Zona Zealots
Fansided

Arizona Football: 2018 Territorial Cup post game reaction and commentary

By Shereen Rayan

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: (L-R) Head coaches Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats talks with quarterback Khalil Tate #14 before the college football game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Arizona Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Cougars defeated the Wildcats 28-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: (L-R) Head coaches Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats talks with quarterback Khalil Tate #14 before the college football game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Arizona Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Cougars defeated the Wildcats 28-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Herm Edwards of the Arizona State Sun Devils (R) embraces head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats following a 41-40 ASU victory during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Herm Edwards of the Arizona State Sun Devils (R) embraces head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats following a 41-40 ASU victory during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

Given time to let it all set in, it’s time to assess the game, the fallout and give an opinion on the Arizona Football vs. Arizona State Football 2018 Territorial Cup.

Well, by now you know how it all ended. The Arizona Football team lost by one horrific, measly, erasable point to their rival ASU Sun Devils 41-40. Erasable because if the coaches decided to go for one instead of two twice, the Wildcats could have possibly come away with a win. Can you blame that on the quarterback? Maybe because he didn’t convert the two points, but he didn’t call the play either. Those calls were not necessary at the time they were called as the Cats were way up on the scoreboard.

Let that sink in. Or maybe in the red zone, the OC called a trick play? Maybe instead of running up the middle or calling the same play ten times, you use your tight ends more? Maybe a slant pass? Maybe on defense, as one fan suggested, “How about a red zone or goal line blitz every two or three OTs?” Why didn’t the Wildcats blitz more to throw off the ASU quarterback. My colleague Eric Townsend called the plays vanilla, we have been discussing this all season.

The entire game was on the line with seconds left and the Wildcats were down 41-40. Kicker Josh Pollack, who had made four previous field goals and two extra points during the game, missed the 45-yard field goal by about a foot or so. But do not blame the kicker for the loss even though he blames himself, football is a team sport.

More from Wildcats Football

“I want to thank everyone for what has been the best 5 years of my life,” wrote Pollack, “I had the opportunity to take the cup back to Tucson and I failed — I want to apologize to the Wildcat family for letting you all down on what is everyone’s goal at the end of the season.” Pollack ended his note with positives about learning from failure. We wish him a very successful and happy life, and hopefully, we all make sure to help him move on.

I feel a turning point in the game was when the referee let the taunting of Demetrius Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles go without penalty. That gave the ASU offense a bolt of confidence. They could get in the face of a Wildcat with their helmet, hit the players helmet, then taunt him, chest but him and get away with it. In the end zone and after an ASU touchdown. Unbelievable.

Here is the blatant taunting, you decide.

Home/Wildcats Football