Arizona Kick Out Sun Devils

UCLA’s Bruins had two shots at the Rose Bowl Saturday--afternoon and evening--and blew the first one, losing to USC.

But they hit the next time when Arizona upset Arizona State in the nightcap, 16-13, on two big fumbles and two fourth-quarter field goals by Max Zendejas, including one that flew 57 yards.

His game-winning 32-yard kick--with 1:43 left--followed an Arizona State fumble by quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst, who lost possession at the Sun Devil 20 when sacked.

Asked why the Sun Devils were trying to throw the ball in the final minutes of a 13-13 game--when a tie would have taken them to the Rose Bowl--Van Raaphorst said:

“The coach (John Cooper) made the calls.”

Arizona Coach Larry Smith, grateful, said: “I thought sure they’d sit on the ball. I was surprised they kept throwing.”

Either a win or tie would have put Arizona State in the Rose Bowl as Pac-10 champion.

Instead, the Sun Devils have put UCLA in again--for the second time in four years. They did it about the same way in 1982, when, seemingly en route to Pasadena, they lost to Arizona, 28-18, at Tucson.

Actually, the Bruins needed a three-horse parlay in ‘82--a win over USC, a Washington State upset of Washington and an Arizona State defeat--and got all three.

They were even luckier this time--considering the way Arizona State gave the night game away to a team that couldn’t score with its offense.

Arizona’s only points came on an end-zone fumble recovery for a touchdown and three field goals.

The Sun Devils, moving on Van Raaphorst’s passes, had taken a 13-3 lead midway through the third quarter and had blunted every Arizona offensive effort, forcing another Wildcat punt. But they fumbled the punt on the play that turned the game toward Arizona.

The fumbler was sophomore cornerback Anthony Parker, who lost the handle at the ASU 10-yard line when tackled by Arizona linebacker Byron Evans.

As the ball rolled into the end zone, only one player was close enough to cover it, cornerback Don Be’Ans, who plays for Arizona.

A game that Arizona State had dominated was now so close, 13-10, that the Wildcats could win it with two field goals--which they did.