'Definitely a serious game': ASU eyes fifth-straight Territorial Cup win against Arizona

Arizona State football knows all about the season Arizona is having, but the players and coaches chose not to get ahead of themselves in the leadup to the Territorial Cup.

After all, with how tense the rivalry is every year, emotions aren’t in short supply. Arizona State is coming off a 70-7 triumph last year in Tucson, which adds even more fuel to the layered rivalry.

“It’s definitely a serious game. No matter what anybody’s record is going into this game, it’s a hard-hitting game," ASU defensive end Michael Matus said. "You can guarantee that both them and us are going to play our best game.

"Once you get to game time and coming in on the buses and seeing all the tailgates, there’s so many people here, it’s ridiculous. You have people screaming at the bus, and then you got people cheering for you at the bus.”

Saturday’s kickoff in Tempe is scheduled for 2 p.m. and airs on the Pac-12 Networks.

More: Arizona vs. ASU Territorial Cup football game updates: Will Wildcats or Sun Devils win?

Matus said that he learned how to prepare for the high-stakes game best during his freshman season through watching players like N’Keal Harry, Manny Wilkins Jr., and Chase Lucas. Now a redshirt junior, he’s hoping that he can now be the example to watch for the younger players, along with the several former players who came in throughout the week to speak with the team.

The words spoken by former ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler were echoed by Matus. “He said 10 years from now we’re going to remember this game more than any other game. I firmly believe that.”

Offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson also knows the cost of defending the Territorial Cup, especially at home.

“That’s a tremendous opportunity that we have ahead of us, and I think it means a lot more not only for the people in this building and in this locker room, but for guys that played five years ago, 10 years ago, the Rose Bowl team ...” he said. “We can accomplish stuff for us and them.”

While Arizona State is bowl eligible (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12), the struggling Wildcats are going to try and spoil the end of the season for their rival. Penalties have gripped both teams throughout the season, with Arizona State ranked 125th in the nation with 8.4 penalties per game and Arizona right behind them at 126th with 8.5 penalties per game.

More: Arizona football vs. Arizona State TV information: How to watch Territorial Cup game

“This is a heated rivalry, the momentum can shift at any time. I think that’s one of the most important things to keep in mind,” Matus said. “Yes, we want to get on them quick, but I think it’s important to stay poised throughout the entirety of the game. There’s four quarters, there’s a lot of football to be played in 60 minutes.”

Arizona (1-10, 1-7) snapped its 19-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over California on Nov. 6. On the season, the Wildcats allow just 199.5 passing yards per game, which is third in the Pac-12 and 25th in the nation. Arizona is sixth in the Pac-12 in total defense with an average of 376.2 yards allowed per game.

“They are a lot better than their record and they have some impactful players and this is a game that we need to play our best game. Some of our seniors are playing their last time in this stadium so I think it’s a pretty important game to us,” Henderson said.

The battle between the archrivals now enters its 95th edition, with Arizona State owning the past four wins. The last time Arizona won at Sun Devil Stadium was in 2011; its overall record in Tempe is 11-19-1.

“You can feel the electricity whether we go down there or they come up here, you can just feel it. It’s a different feeling because of the history of it all. Both fanbases are really excited about when this game comes. I’m glad it’s played at the last game of the season,” ASU coach Herm Edwards said. “No matter what your record is, this is the one.”

More: Somers: The Herm Edwards experiment has failed; time for Arizona State to find successor

Reach the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com or 602-647-4122. Follow her on Twitter @jennarortiz.

Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State eyes fifth-straight Territorial Cup win against Arizona