Arizona QB Nick Foles is sacked by linebacker Carl Bradford in the first half. Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

Last play: Incomplete.

Arizona wins 31-27.

* * *

Nine seconds left. ASU at the UA 15. … Incomplete in the end zone.

* * *

Fourth-and-10 for ASU from the UA 49 with 26 seconds left … and the Devils got it with a 14-yard pass.

* * *

Arizona faces fourth-and-3 from the ASU 41 with 1:19 left. ASU is out of timeouts. Kyle Dugandzic, after a delay of game, punts it into the end zone.

* * *

Arizona comes up with its THIRD turnover deep in its territory, this time on a Jourdon Grandon interception, and he returns it to the ASU 43.

Arizona sitting pretty … up 31-27 with 2:15 to play.

* * *

That’s the Juron Criner everybody has wanted to see. Like Gino Crump earlier in the quarter, Criner breaks multiple tackles after catching a short pass — this one on third-and-5 from Bryson Beirne — and scores on a 23-yard play.

Arizona takes a 31-27 lead with 5:18 to play.

* * *

Nick Foles down with 6:10 to play. Looked like he injured himself while twisting to make a handoff. Weird. Here comes Bryson Beirne.

* * *

Trevin Wade steps up and makes a play, knocking down on a pass on fourth-and-3 from the UA 39.

* * *

That was the play of Gino Crump’s career — he turned a short pass to the sideline into a Barry Sanders-esque escape-fest, eluding four or five tacklers and dashing into the end zone for a 33-yard score.

That capped a 94-yard drive — aided, of course, by a personal foul penalty on ASU on the first play — and the Wildcats have life.

It’s ASU up 27-24 with 10:25 to play.

* * *

Even while often playing with six defensive backs, Arizona’s pass defense is wilting under the attack of ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler. He had completed passes of 27, 34, 30, 58, 20, 21, 22 and 47 yards by early in the fourth quarter.

ASU took a 27-17 lead with 12:33 to go on a 27-yard field goal by Alex Garoutte.

* * *

Going to the fourth quarter. ASU leads 24-17 and had solved Arizona’s offense after giving up touchdowns on each of the Cats’ first two possessions.

* * *

ASU’s defense right now makes it seem like the first half of last season’s game, when the Wildcats were shut out.

* * *

Arizona’s defense has been bending, but it came up with its second big turnover deep in its territory. Trevin Wade knocks the ball free from WR Kevin Ozier, with Derek Earls recovering at the UA 16.

* * *

Arizona has only three points in its past eight possessions. ASU’s defense is not that good.

Devils still lead 24-17, with the ball, late in the third quarter.

* * *

The pace is the game is crawling. Now for something new: ASU has two penalties on offense on the same play — holding and illegal block below the waist.

* * *

Arizona will take that. The defense holds near the goal line, and ASU has to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Alex Garoutte. Arizona stays within one score at 24-17 with 9:24 to go in the third quarter.

* * *

ASU’s dynamic returner Jamal Miles makes his presence felt with a 44-yard punt return (topped by a 5-yard penalty by Arizona) that lets the Devils start a drive at the ASU 23.

* * *

By the way, catching up on some halftime stats: Nick Foles, 249 passing yards; Brock Osweiler, 237.

* * *

A sack? By Arizona? I remember those …

The Cats force ASU to punt on the first possession of the second half after sacking Osweiler — C.J. Parish gets it done — and now it’s up to Nick Foles and crew to get back to the end zone and grab the lead.

* * *

AD Greg Byrne, talking casually to reporters in the press box at halftime, said he occasionally follows internet speculation on who he will pick as the next head coach. The rumors have focused lately on former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti. Byrne said he finds the speculation “funny.”

* * *

Arizona, not willing to run out the clock, keeps passing in the final minute, hitting a pass for 18 yards to Gino Crump on third down and then a 17-yard pass to Juron Criner … topped by 15 yards for a roughing the passer.

That sets up a 44-yard field goal attempt from left hash by John Bonano with seven seconds to go in the half … and it’s good.

That stops a run of 21 unanswered points for the Devils, who lead 21-17 at halftime.

* * *

No luck on the replay review. Nickel back Jourdon Grandon had apparently made a diving interception at the ASU 48 on a poorly thrown ball over the middle by Brock Osweiler, but the call is overturned.

ASU has to punt with 41 seconds left, and the Cats take over at its 18 with 33 seconds left in the half.

* * *

And here’s the Arizona defense we have seen all year (UCLA game excluded). The Wildcats give up a wide-open deep pass to Aaron Pflugrad for 58 yards and then let Cameron Marshall burst through the middle for a 22-yard rushing touchdown.

And then Mohammed Usman picks up a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the PAT.

ASU leads 21-14 with 4:29 to play in the second quarter.

Arizona is paying for its inability to cash in on offense, having missed two field goals. Not only is that six points the Cats don’t have, but this is a game in which the Cats need touchdowns, not field goals.

* * *

After the ASU penalty keeps the drive alive, Arizona stalls in the red zone … and then John Bonano can’t quite find the range again. After hitting the left upright from 49 yards, Bonano’s 27-yard attempt fades to the right and looks to go nearly directly over the right upright.

It’s not good … and we’re still tied.

Can UA get a stop?

* * *

Nobody ever accused ASU of being a smart team. As Arizona throws incomplete on third-and-10, defensive end Junior Onyeali is penalized 15 yards for an “unnecessary shove.”

The drive continues …

* * *

And … we’re tied.

Arizona State has come back from a 14-0 deficit to knot it up with 10:14 to go in the second quarter. Brock Osweiler and Gerell Robinson putting on a nice pass-catch show, and they hook up for a 12-yard score.

It must be the green laser in the eyes of the Arizona defensive backs.

* * *

An unkind bounce off the left upright for John Bonano on a 49-yard field goal attempt. Can’t argue with his leg, though.

Anyway, it’s a missed opportunity for Arizona, as Nick Foles missed an open Richard Morrison over the middle on third-and-7. Games turn on such plays.

It stays 14-7 Arizona with 13:00 to play before halftime.

* * *

Before the start of the second quarter, a game official announces to the crowd that if a “green laser” is shown on the field one more time, play will be suspended.

Had never heard that one before.

* * *

Another record for Nick Foles. A pass to Taimi Tutogi late in the first quarter gives Foles a school single-season record 328 completions, eclipsing the mark set by Willie Tuitama in 2007.

The first quarter ends with Arizona up 14-7.

* * *

ASU, relying on its passing game against a UA defense often using as three-man front, cuts into Arizona’s lead with a 74-yard drive, capped by Cameron Marshall 2-yard run.

Arizona leads 14-7 with 2 minutes to go in the first quarter.

Everybody who said “shootout” raise their hand.

* * *

Arizona is playing like a team Mike Bellotti could be proud of.

* * *

The first scrum of the game as the ball comes loose on ASU’s kick return. UA coach Tim Kish rushes onto the field to help restore order.

* * *

Strange things happen in rivalry games. Arizona goes up 14-0 with 5:34 to go in the first quarter, taking advantage of the interception by Shaquille Richardson.

Nick Foles converts thrid-and-goal form the 11, buying time and finding Ka’Deem Carey over the middle, and he gets the final few yards on his own to get past the goal line.

* * *

With that 46-yard catch and run by Keola Antolin, Nick Foles becomes the UA single-season passing leader (3,715 yards).

* * *

Early momentum is a wonderful thing for Arizona. Shaquille Richardson stops an ASU drive with an interception of Brock Osweiler (hey, UA held on to one this year after dropping several vs. ASU last season) and returns it 41 yards to the ASU 49.

ASU did not run the ball on its first drive; RB Cameron Marshall is said to be ailing with a knee injury.

* * *

Big play from safety Robert Golden, who closes ground to knock away a deep pass on ASU’s first play of the game. Brock Osweiler was trying to go deep to Gerell Robinson after a fake end around.

* * *

Arizona strikes first with an 80-yard drive, aided by two third-down penalties on ASU (the Sun Devils have been among the nation’s most penalized teams for the past few years under Dennis Erickson).

An offsides penalty let Arizona go from third-and-6 to third-and-1 early in the drive, and then ASU gets called for pass interference on third-and-goal from the 6.

Arizona eventually punches it on as Keola Antolin shreds a couple of tackles on a run to the left, and muscles into the end zone from 1 yard out.

The big play on the drive was a deep pass from Nick Foles to Juron Criner for 48 yards to the ASU 1.

Arizona leads 7-0 with 9:41 to play in the first quarter.

* * *

Arizona wins the toss, will receive. This has been Tim Kish’s desire since taking over as interim coach. Start with the ball.

* * *

This was said to be a sold-out stadium …. but plenty of empty seats minutes before halftime — like several thousand in the upper deck on the east side. Stuck in traffic? Passed out in tailgating?

* * *

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles needs 72 yards to break the single-season passing record of 3,683, set by Willie Tuitama in 2007.

Foles enters the game holding the career record for passing yards (9,289 yards), completions (865) and total offense (8,995).

* * *

Good vs. evil? Arizona is wearing all white. ASU is wearing all black.

* * *

Yes, the Mike Bellotti-to-Arizona rumors have gained steamed today. CBSSports.com’s Dennid Dodd even wrote a blog about it, citing an Oregon source as saying Bellotti is “anxious” to get back into coaching.

There is disagreement in the press box among those who cover Arizona. Some say the reports of Bellotti to Arizona are not credible.

For now, I believe them.

* * *

PREGAME

Arizona coaches and players have worn wristbands all season that carry two messages: “No looking back” and “All in.”

The Cats didn’t seem to be “all in” last week at Colorado. We’ll see how that goes tonight at Arizona State.

As for the “no looking back” part, this might be the day when Arizona wants to break that rule, because looking back at last year’s double-overtime loss to Arizona State could provide needed fuel.

Most of the problem was self-inflicted — the blocked PATs — but the images of what happened next could be — should be — burning in the Wildcats’ minds.

Quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo, who was new to the rivalry last season, explained.

“Going into the game I could sense the passion, and even the venom at times, of fans and players alike. And I really didn’t get it,” Scelfo said.

“But when that last play took place, I was up in the press box and I saw what happened on our field. I saw the celebration that took place. I saw the way they basically desecrated our field.

“Now I know why people feel the way they do about this game. Now, I get it. I think you have to experience something like that to really understand how deep it runs.

“And it runs deep. It runs deep.”

Arizona State got to celebrate after the 30-29 victory, sealed with a blocked extra point at the end of the second overtime. The Sun Devils planted their pitchfork in the Arizona Stadium turf.

Do the Wildcats look back at that? If so, does the fire burn?

Related links:

Arizona-Arizona State prediction

Arizona coaching rumors swirling as season winds down

Five Sun Devils to watch

Five Wildcats to watch

Zendejas has his ASU memories — good and bad

Arizona assistants Hammerschmidt and Salave’a talk about the ASU rivalry

Rivalry debut: UA freshman Tramayne Bondurant ready to lead vs. ASU

Rivalry legends: King Clutch and Dice Man

Arizona Republic: Zendejas’ family big part of rivalry

Arizona Republic: Marshall law: Family trumps rivalry

ASU receiver Gerell Robinson lets us know how he really feels. Photo by the Arizona Republic.

Arizona coaches and players admitted there was some effort lacking last week at Colorado, which is a gentle way of saying that a lot of effort was missing.

Playing rival Arizona State could be the simple cure for that, but I’m not counting on it.

Perhaps the Cats will prove me wrong, but, even if they do, the defense still figures to be lousy.

Given a new round of injuries along the defensive front, it’s hard to know who is going to be lining up along the line of scrimmage … if it even matters.

Opponents have routinely pushed around the Cats, who have allowed seven of eight conference opponents to score at least 34 points.

Three Pac-12 foes have scored at least 48 points.

The Sun Devils have their own woes, but none as bad as that, and ASU is still in good position to win the Pac-12 South. UCLA has control but has to finish at USC.

Arizona State is coming off two road losses but has played much better at home this season. Sun Devil Stadium is sold out. ASU will be wearing its all-black uniforms it loves so much.

That’s all a way of saying that if Arizona gets off to another slow start — the Cats have trailed by double-digits in the first half of six conference games — momentum is going to be a runaway boulder that splatters Arizona all over the Sun Devil Stadium turf.

ASU won’t miss this chance to stomp on its rival.

Final score: Arizona State 45, Arizona 24.

ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler celebrates after beating Arizona last season. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Five Wildcats to watch

It only takes one play to be a rivalry hero for a lifetime.

Some in the Arizona-ASU duels have been stars who only added to their legend — Chuck Cecil, John Jefferson, Max Zendejas, Byron Evans.

Others had shining moments impossible to forget: James Debow’s goal-line stuff of ASU running back Channing Williams in 1986, Kevin Galbreath’s 51-yard touchdown run for a 7-6 ASU win in 1992, Brian Holland’s 92-yard touchdown reception in 1982.

Who is it going to be this season?

Anyone?

Here’s a look at five Arizona State players who can make a difference Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict

He hasn’t lived up to the preseason hype of being the national defensive player of the year, but his aggressiveness and willingness to apparently freelance at times always makes him an X-factor.

The volatile Burfict has 56 tackles — second-most on the team — with seven tackles for loss, including five sacks (most of which came early in the season) from his middle linebacker spot.

“He’s at the perfect position for what he does,” said Arizona quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo.

“You gotta account for him in your game plans. He’s not just a guy you say, ‘OK, you go block the Mike’ and then we go on. We have to say, ‘Do we have a good angle on him? Do we have the right guy blocking him?’ Things like that. …

“He’s very instinctive and he’s a smart player. I think his attitude on the field is about as good a fit for a Mike linebacker as you can get.”

Quarterback Brock Osweiler

The junior has been very good in his first season as the full-time starter. His passing efficiency ranking of 144.11 is good for 31st in the country, one spot below Arizona’s Nick Foles (144.27 rating).

Osweiler’s third-down scrambles were particularly vexing to Arizona last season, when the Wildcats dropped several potential interceptions.

“I see he is more confident in his throws,” UA cornerback Trevin Wade said of the difference in Osweiler this season. “He actually believes in his throws and he has just taken over as a quarterback.”

Osweiler won’t need to take off as much this season because Arizona is among the worst teams nationally in generating pass rush, with only eight sacks in 10 games.

This is a common site: Cameron Marshall scoring a TD this season. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Running back Cameron Marshall

His older sister Dahlys is a hurdler/sprinter for the Wildcats — and UA interim head football coach Tim Kish said the Cats tried to recruit him to Arizona — but he ended up being a workhorse in the ASU backfield.

The junior isn’t the scat-back type that has tortured Arizona in the past two weeks — Utah’s John White IV and Colorado’s Rodney Stewart — but he’s tough and fast enough in the open field.

Marshall has 180 carries for 837 yards and a conference-best 14 touchdowns.

Considering Arizona has allowed eight running backs to gain at least 99 yards this season, look for Marshall to be a key factor in ASU’s spread offense.

Receiver Gerell Robinson

Robinson, who was once committed to Arizona, had largely been disappointing through his first three seasons, although he always had ample physical skills.

Robinson, at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, is playing the best football of his career.

This has finally been the breakthrough season many had expected, and he has had 100 yards in receptions in four of the past five games, including 158 on eight catches last week at Washington State.

Robinson has 50 receptions for 901 yards and five scores this season.

Receiver/returner Jamal Miles

Arizona has had all manner of failures on special teams … and here comes one of the most dangerous returners in the country.

The speedy junior had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Washington State last week, the third kick return for a score in his score. He also has scored on a punt return this season.

If Arizona is kicking the ball to him, it’s a mistake.

On offense, Miles can line up all over the formation, and he’s adept at turning quick lateral passes into big gains.

“I’ve said all along: He’s a weapon,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said earlier this season. “He’s fast. He’s quick. He’s explosive. You name it, he’s got it.”

Arizona quarterback Nick Foles will be trying to solve an ASU defense that has mostly held him in check in the past two seasons. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Five Sun Devils to watch

It only takes one play to be a rivalry hero for a lifetime.

Some in the Arizona-ASU duels have been stars who only added to their legend — Chuck Cecil, John Jefferson, Max Zendejas, Byron Evans.

Others had shining moments impossible to forget: James Debow’s goal-line stuff of ASU running back Channing Williams in 1986, Kevin Galbreath’s 51-yard touchdown run for a 7-6 ASU win in 1992, Brian Holland’s 92-yard touchdown reception in 1982.

Who is it going to be this season?

Anyone?

Here’s a look at five Arizona players who can make a difference Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

Quarterback Nick Foles

Arizona can’t win without an inspired effort from Foles, who has largely been contained by the Sun Devils in the past two seasons. ASU has an aggressive defense but — last week’s game against Washington State notwithstanding — usually does a nice job of keeping everything in front of it.

Foles has thrown for only 410 yards in two games against ASU, completing 46 of 79 passes (58.2 percent). The yardage total and the accuracy is well below career averages.

Still, he likely would be remembered as a rivalry hero if not for a blocked PAT in the final minute of regulation last season. That robbed Foles of a having a third game-winning touchdown drive last season.

Foles was once committed to Arizona State, but he signed with Michigan State after coach Dirk Koetter was fired and Dennis Erickson was hired.

Now, Foles says of the Sun Devils: “I’ve never liked them. I hate them. That’s all I need to go play against them.”

Cornerback Trevin Wade

Is this right attitude or the wrong one? The senior said earlier this week that the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry hasn’t grown on him over the years.

“Not really,” he said.

“I feel where everybody is coming from with it being a big game and stuff like that, but every game is a rivalry to me. I try to take every game seriously and take it all the same. I believe in getting fired up every game. That’s my deal.”

Wade has had a nice bounce-back season from a subpar junior year, breaking up a team-high 10 passes. He will have his hands full with Gerell Robinson and Mike Willie, both 6-4, on the outside.

Juron Criner (right) and David Roberts celebrate after Criner's touchdown catch against Arizona State last season. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

Receiver Juron Criner

He has rarely been healthy since the opener, sidelined by an appendectomy and then a hand issue and more recently, a knee injury.

He’s had a few standout games, but this has been well short of the 100-catch season former coach Mike Stoops thought possible for Criner, and there is a sense (even within the program) that he hasn’t pushed himself lately.

Criner has 57 catches for 693 yards and has managed eight touchdowns. He can still be a playmaker — Arizona’s best on the outside by far.

Can he summon one more excellent effort?

If so, he could leave Sun Devil Stadium as Arizona’s career leader in touchdown receptions. He has 29, one behind Theopolis Bell.

Kicker John Bonano

Could the Wildcats actually have the edge at kicker?

Bonano, since taking over at midseason, has made 6 of 7 field goals, missing only from 57 yards last week after a bad snap messed up the timing of the kick.

Bonano has made all 14 of his PATs — and the height of his kicks is reason for Arizona to feel reasonably good — fingers crossed — that he won’t get one blocked.

Meanwhile, ASU coach Dennis Erickson has been shaking his head at his kicker — redshirt freshman Alex Garoutte.

He’s had a tough couple of weeks, going 0 for 3 on field goals in a one-point loss at UCLA, including a 46-yarder on the final play of the game. Garoutte, last week at Washington State, missed a 21-yarder that would have tied the game with 5:45 to play. The Devils ended up losing by 10.

Running back Ka’Deem Carey

It will be the first rivalry game for the freshman, who took a late recruiting visit to Arizona State right before Signing Day before sticking with the Wildcats. That was a huge recruiting win for UA.

Carey has 78 rushes for 333 yards and six touchdowns, and he has 11 receptions for 156 yards and another score. He has received the majority of the team’s chances on kick returns.

He is the future of the position for Arizona.

“If he keeps on the right path, he could be the best back to ever play here,” said Arizona strength and conditioning coach Corey Edmond.

“He’s a phenomenal talent. I’ve enjoyed working with him. I have been looking forward to helping him develop that breakaway speed. I think that’s the only thing that keeps him right now from being in that elite status … because he’s strong, tremendous balance, tremendous agility.

“I mean, he’s got the whole package.”

Hammerschmidt’s playing career spanned from 1986 (Chuck Cecil’s 106-yard interception return) to 1990. He never lost to ASU as a player. He went 5-0 against the Devils as a full-time assistant coach (1993-1995, 2008-2009) before last season’s double-overtime loss.

Salave’a went 3-1 against ASU as a player, from 1994 to 1997. He had 3.5 sacks in the 1997 game. He returned a fumble for a touchdown in 1995. Both were UA wins.

Our Gannett partner, the Arizona Republic, talked to both Cats about the rivalry:

Former Arizona quarterback Dan White was 3-0 against the Sun Devils from 1993-95, beating ASU quarterback Jake Plummer each time. Tucson Citizen file photo

WRITER’S NOTE: I was watching the 1995 Arizona-Arizona State game on ESPN Classic on Tuesday night, which reminded me of this column I wrote for the print edition of the Tucson Citizen in 2008. I thought it would be a good time to bring it back to the light, as the message still stands. So here it is, from the archives:

Kids today don’t know. The current Arizona football players wouldn’t know Rob Waldrop from Chuck Osborne, Ontiwaun Carter from Chuck Levy.

They know Tedy Bruschi from the “old days” but that’s because he’s an NFL stalwart and a multiple Super Bowl champion.

Other than that, most of the other Wildcats from more than a decade ago are such ancient history that they might as well have worn leather helmets.

A shame, really.

If I could get in front of the Cats and talk about Arizona-Arizona State, I would tell them about two guys from about 15 years ago who displayed all the toughness and heart that a rivalry game demands.

I would tell them to play like these two guys – guys they’ve probably never heard of.

Quarterback Dan White and receiver Richard Dice.

Arizona fans of a certain age know what I’m talking about, because anyone who was following the team from 1993-95 can’t forget White’s fourth-quarter brilliance or Dice’s amazing performance while playing with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

And then there was his one-finger salute to the ASU fans in Sun Devil Stadium.

Maybe not so classy, but absolutely classic.

Let’s start with White, who was 3-0 against the Devils, beating ASU quarterback Jake Plummer each time, and no quarterback in the series has ever been more clutch.

White directed a 34-20 victory in 1993 as UA overcame a small second-half deficit.

In 1994, he led UA back from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 28-27. He played with a injured throwing shoulder that required a shot during the game.

In 1995, the Cats were down 14 halfway through the final quarter, but rallied to win 31-28 on a last-second field goal.

White was impeccable when it mattered most. King Clutch. He was 21 of 26 for 284 yards and five touchdowns in the fourth quarters of those games.

“I can’t pinpoint why that happened,” White said Thursday from San Diego, where he is a financial adviser.

“People talk about being in the zone. Who knows why? I know I always enjoyed those situations. . . . You do what it takes to prove you can win the ballgame.”

Who knows why, but White saved his best for ASU. He completed 66 percent of his passes in three years against the Sun Devils. Against everybody else, he completed 50 percent.

“He was a Sun Devil killer,” Dice said.

If White is still remembered for his cool under pressure against Arizona State, Dice is remembered for his fire, a never-say-die player who wouldn’t be deterred by a torn left ACL in 1995.

He put off late-season surgery, and the swelling had gone down enough by game time to allow him to play.

“Obviously, I was young and didn’t care about consequences,” Dice said from Los Angeles, where he works in concrete demolition.

“In my mind, any time I stepped on the field, I thought I could make a play. And I just had a lot of respect for the guys I played with who were seniors. I wanted to do everything possible to give our team the best chance to win.”

More than a one-legged decoy, Dice caught a touchdown pass before halftime, then helped fuel the comeback with three receptions in the fourth quarter.

His leaping grab in traffic at the ASU 6, coming down with a toe inbounds, would be his last play of the game.

As he limped to the UA sideline, he raised a finger – not his index finger – to the crowd.

“It was just one of those things,” Dice said. “As I was walking off, they weren’t clapping for me by any means.”

Said White: “If there was one guy who could use the word ‘hatred’ for ASU, it was him. I think he disliked the whole idea of ASU . . .

“Him gimping around on that knee, barely able to walk, that was one of those things that raised everybody else up.”

Dice suffered a torn ACL in his right knee a year later, and the bad knees scuttled a chance at a pro career. He isn’t sure if playing against ASU contributed to longer-term knee problems (but we thank him anyway).

“Looking back, I don’t know if I would have done the same thing,” he said.

“Do I regret it? No. If we would have lost, I would have regretted it.”

What White and Dice have are 3-0 records when they played against ASU. What they don’t have are regrets.

They’re UA-ASU legends.

Pass the word. Tell your kids. Always remember.

From our Gannett partner, the Arizona Republic:

Bruce Cooper is joined by former Sun Devil offensive lineman Juan Roque and former Arizona Wildcat safety/linebacker/quarterback Heath Bray to talk about the in-state rivalry game, which is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium.

Some good stories here — and Bray gives his take on fired coach Mike Stoops. “Sometimes it’s really just time for a change,” he said. “I think Greg Byrne got it right, and I think Mike, as much as it pains him to admit it, probably knows that.”

Check out the video above.

Justin Washington could miss his second consecutive game Saturday. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

While the Arizona Wildcats’ injury-plagued secondary is getting healthier, their defensive line is not.

Four defensive linemen of note — who have started a combined 26 games this season — all showed up on interim coach Tim Kish’s injury report Monday morning.

Here goes:

–Defensive end C.J. Parish, who did not play last week at Colorado because of an ankle injury, is doubtful.

–Defensive tackle Sione Tuihalamaka, who left last week’s game with an infected elbow, is probable. Kish said of Tuihalamaka’s elbow during the game: “He just couldn’t straighten it out.” Tuihalamaka has started nine games, making 11 tackles.

–Defensive tackle Justin Washington is doubtful because of an MCL sprain. He didn’t play last week. He missed two games in October after minor knee surgery.

–Defensive tackle Jowyn Ward is doubtful because of a high ankle sprain. He started in place of Washington at Colorado but played only a couple of series before suffering the ankle injury.

At the tackle positions, Arizona used Chris Merrill, Saneilia Fuimaono and Aiulua Fanene in the rotation at Colorado. Kish could move Kirifi Taula back inside, but the coach likes the size Taula brings on the outside.

Taula and Dan Pettinato have each started the past two games at end; Parish had started the first eight games.

In the secondary, cornerback Trevin Wade is probable after sitting out last week because of a leg injury. Cornberbacks Shaquille Richardson (ankle) and Cortez Johnson (concussion) returned to the field last week.

Kish reiterated Monday what he said after the 48-29 loss to Colorado: The team’s overall effort was lacking. That could lead to some shakeups this week at Arizona State, especially on defense.

“We’re just going to play the guys that prepare the hardest this week, and we’ll make the decision at the end of the week as to who goes,” Kish said.

“We’re probably going to make a couple little changes. I don’t want to elaborate on that right now. We’re going to move some people around and get the best 11 on the field. …. I definitely want to make some moves.”

Related:

Memories of a lifetime: Arizona assistant Joe Salave’a knows about UA-ASU rivalry

The season’s last stand for Arizona: Beat ASU

Joe Salave'a, a stalwart of Arizona's defensive lines in the mid-1990s, helped the Cats beat ASU in 1997. Photo by Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images Sport

Arizona Wildcats defensive line coach Joe Salave’a still has pictures of it at home: He’s carrying the Arizona flag in a victory lap around Sun Devil Stadium.

The year was 1997, Salave’a's senior year, and the Wildcats had knocked off 12th-ranked ASU 28-16 in Tempe.

“A win against those guys is always a great, gratifying thing,” Salave’a said last week.

“It’s like Dallas vs. the Redskins. That’s what it means. If you’re from the state of Arizona, you understand.”

Salave’a, who spent three years of his NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Washington Redskins understands. He won his senior-season game against the Devils. That is what it’s all about it, he said.

“They are the ones who come to mind because it’s their last hoo-rah,” Salave’a said. “That is the one of the things I can remember us talking about the whole week. If there was anything left in the tank, this is it.”

If only the current group of Wildcats could bottle up the passion — and the performance — of Salave’a from 14 years ago. Salave’a had 3 1/2 sacks against the Devils that day in 1997.

Put that in perspective: One guy on one day had nearly half of the sack total that this entire Arizona team has managed in 10 games. (That would be eight sacks.)

Salave’a is in his first year as an assistant coach at Arizona. It might be his last, considering head coach Mike Stoops was fired in midseason.

He is one of two former Arizona players on the coaching staff (Jeff Hammerschmidt is the other). Salave’a might or might not have something to say to the team this week about what the rivalry means.

For Salave’a, it has meant memories and mementos for a lifetime: carrying the Arizona flag around Sun Devil Stadium.

Does it get any better than that?

“It’s hard to forget those kind of events,” he said.

It’s ancient history to the current Wildcats, but Arizona could learn some lessons from those 1997 Cats. They entered the ASU game at 5-5, and then went out and played as if they had nothing to lose.

Arizona broke out several trick plays on offense, effectively using quarterbacks Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins on field at the same time.

The most memorable play from the game came when ASU safety Mitchell Freedman jumped offsides, running past center Rusty James into the Arizona backfield. There was no whistle, but everyone stopped … except for Jenkins and receiver Brad Brennan, who took off down field and caught an uncontested 29-yard touchdown pass.

See. Memories for a lifetime.

And, by the way, Arizona’s victory that year knocked out ASU from consideration for the Fiesta Bowl … similar to how a UA victory this Saturday could knock out the Devils from contention in the Pac-12 South.

For Salave’a, it all goes back to the seniors, the ones who have been here the longest. Quarterback Nick Foles. Running back Keola Antolin. Safety Robert Golden. Cornerback Trevin Wade. Receivers Juron Criner, David Douglas and David Roberts, among others.

“As a freshman you don’t quite understand it,” Salave’a said.

But the seniors do.

Will any of them be running around Sun Devil Stadium in a victory lap Saturday night?