake "The Snake" Plummer scored on a dramatic 11-yard touchdown run with 1:40 left in the game to give ASU a 17-14 lead, only to see Ohio State drive 65 yards in 12 plays and score the winning touchdown with :19 remaining, giving the Buckeyes a 20-17 victory. The game was one of the most exciting Rose Bowl games in history and one of the most exciting college football games seen in a while. Plummer, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting, completed 19 of 35 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown in the game. The touchdown pass was a spectacular 25-yard strike to wide receiver Ricky Boyer, which tied the score at seven at 10:04 in the second quarter. Ohio State had scored first in the opening stanza on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Stanley Jackson to David Boston. The game remained deadlocked at halftime and with 9:12 left in the third quarter, ASU's Robert Nycz nailed a 37-yard field goal, giving the Sun Devils their first lead, 10-7. OSU quarterback Joe Germaine wasted no time in hitting wideout Demetrious Stanley on a 72-yard scoring strike with 8:23 left in the third. Ohio State led 14-10. The game remained scoreless until the final 1:40 when Plummer and Germaine performed their heroics. The Rose Bowl game was the most-watched college bowl game of the season, earning an 18.2 overnight rating (31 share), a full point ahead of the Florida-Florida State Sugar Bowl (17.2/25). ASU wide receiver Lenzie Jackson caught five passes for 71 yards while teammate Derek Smith tallied a game-high 18 tackles from his inside linebacking position. He added two quarterback sacks and deflected one pass.

Ohio State      7   0   7   6-20
Arizona State   0   7   3   7-17

Scoring Summary
OSU -   Boston 9 pass from Jackson (J. Jackson kick)
ASU -   Boyer 25 pass from Plummer (Nycz kick)
ASU -   Nycz 37 field goal
OSU -   Stanley 72 pass from Germaine (J. Jackson
        kick)
ASU -   Plummer 11 run (Nycz kick)
OSU -   Boston 5 pass from Germaine (kick failed)

Arizona State won its second bowl game in a row, including its fourth in the last five tries, defeating Air Force, 33-28, in the Freedom Bowl. Following the Sun Devils' performance, head coach John Cooper announced that he would take the head position at Ohio State. Cooper's three-year record at ASU was 25-9-1 (.750). The Devils used Daniel Ford's best game (16 of 30 for 272 yards and one touchdown) and the timely running of senior backs Darryl Harris (93 yards) and Channing Williams (66 yards) to outscore the Falcons. Air Force's Greg Johnson scored from 12 yards out with 9:42 gone in the first quarter to stake the Falcons to a 7-0 lead. ASU opened the second quarter with a pair of two-yard touchdown runs by Williams (:03) and Harris (3:05). Placekicker Alan Zendejas' 36-yard field goal with 10:43 gone in the second stanza gave ASU a comfortable 17-7 lead. Before the half ended, Air Force added a touchdown while ASU scored on the ensuing drive on a 61-yard pass from Ford to Aaron Cox. The play came with 29 seconds remaining on the clock. In the second half, Zendejas added a 20-yard field goal, giving ASU a 27-14 lead. The Devils' scoring was capped by fullback Kirk Wendorf's 20-yard scamper to paydirt with 5:16 gone in the fourth quarter. Air Force made it interesting with two late touchdowns against ASU's reserves, making the score 33-28 with 10 seconds to play. Cox caught four aerials for 110 yards and one touchdown. He also had one score called back because of a penalty. Freshmen Drew Metcalf and Eric Crawford each collected one interception for the evening.

Arizona State   0   24  3    6-33
Air Force       7    7  0   14-28

Scoring Summary
AF  -   Johnson 12 run (Yarbrough kick)
ASU -   Williams 2 run (Zendejas kick)
ASU -   Harris 2 run (Zendejas kick)
ASU -   Zendejas 36 field goal
AF  -   Booker 3 run (Yarbrough kick)
ASU -   Cox 61 pass from Ford (Zendejas kick)
ASU -   Zendejas 20 field goal
ASU -   Wendorf 20 run (kick failed)
AF  -   Senn 10 pass from McDowell
        (conversion failed)
AF  -   Senn 18 pass from McDowell
        (McDowell run)

Arizona State held Michigan scoreless in the second half and defeated the Wolverines 22-15 in ASU's first Rose Bowl appearance. Quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst outdueled his more fabled opponent, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, and threw two touchdown passes to flanker Bruce Hill, the second of which gave ASU its first lead, 19-15, in the third quarter. Van Raaphorst had hooked up with Hill in the second period on a 4-yard scoring strike just before halftime that got ASU within two points at 15-13. Michigan put a scare into the Sun Devils, taking a 15-3 lead less than six minutes into the second quarter. Michigan took the opening kickoff and drove 66 yards in five minutes for the game's first score, an 18-yard run by tailback Jamie Morris. A two-point conversion gave the Wolverines an 8-0 lead. ASU countered with a 37-yard Kent Bostrom field goal early in the second quarter, one of three in the game for Bostrom, tying a Rose Bowl record. ASU dominated the second half, becoming one of the very few teams to hold Michigan without second half points in the past three seasons. While the Sun Devils were piling up 11 first downs and 166 yards of total

GAME                MVP
1997 Sun            Michael Martin (MVP)
                    Jeremy Staat (Lineman)
1987 Freedom        Daniel Ford (O)
1987 Rose           Jeff Van Raaphorst (MVP)
1985 Holiday        Greg Battle (D)
1983 Fiesta         Todd Hons (O)  Jim Jeffcoat (D)
1978 Garden State   John Mistler (O)
1977 Fiesta         Dennis Sproul (O)
1975 Fiesta         John Jefferson (O)  Larry Gordon (D)
1973 Fiesta         Greg Hudson (O)  Mike Haynes (D)
1972 Fiesta         Woody Green (O)
1971 Fiesta         Junior Ah You (D)
1970 Peach          Monroe Eley (O)  Junior Ah You (D)

offense, ASU's defense was holding Michigan to four first downs and 76 yards, including a net rushing total of minus-5 yards. ASU took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards in 12 plays, culminating with Van Raaphorst's one-yard toss to Hill for the go-ahead score. Hill's spectacular catch at the back of the end zone tied a Rose Bowl record for most TD passes caught in a game with two. ASU then tacked on another Bostrom field goal, a 25-yarder at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Van Raaphorst was named the game's most valuable offensive player, as he completed 16 of 30 passes for 193 yards and two scores with no interceptions. Tailback Darryl Harris led all rushers with 109 yards on 23 carries, while fullback Channing Williams had 69 yards for ASU. ASU defenders frustrated Harbaugh, holding the nation's top-rated passer to 13 completions and 172 yards, and ASU intercepted Harbaugh twice, including a theft by safety Robby Boyd that iced the game late in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State   0   13   6   3-22
Michigan        8    7   0   0-15
Scoring Summary
UM  -   Morris 18 run (G. White pass from
        Gillette)
ASU -   Bostrom 37 field goal
UM  -   Harbaugh 2 run (Gillette kick)
ASU -   Bostrom 17 field goal
ASU -   Hill 4 pass from Van Raaphorst
        (Bostrom kick)
ASU -   Hill 1 pass from Van Raaphorst (pass failed)
ASU -   Bostrom 25 field goal

Arkansas survived a last-second scare by Arizona State and defeated the Sun Devils 18-17 in a thriller at Jack Murphy Stadium. Placekicker Kent Bostrom, who had kicked field goals of 47, 22, and 28 yards, missed a 59-yard attempt with time running out to secure the Razorback win. In the seesaw battle, Arkansas had scored with 23 seconds remaining on a Kendall Trainor 37-yard field goal to stake an 18-17 lead. It was the first Arkansas lead since it led 7-3 in the first quarter. Senior tailback Darryl Clack, playing in his final game as a Sun Devil, returned Trainor's ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the 37-yard line. With time ticking away, quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst hit split end Aaron Cox for 21 yards and a first down at the Arkansas 42. Van Raaphorst passed again, this time to receiver Paul Day. But Day could not hang on at the 22-yard line on a nice play by roverback Odis Lloyd of Arkansas, setting up Bostrom's three-point try. Arizona State scored its only touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Van Raaphorst to Cox just before the half. Van Raaphorst finished the game with 167 yards and one touchdown on 14 of 27 passing. Tailback Mike Crawford, who was the holder on the field goal try, rushed for 103 yards on 18 carries. ASU inside linebacker Greg Battle earned the game's most valuable defender award.

Arizona State   3   11   0    3-17
Arkansas        7    0   0   11-18
Scoring Summary
ASU -   Bostrom 47 field goal
ARK -   Thomas 9 run (Trainor kick)
ASU -   Bostrom 22 field goal
ASU -   Cox 16 pass from Van Raaphorst
        (Van Raaphorst pass to Amoia)
ARK -   Edmonds 17 run (Calcagni run)
ASU -   Bostrom 28 field goal
ARK -   Trainor 37 field goal

Arizona State came off NCAA probation with a resounding 32-21 victory over Oklahoma its first major network television appearance since 1980. The Sooners led 7-0 after one quarter before the Devils scored the game's next eight points. Two Luis Zendejas field goals and a safety gave the Sun Devils a short-lived 8-7 advantage. Following an Oklahoma TD, Zendejas added his third three-pointer of the game, a record-setting 54-yarder as the halftime gun sounded, cutting Oklahoma's lead to 13-11. After alternating possessions for the first five minutes of the third stanza, Arizona State drove 43 yards on four plays, capped by a 15-yard run by Darryl Clack, to give the Devils an 18-13 lead. However, the Sooners engineered a drive of their own, followed by a successful two-point conversion that gave them a 21-18 lead after 45 minutes of play. Twenty-eight seconds into the final quarter, ASU's Alvin Moore scored from a yard out to give the Devils a 25-21 margin. On the Devil's next possession, QB Todd Hons, who threw for 329 yards in the game, connected with speedster Ron Brown on a 52-yard pass play for the game's final score. Hons was named offensive most valuable player for the Devils while defensive end Jim Jeffcoat received the same honor for the defense.

Arizona State   0   11   7   14-32
Oklahoma        7    6   8    0-21
Scoring Summary
OU  -   Wilson 1 run (Keeling kick)
ASU -   Zendejas 32 field goal
ASU -   Safety, Phelps tackled in end zone
ASU -   Zendejas 22 field goal
OU  -   Wilson 1 run (run failed)
ASU -   Zendejas 54 field goal
ASU -   Clack 15 run (Zendejas kick)
OU  -   Sims 19 run (Phelps pass to Fontenette)
ASU -   Moore 1 run (Zendejas kick)
ASU -   Brown 52 pass from Hons (Zendejas kick)

Arizona State and Rutgers collided in the inaugural Garden State Bowl, with the Sun Devils taking a 34-18 win. The Sun Devils came from behind to score the victory after trailing 10-0 late in the second quarter. Arizona State got on the scoreboard with Mark Malone's 26-yard pass to Robert Weathers to put ASU down by three at the half. In the second half Malone and the rest of the Sun Devils put it all together to score 21 straight points to take command of the game. Malone, who finished the game 13 of 31 for 268 yards, assisted in all five of the Sun Devil touchdowns as he threw for three TDs and rushed for the other two. In the third quarter, Malone passed to John Mistler for a 26-yard TD and then followed up with a 53-yard bomb to Chris DeFrance. In the fourth quarter Malone took it in himself on a one-yard run. Ted Blackwell scored Rutgers' final TD of the day on a five-yard run. Malone then scored on a four-yard run for his second TD of the afternoon. Sun Devil receiver John Mistler was named MVP for his efforts in catching seven passes for 148 yards.

Arizona State   0   7   14  13-34
Rutgers        10   0    0   8-18
Scoring Summary
RU  -   Dorn 47 run (Startzell kick)
RU  -   Startzell 46 field goal
ASU -   Weathers 14 pass from Malone (Hicks kick)
ASU -   Mistler 26 pass from Malone
        (Hicks kick)
ASU -   DeFrance 53 pass from Malone
        (Hicks kick)
ASU -   Malone 1 run (Hicks kick)
RU  -   Blackwell 5 run (Blackwell pass to
        McMichael)
ASU -   Malone 4 run (kick failed)

Arizona State failed in its attempt for a sixth-straight bowl victory, falling to a powerful Nittany Lion squad by a 42-30 margin. Probably the biggest reason for the Devil demise was the 14 first quarter points ASU surrendered. But the Sun Devils came battling back from the deficit, scoring a pair of second quarter TDs on a pair of Dennis Sproul aerials. Although A-State came back to only a 17-14 deficit at the half, the third quarter and the early going in the final frame was all Penn State. Down 31-14, the Devils never quit, giving the Fiesta Bowl record crowd and the national CBS television audience an exciting contest to the finish. Sproul hit Ron Washington to bring ASU to the short side of 31-21, and after a Matt Bahr field goal, ASU scored to pull within six at 34-28. But the Lions closed the door on a TD in the final minutes by Matt Suhey, while ASU scored its final points on a safety.

Penn State     14    3   7   18-42
Arizona State   0   14   0   16-30
Scoring Summary
PSU -   Lally 21 blocked punt return (Bahr kick)
PSU -   Torrey 3 pass from Fusina (Bahr kick)
ASU -   Lane 11 pass from Sproul (Hicks kick)
PSU -   Bahr 23 field goal
ASU -   Washington 13 pass from Sproul
        (Hicks kick)
PSU -   Geise 18 run (Bahr kick)
PSU -   Suhey 3 run (Bahr kick)
ASU -   Washington 30 pass from Sproul
        (Hicks kick)
PSU -   Bahr 32 field goal
ASU -   Perry 1 run (Hicks kick)
PSU -   Suhey 3 run (Geise rush)
ASU -   Safety, Fitzkee tackled in end zone

In perhaps the biggest win in Arizona State football history, the Sun Devils outlasted co-Big 8 champ Nebraska to finish the season 12-0 and go on to finish second in both wire service final grid polls. Trailing 14-6 entering the final quarter, the Sun Devils scored an early fourth period TD on a 10-yard Fred Mortensen to John Jefferson pass. Mortensen then tossed to Larry Mucker for a two-point conversion to tie the game at 14. Late in the fourth quarter, ASU's Danny Kush booted a 29-yard field goal - his third of the day - to give the Devils a 17-14 lead. Nebraska began driving for a possible winning score in the waning moments of the game, but a jarring tackle of Cornhusker Tony Davis allowed the Sun Devils to recover a fumble and the game for the victory. "From the players' standpoint, this was probably the most important game since I have been here," said Frank Kush. "Not only was the game important for the recognition this team will receive, but it also helps gain recognition for the great teams and players we have had here in the past."

Arizona State   3   3   0   11-17
Nebraska        0   7   7    0-14
Scoring Summary
ASU -   Kush 27 field goal
UN  -   Anthony 1 run (Coyle kick)
ASU -   Kush 33 field goal
UN  -   Anthony 4 run (Coyle kick)
ASU -   Jefferson 10 pass from Mortensen
        (Mortensen pass to Mucker)
ASU -   Kush 29 field goal

Pitt scored a gift touchdown in the first minute of play, but only Arizona State scored during the remainder of the game as ASU won its third consecutive Fiesta Bowl. Danny White fumbled on the first snap of the game with Pitt recovering at the ASU 12. Tony Dorsett gained nine yards and then three for the touchdown to put the Panthers ahead. But ASU drove 73 yards in it next possession, with White's 51-yard pass to Greg Hudson setting up Woody Green's three-yard touchdown run. Danny Kush's 30-yard field goal with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter snapped a 7-7 deadlock. The Devils put the game away in the final period. White's 38-yard pass to Hudson completed an 80-yard scoring drive. Green ran 23 yards for a TD on the first play, following a partially blocked Pitt punt, and White's 50-yard pass to Owens set up a one-yard touchdown by Green. Green gained 131 yards on 25 carries, while Dorsett netted 100 yards on 30 carries.

Arizona State   7   0   3   18-28
Pittsburgh      7   0   0    0-7
Scoring Summary
PITT    -   Dorsett 3 run (Long kick)
ASU -   Green 3 run (Kush kick)
ASU -   Kush 30 field goal
ASU -   Hudson 38 pass from White (kick failed)
ASU -   Green 23 run (kick failed)
ASU -   Green 1 run (kick failed)

Arizona State all-America Woody Green capped a great 1972 season, scoring four touchdowns in the Sun Devils' 49-35 win over Missouri. In addition to scoring four times, Green carried 25 times for 202 net yards. Running mate Brent McClanahan also broke the 100-yard rushing barrier, tallying 171 on 26 carries and one TD. Quarterback Danny White passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns as the Devils won their third straight bowl title.

Arizona State   14  14    0   21-49
Missouri         0   7   14   14-35
Scoring Summary
ASU -   Green 2 run (Cruz kick)
ASU -   Green 12 run (Cruz kick)
UM  -   Johnson 1 run (Hill kick)
ASU -   McClanahan 1 run (Cruz kick)
ASU -   Beverly 34 pass from White (Cruz kick)
UM  -   Link 48 pass from Cherry (kick failed)
UM  -   Link 4 pass from Cherry (Link pass from
        Cherry)
ASU -   Green 17 run (Cruz kick)
UM  -   Fink 100 kickoff return (Hill kick)
ASU -   Beverly 53 pass from White (Cruz kick)
ASU -   Green 21 run (Cruz kick)
UM  -   Reamon 31 run (Hill kick)

The Sun Devils and Florida State's Seminoles combined to give the Fiesta Bowl the most spectacular opening game in collegiate bowl history. A contest of continual offensive one-upmanship, the two teams combined for 83 points - the most in modern collegiate bowl game history. Gary Huff's 25 of 46 for 347 yards with two TDs earned him the MVP award, but Huff came up short in leading the Seminoles to victory over Arizona State. Leading the way for the Sun Devils was quarterback Danny White (15 of 30 for 250 yards and two TDs). Woody Green (24 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns) and Don Ekstrand (5 PATs and one 34-yard field goal). The Sun Devils scored on a 1-yard run by Green with only 34 seconds left in the contest for their final margin of victory.

Arizona State    7   14  10   14-45
Florida State   10   18   0   10-38
Scoring Summary
ASU -   Demery 21 pass from White
        (Ekstrand kick)
FSU -   Magalski 1 run (Fontes kick)
FSU -   Fontes 35 field goal
ASU -   Green 1 run (Ekstrand kick)
FSU -   Fontes 23 field goal
FSU -   Dawson 14 pass from Gaydos (Dawson
        pass from Huff)
FSU -   Dawson 10 pass from Huff (Fontes kick)
ASU -   Ekstrand 34 field goal
ASU -   Green 2 run (Ekstrand kick)
FSU -   Fontes 42 field goal
ASU -   Holden 68 punt return (Ekstrand kick)
FSU -   Smith 25 pass from Huff (Fontes kick)
ASU -   Green 2 run (Ekstrand kick)

The Sun Devils conquered a fine North Carolina team and a raging Atlanta blizzard to begin their march into the national collegiate grid limelight in the '70 Peach Bowl. It was the Sun Devil trademark of blazing speed that earned the victory for ASU, as J.D. Hill, Monroe Eley, Bob Thomas and Joe Spagnola led the way for Arizona State. The Sun Devils broke out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, Carolina answered with 26 second quarter points to take a 26-21 halftime lead. The Devils offense continued to operate at peak efficiency in the second half, despite the raging snow storm that slowed the track. Also raging in the second half was the A-State defense, which held UNC all-America running back Don McCauley and the Tar Heels scoreless. "This game is going to mean a lot to us in the future," said Frank Kush, following the Sun Devil triumph. "I think that we've proven now that we can go on a football field with anyone in the nation."

Arizona State   7   14  20   7-48
North Carolina  0   26   0   0-26
Scoring Summary
ASU -   Thomas 8 run (Ekstrand kick)
ASU	-	Thomas 33 run (Ekstrand kick)
NC	-	McCauley 1 run (Craven kick)
ASU	-	Hill 67 pass from Spagnola (Ekstrand kick)
NC	-	Blanchard 36 pass from Miller (Craven kick)
NC	-	McCauley 17 run (kick failed)
NC	-	McCauley 4 run (pass failed)
ASU	-	Eley 8 run (Ekstrand kick)
ASU	-	Holden 13 run (kick failed)
ASU	-	Eley 5 run (Ekstrand kick)
ASU	-	Thomas 2 run (Ekstrand kick)

Eddie Doherty took his team to the Salad Bowl for the second straight year, this time to face Woody Hayes' Miami Redskins. Miami roared out to 21-0 lead before Wilford White scored for ASC on a pass from Manuel Aja. The teams traded touchdowns after that. Passer Nobby Wirkowski and runner Jim (Boxcar) Bailey were Miami's offensive stars.

	Miami (Ohio)	7 14 6 7 - 34
	Arizona State	0  7 7 7 - 21

Scoring Summary
MU	-	Pont 1 run (Stauffer kick)
MU	-	Bailey 1 run (Stauffer kick)
ASC	-	White 27 pass from Aja (Fuller kick)
ASC	-	Wahlin 4 run (Fuller kick)
MU	-	Maccioli 7 pass from Wirkowski
		(kick failed)
MU	-	Bailey 50 run (Stauffer kick)
ASC	-	White 15 run (Fuller kick)

Wilford (Whizzer) White scored twice and Cecil Coleman once, but Xavier University of Cincinnati had too much brawn for the light Sun Devils. The score was tied at 14-14 in the third quarter, but Xavier pushed over three more touchdowns in the final 20 minutes to settle the issue.

Xavier         0 14 13 6 - 33
Arizona State  7  0  7 7 - 21

Scoring Summary
ASC	-	White 1 pass from Coleman (Fuller kick)
XU	-	Wilke (Keefe kick)
XU	-	O'Brien (Keefe kick)
ASC	-	Coleman 1 run (Fuller kick)
XU	-	McQuade (kick failed)
XU	-	Finnell (Keefe kick)
ASC	-	White 5 run (Fuller kick)
XU	-	Crowe 1 run (kick failed)

Western Reserve came from behind in the second half to defeat coach Dixie Howell's Arizona State Bulldogs. The Cleveland, Ohio, eleven scored first on Steve Belichick's short plunge, but Arizona State nearly pulled even in the second quarter on a 10-yard scoring pass from Joe Hernandez to Wayne Pitts that made the score Western Reserve 7, ASTC 6. Shortly thereafter, Hascall Henshaw put the Bulldogs ahead with a spectacular 94-yard scoring dash. But it was all Western Reserve in the second half, as Willis Waggle, Richard Booth and Joe Reis scored on short runs.

Western Reserve 7  0 6 13 - 26
Arizona State   0 13 0  0 - 13

Scoring Summary
WR	-	Belichick 1 run (Belichick kick)
ASTC	-	Pitts 10 pass from Hernandez (kick failed)
ASTC	-	Henshaw 94 run (Hernandez kick)
WR	-	Waggle 10 return of blocked kick
		(kick failed)
WR	-	Booth 5 run (Skoczen kick)
WR	-	Reis 3 run (kick failed)

Arizona State's Bulldogs met Catholic University of Washington, D.C., in the Bulldogs' first-ever postseason bowl appearance, the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Coach Dixie Howell's 1939 team had been a defensive wonder, and it continued the tradition in the Sun Bowl, blanking the strong Cardinals and limiting them to only four first downs, Wayne (Ripper) Pitts and Bill (Dub) Davis were backfield standouts and center Ray Green was an anchor of the ASTC line. The Dogs rolled up a big statistical advantage, but were stopped on four fumble losses and several pass interceptions in the scoreless game.