Arizona State University - Sun Devil Spark / Sahuaro Yearbook (Tempe, AZ)

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Young Sun Devils win first WAC football crown in rebuilding year After a see-saw start, Arizona State University rolled over its last six opponents and turned what was supposed to be a rebuilding year into its first Western Athletic Conference football championship since the league was formed in 1962. In doing so the Devils also compiled their third straight 8-2 record. ASU replaced the three-year conference theme song, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, with their own song as young offensive and defensive lines finally jelled after early season inconsistency. With only eight seniors and five starters returning from a ' 68 squad which led the nation in rushing defense and topped the WAC in total offense and scoring, Head Coach Frank Kush and his assistants faced the rebuilding task with 19 18 juniors and six JC transfers. Pre-season polls still held the Devils in high esteem, predicting a second place finish to Wyoming in the WAC, while Sports illustrated listed ASU as the 18th best team in the nation. ASU ' s first opponent was quick to concur. Big Ten visitor, the University of Minnesota, stunned a record crowd of 50,202 by marching to a 7-0 lead on four plays with just 1:40 gone in the game. But it was the speedy Devils who were for the rest of the game. Halfback Dave Buchanan a punt 62 yards to put ASU on the scoreboard. Quarterback Joe Spagnola then unloaded a scoring bomb to wingback Mike Brunson to give the Devils a 14-7 lead. ASU boosted the margin to 42-14 in the fourth quarter winning 48-26. While the Golden Gophers keyed their defense on ASU All-America candidate Art Malone, the Devils smashed a team passing mark with 446 yards. Spagnola connected on 16 of 29 passes for 369 yards and three TD ' s. Sophomore split-end Calvin Demery caught 11 of those passes for 201 yards (both school records) in what Coach Kush called the greatest first-game performance by a sophomore he had ever seen. Despite the optimistic showing of the rookie offensive and lines in the season ' s opener, it was their lack of experience that came back to haunt ASU. came early for the Devils as the Great Pumpkin, Dee Andros, coached his Oregon State University Beavers to a humiliating 30-7 upset. OSU led only 7-0 at but a 16 point third quarter gave the Beavers their fourth straight win over ASU. The Sun Devils ' only score came on a plunge by halfback Jim Shaughnessy in the final quarter. Injuries crippled ASU as Brunson was sidelined for three weeks with a shoulder separation and Demery was slowed by a bruised leg. Line backer Mike Mess did not play due to an injury sustained in the UM game. Malone did his best to keep ASU in the game, rushing for 119 yards. And defensive back Seth Miller intercepted three passes, but the Devils were not mentally ready for OSU as the Beavers dealt a blow to ASU ' s quest for national recognition.

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ABOVE: Tom Delnoce, Steve Zeiders and Joe Spagnola go over game plans on the flight to Utah. RIGHT: Second team QB Grady Hurst looks for receivers after replacing Spagnola in the OSU game. FAR RIGHT: Cal Demery checks for oncoming tacklers as Dave Buchanan romps for a TD against Minnesota. BELOW: Art breaks loose for an eight-yard gain against the Gold Gophers. BOTTOM RIGHT: On the bench Spagnola, Mike and Buchanan discuss Minnesota ' s defense. 26–football

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lackluster Devils trim BYU 23 - 7; TOP LEFT: Headed by linebacker Mike Kennedy (55) and defensive end Mike Fanucci (84), the Devil defense stacks up a Utah back for no gain. TOP RIGHT: Art Malone sidesteps BYU ' s Chris for a six-yard gain. LEFT: Cougar Paul Sutorius watches a Spagnola pass sail high over the fingertips of ASU split end Cal Demery. ABOVE: The offense blasts a hole in the BYU line for halfback Dave Buchanan. RIGHT: Buchanan discusses plays with offensive tackle Jim Kelley during the Utah game. FAR RIGHT: fights for yardage against the tough Utah defense.