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The Daily Wildcat

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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

    “Important dates in the “”Duel in the Desert”””

    1899: Arizona Normal School (eventually ASU) defeats Arizona 11-2 before approximately 300 people in Tucson in the first edition of the rivalry game.

    1934: The Wildcats defeat the Sun Devils 32-6 before approximately 5,500 at Arizona Stadium, the first meeting at the venue with recorded attendance. Arizona beat ASU 26-0 in the first matchup at Arizona Stadium in 1929.

    1949: The Sun Devils defeat the Wildcats 34-7 in Tempe to break a run of 20 Arizona victories in 22 meetings. ASU would establish a similar streak in taking 15 of 17 matchups between 1965 and 1981.

    1975: The Sun Devils’ John Jefferson leapt to grab a touchdown in the back of the end zone in a play known thereafter in the series as “”The Catch,”” and ASU’s 24-21 victory helps propel the team to 12-0 record and No. 2 final national ranking.

    1986: Wildcat safety Chuck Cecil returns an interception 106 yards to help Arizona defeat ASU 34-17 and give the Sun Devils their only loss of the season.

    1987: The only tie in this series comes after ASU botches a punt attempt with 13 seconds remaining, and Arizona kicks a field goal to knot the score at 24.

    1989: Arizona defeats ASU 28-10 in Tempe before 74,926 at Sun Devil Stadium, the largest crowd to date to see the teams compete.

    1998: The Wildcats win the highest-scoring meeting between the teams 50-42 and end up with a program-best 12-1 record and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. The season marked Arizona’s last trip to the postseason.

    2004: The Wildcats ride three touchdown passes from quarterback Richard Kovalcheck to take down the then-No. 18 Sun Devils 34-27 to end Arizona head coach Mike Stoops’ first season on a high note.

    2005: Terry Richardson returns a fourth-quarter punt 71 yards to help the Sun Devils’ erase a 15-point deficit, and ASU wins 23-20 in Tempe.

    – Compiled by Tom Knauer

    Sources: Arizona Athletics, ASU Athletics, Arizona Daily Star

    last 10 in Tucson

    The results from the previous 10 meetings between Arizona and ASU at Arizona Stadium:

    1986: 34-17 (W)
    1988: 28-18 (W)
    1990: 21-17 (W)
    1992: 7-6 (L)
    1994: 28-27 (W)
    1996: 56-14 (W)
    1998: 50-42 (W)
    2000: 30-17 (L)
    2002: 34-20 (L)
    2004: 34-27* (W)

    Win-loss record: 7-3
    Average score: Arizona 29, ASU 23
    Wildcats’ home record in series: 28-16 (21-15 at Arizona Stadium)

    *under current Arizona head coach Mike Stoops

    – Compiled by Tom Knauer

    Source: Arizona Athletics

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