PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Khalil Tate has looked like a changed player since returning from a one-week break to rest an injured ankle in October. Over the last three games he has thrown 12 touchdown passes and even set a new career high for passing yards in a single game in a win over Colorado at the beginning of the month. Tate also had his longest run of the season of 33 yards in the loss to Washington State. The offense goes as he goes in many ways, and as of late Tate has been impressive for the Wildcats.
–RB JJ Taylor had his first subpar week in quite some time. The redshirt sophomore finished last week’s game against Washington State with 69 yards on 20 carries. Taylor averaged 186 rushing yards in the three games prior to last week’s loss.
–LB Colin Schooler continues to rack up stats this season as Arizona’s most productive defensive player. In the loss to Washington State, he again led the team with 13 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and half a sack. Schooler once again leads the Pac-12 Conference in tackles for loss and is now fifth on Arizona’s single-season list with 21.5. Schooler has 33 more tackles than the next player on Arizona’s list this season as he has 114 while fellow linebacker Tony Fields II has 81.
–CB Lorenzo Burns will have his work cut out for him once again this week as N’Keal Harry will be lining up on the other side for Arizona State. Burns has become Arizona’s most significant cornerback this year and is someone the defense relies on quite a bit. The redshirt sophomore has had his ups and downs with penalties remaining an issue, but he has had solid performances against other top receivers in the Pac-12. Burns has 39 tackles this year, including four last week against Washington State, while he leads the team with 11 pass breakups.
SERIES HISTORY: Arizona leads Arizona State 49-41-1. Being the home team has mattered, despite all the surprises this matchup has brought over the years. The home team has won each of the last five meetings. Last season’s game in Tempe ended with a 42-30 victory for the Sun Devils.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I talk to people here in town and alums about how important it is to bring the cup back. You get a real good sense of the intensity level that’s coming this weekend.” — Coach Kevin Sumlin on the emotions and importance of winning the Territorial Cup Game.
