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

Page 32 text:

resurrected Sun Devils stun unbeaten Wyoming and 30 - football, homecoming

Page 31 text:

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

Page 33 text:

re-entering as WAC challengers Appropriate to the Homecoming theme, The Age of Man, ASU ' s rookie defense and the offensive line matured when they had to as the Devils shot down the unbeaten and 13th-ranked Cowboys of the University of Wyoming, 30-14. The defense allowed UW just 14 net yards rushing compared to the ' Pokes ' 182-yard average, and held the high scoring Cowboy to one TD. ASU intercepted five passes—the most ever against a Wyoming team—and the defense threw Cowboys quarterbacks for losses nine times. A-State also dominated the kicking game, one of Wyo ' s strong points. McCann averaged 45.3 yards on nine punts compared to 39.5 for UW ' s national leader Bob Jacobs. And ASU ' s Ed Gallardo booted three field goals, while Jacobs, the nation ' s kick scoring leader who needed only one field goal to tie the NCAA record, was held scoreless. On the first play from Spagnola lofted a 45-yard bomb to Demery to show the WAC record crowd of 48,129 that the Devils were ready to play. ASU built a 27-2 lead before Wyo late in the game. In the second quarter Malone plunged off-tackle for a three-yard gain to become the top career rusher in WAC with 2,408 yards. The carry pushed Malone past BYU ' s John Ogden who gained 2,376 yards from ' 64 to ' 66. The victory vaulted ASU back into the WAC championship race and boosted the Sun Devils ' record to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference. LEFT: Cowboys converge on Art Malone who recovers his own fumble. TOP RIGHT: Malone mediates a discussion between Coach Kush and an official, concerning substitutions. For once, Kush won. RIGHT: Homecoming royalty Barbara Parsons and Tom Delnoce, starting center for the are honored during intermission of the Gary Puckett concert. BELOW: Sun Devils celebrate an upset win over unbeaten WAC leader Wyoming.