Devils in Detail
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ASU Football: Looking back at the last four bowl games

By Trevor Booth

TUCSON, AZ - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Herm Edwards (L) and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales of the Arizona State Sun Devils question the call of an official during the first half of a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Herm Edwards (L) and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales of the Arizona State Sun Devils question the call of an official during the first half of a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Gary Jennings #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers catches a 64 yard touchdown reception past defensive backs Kweishi Brown #10 and Kareem Orr #25 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the third quarter of the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field on January 2, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mountaineers defeated the Sun Devils 43-42. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Gary Jennings #12 of the West Virginia Mountaineers catches a 64 yard touchdown reception past defensive backs Kweishi Brown #10 and Kareem Orr #25 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the third quarter of the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl at Chase Field on January 2, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mountaineers defeated the Sun Devils 43-42. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2015 Cactus Bowl: L vs. West Virginia, 43-42

Speaking of thrillers – this game was no different.

After a Territorial Cup win boosted the Sun Devils into bowl eligibility, an opportunity to play at Chase Field gave ASU clear home field advantage. However, the defense again fell short, as Mountaineers quarterback Skyler Howard threw for 532 yards and five touchdowns in a one-point WVU win.

The Sun Devils were in an uphill battle from the start. On three separate occasions, lead changes in favor of ASU were immediately answered by WVU touchdowns, forcing Bercovici to throw 52 passes to keep up with the shootout.

By the fourth quarter, it appeared the Sun Devils broke through. Ten consecutive points capped by a 58-yard touchdown throw to Gary Chambers gave ASU the lead with 4:56 remaining. With the crowd on their side, it looked like the Sun Devils were set to win.

But they didn’t. For the fourth time of the night, Howard’s offense answered, this time with a 15-yard touchdown pass to David Sills to put the Mountaineers back on top.

Bercovici and the ASU offense would get no further than midfield on the ensuing drive, ending a disappointing season with a more discouraging result.

With 676 yards given up, patience with Graham began to grow smaller. After a 2016 season that didn’t see the Sun Devils make a bowl game, tension grew even higher.

This would turn out to be the second-to-last bowl game in Graham’s tenure, and with early-season potential going down the drain, patience wouldn’t last much longer.

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