Arizona State vs Arizona
If you think Kyle Brotzman (Boise State kicker) had it bad, you'd probably be right. But compared to what Alex Zendejas failed to do, Brotzman's failures is nothing.
2 blocked extra points by James Brooks sent Arizona State to a 30-29 double overtime win over Arizona, making the Sun Devils bowl eligible. However, the Sun Devils need their waiver request to be cleared by the NCAA to play in a bowl game.
The game started off a defensive struggle, with Arizona's normally potent offense not able to take advantage of good field position. Arizona got to the ASU 38 and the ASU 31 in the first half, but they couldn't put points on the board. ASU strung together 2 nice drives in the first half, and they had a 6-0 halftime edge.
But in the second half the Wildcats woke up. After forcing a 3 and out, Foles hit Terrence Miller for a 38 yard gain over the middle, and he connected with Juron Criner in the left corner of the end zone for 6.
The Sun Devils came close to the lead, but they couldn't finish their drive with points. And Arizona proved that they could, with Juron Criner getting a step ahead of his defender to catch a 52 yard TD pass.
Although a ranked team held a 8 point lead over a team without their starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler was better than most backup QB's. He connected with Kerry Taylor for a 54 yard pass, setting up a 3rd Thomas Weber field goal.
But the Wildcat offense couldn't convert. Greg Nwoko fumbled, and ASU recovered. However, the Sun Devils were faced with 2nd and 26. But that total was cut to 3rd and 13, and then Brock Osweiler scrambled and picked up the first down.
The Sun Devils were forced with that decision again, but Osweiler came through again. However, a chance at 8 points was almost wiped away by a Cameron Marshall fumble. But ASU's Evan Finkenberg recovered, and that set up a score.
Osweiler hit Mike Willie for a 3 yard TD on a curl route, and he hit Kerry Taylor for the 2 point conversion. Then after Keola Antolin ran into a wall on 4th and 1, ASU got another field goal; and they took a 20-14 lead.
Unfortunately for ASU, the Sun Devil defense got flattened. Arizona got to the Sun Devil 33, where they converted a fourth down. Then Nick Foles found Terrence Miller for a 15 yard gain before finding David Douglas on a slant to make it 20-20. All Arizona needed to win was an extra point.
But Alex Zendejas couldn't get the ball over MLB James Brooks. Brooks found out during practice that the trajectory for kicks were low, and he used that knowledge to send the ball flying to the right.
In OT Arizona started with the ball, and they were rolling along again. They got to the 2 before the Arizona State pass defense stiffened, and forced 2 incomplete passes. Arizona had to settle for a field goal, and it was a 23-20 game.
Although the Sun Devils didn't get a first down, they did have a 4-4 senior kicker who wasn't going to screw things up. He nailed a kick from 40 yards out, and the game went into double overtime.
Osweiler hit Kerry Taylor for a 19 yard gain in the second overtime, and ASU was down at the 2. Cameron Marshall rammed into the end zone for the Sun Devils, and they had a 30-23 lead. However, one backwards pass later, the game was about to go into triple overtime.
However, Zendejas again kicked the ball low. It was obviously on pace to go in, but the 6-5 Brooks got a good piece of it and sent it flying just past the right upright. Arizona State had won!
Even though the Sun Devils have 6 wins and the Pac-10 needs bowl game teams, since the Sun Devils played 2 FCS teams they need a waiver request signed by the NCAA to allow them to play in a bowl game.
2 blocked extra points by James Brooks sent Arizona State to a 30-29 double overtime win over Arizona, making the Sun Devils bowl eligible. However, the Sun Devils need their waiver request to be cleared by the NCAA to play in a bowl game.
The game started off a defensive struggle, with Arizona's normally potent offense not able to take advantage of good field position. Arizona got to the ASU 38 and the ASU 31 in the first half, but they couldn't put points on the board. ASU strung together 2 nice drives in the first half, and they had a 6-0 halftime edge.
But in the second half the Wildcats woke up. After forcing a 3 and out, Foles hit Terrence Miller for a 38 yard gain over the middle, and he connected with Juron Criner in the left corner of the end zone for 6.
The Sun Devils came close to the lead, but they couldn't finish their drive with points. And Arizona proved that they could, with Juron Criner getting a step ahead of his defender to catch a 52 yard TD pass.
Although a ranked team held a 8 point lead over a team without their starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler was better than most backup QB's. He connected with Kerry Taylor for a 54 yard pass, setting up a 3rd Thomas Weber field goal.
But the Wildcat offense couldn't convert. Greg Nwoko fumbled, and ASU recovered. However, the Sun Devils were faced with 2nd and 26. But that total was cut to 3rd and 13, and then Brock Osweiler scrambled and picked up the first down.
The Sun Devils were forced with that decision again, but Osweiler came through again. However, a chance at 8 points was almost wiped away by a Cameron Marshall fumble. But ASU's Evan Finkenberg recovered, and that set up a score.
Osweiler hit Mike Willie for a 3 yard TD on a curl route, and he hit Kerry Taylor for the 2 point conversion. Then after Keola Antolin ran into a wall on 4th and 1, ASU got another field goal; and they took a 20-14 lead.
Unfortunately for ASU, the Sun Devil defense got flattened. Arizona got to the Sun Devil 33, where they converted a fourth down. Then Nick Foles found Terrence Miller for a 15 yard gain before finding David Douglas on a slant to make it 20-20. All Arizona needed to win was an extra point.
But Alex Zendejas couldn't get the ball over MLB James Brooks. Brooks found out during practice that the trajectory for kicks were low, and he used that knowledge to send the ball flying to the right.
In OT Arizona started with the ball, and they were rolling along again. They got to the 2 before the Arizona State pass defense stiffened, and forced 2 incomplete passes. Arizona had to settle for a field goal, and it was a 23-20 game.
Although the Sun Devils didn't get a first down, they did have a 4-4 senior kicker who wasn't going to screw things up. He nailed a kick from 40 yards out, and the game went into double overtime.
Osweiler hit Kerry Taylor for a 19 yard gain in the second overtime, and ASU was down at the 2. Cameron Marshall rammed into the end zone for the Sun Devils, and they had a 30-23 lead. However, one backwards pass later, the game was about to go into triple overtime.
However, Zendejas again kicked the ball low. It was obviously on pace to go in, but the 6-5 Brooks got a good piece of it and sent it flying just past the right upright. Arizona State had won!
Even though the Sun Devils have 6 wins and the Pac-10 needs bowl game teams, since the Sun Devils played 2 FCS teams they need a waiver request signed by the NCAA to allow them to play in a bowl game.
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