November 7, 2004
John Elway’s legend was born at Stanford. It seemed only fitting then that Andrew Walter should break Elway’s Pac-10 career touchdown passes record against the Cardinal.
Walter, who was shut out last week at Cal, tied the record on a 41-yard strike to Terry Richardson that pulled the Sun Devils within 14-10 in the second quarter and gave the senior quarterback 77 TD passes in his career.
Minutes later, Walter claimed No. 78 in style. With just two seconds remaining in the second quarter, he threw up a Hail Mary that Mountain View High School graduate Matt Miller somehow hauled in, in a crowded end zone for a 52-yard score that gave the Sun Devils a 17-14 halftime lead.
"When I was a redshirt, my job was to come in and throw the Hail Mary," said Walter, who ended the night with 80 career TD passes. "They’re never supposed to work. I’d have to say there was some divine intervention."
OFFICIAL BLUNDERS
One week after ASU was hurt by a blown call at Cal, the officials victimized the Sun Devils again.
On Stanford’s second possession, receiver Evan Moore went out of bounds and then came back in to catch a 30-yard pass when he should have been ruled ineligible.
Then, with ASU trying to keep a drive alive deep in its own territory, receiver Derek Hagan hauled in a pass beyond the first down marker but went out of bounds short of it after being shoved by a Stanford defender.
The same sideline official ruled him short of the first down, and ASU’s subsequent punt was blocked, setting up the Cardinal’s second touchdown.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Former Chaparral High standout Udeme Udofia came back to haunt the Sun Devils. The freshman linebacker blocked two punts for Stanford, setting up both of the Cardinal’s first-half touchdowns via short fields.
Udofia was a senior on Chaparral’s 2002 4A state championship team.
EXTRA POINTS
Cornerback Josh Golden had the first two interception game of his career, doubling his interception total in three seasons at ASU. Overall, the Sun Devils had four picks, the third time this season (UTEP, UCLA) they’ve reached that total.
Stanford quarterback Trent Edwards left the game in the third quarter with a left shoulder injury after a hit by ASU lineman Jimmy Verdon.
Tailback Cornell Canidate was back on the sidelines after having surgery in Philadelphia on his troublesome groin. ASU coach Dirk Koetter said doctors found a hole on one side of the groin and thinning muscle on the other. The team hopes to have Canidate back for spring ball.
Walter has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl Jan. 29 in Mobile, Ala. Linebacker Justin Burks will play in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 15 in San Francisco. Verdon has been invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl Jan. 22 in Maui.
