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

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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.

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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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Utah dampens ASU ' s title hopes in 24-23 upset While a demonstration by the Black Liberation Organization was sputtering outside the the Sun Devil offense seemed to be boycotting the end zones as ASU struggled to a 3-0 halftime lead over Brigham Young University. But the Devils exploded for three touchdowns in a 3:49 span in the third quarter to win their first WAC contest 23-7. Art Malone scored the first TD after a BYU pass interference call gave the Devils first down on the Cougar 11. Then, after being held on downs, BYU punted to the ASU 13 and Lenny Randle zipped 87 yards for another score. Four plays later Dave Buchan an scored again from 40 yards on a pitchout. The scoring spree ended as quickly as it had started as the offense went cold, but the defense was able to limit BYU to one fourth quarter touchdown. In Salt Lake City the Devils misplaced a 15-point lead as the University of Utah upset ASU to inherit the chief challenger ' s role in the WAC title race. The Devils scored early as defensive right end Junior Ah You blocked a Redskin punt for a safety. ASU hiked the score to 15-0 on runs of nine and 15 yards by Buchanan, but Utah scored once before and then erupted in the second half as QB Ray Groth picked the Devils apart. With Utah leading 24-15 Spagnola ignited a fourth quarter drive, hitting four times including a scoring toss. Malone got the two-point conversion to bring ASU within a point. With 3:30 left in the game ASU got possession on its own 37, but a penalty for illegal receiver stopped a drive that would have put the Devils into field goal range. Bob McCann booted a record 77-yard punt, but Utah ran out the clock for the victory. Rebounding from the slump, the Sun Devils put on their best all-around performance since the Minnesota win with a drubbing of San Jose State. The ground game was effective with Malone and Buchanan each scoring twice; Malone picked up 121 yards on 30 carries. Spagnola kept the air attack alive, completing 10 of 20 passes for 138 yards. Seth led the defense, intercepting three passes, and Randle scored the final TD on a 76-yard punt with 8:16 left. football -29