56-14.

The score will burn in the front of Arizona players' minds for at least another year.

At the end of the game they knew they had been beaten up, bashed, out-played, out-coached and worst of all, humiliated.

"This hurts. It's the worst game I've ever been involved in," Arizona freshman quarterback Keith Smith said. "They're a good team, they're a complete team. I wish I could play them again tomorrow."

The intensity of the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry brought out both the best and worst of players and fans alike Saturday night. There were fights on the field, fights in the stands, illegal hits, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and five players ejected. Perhaps the most telling sign was the scoreboard itself: 56-14, Sun Devils. It was the largest margin of victory by Arizona State (11-0 overall, 8-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference) over Arizona (5-6, 3-5) ever. It was also seen in front of 59,920 people, the largest crowd ever at Arizona Stadium.

"They're a much better football team than we are," Arizona head coach Dick Tomey said. "We got really shellacked. They had some great performances by great players."

Keith Poole, Terry Battle, Shawn Swayda, Juan Roque, Derrick Rogers, Jeff Paulk and Jake Plummer are names that will likely haunt Wildcat players for at least another year. Yet, more than anything, it was a team effort by the Sun Devils that doomed Arizona. ASU dominated both the offensive and defensive lines, covered Arizona receivers, stuffed Wildcat tailbacks, ran the ball like they were in scrimmage and completed spectacular passing plays.

"I was surprised (at how well we played)," Arizona State head coach Bruce Snyder said. "I knew because of Arizona's win last week it would be a tough game. But we played with lots of emotion. To come into this environment and play - which isn't easy - and win, I'm really proud of this team."

Tomey, however, was not particularly proud of what the game turned into. The signs began early. On Arizona State's third possession, Sun Devil right guard Pat Thompson was ejected from the game for beginning an altercation. He was the first of five players ejected. Thompson's backup Glen Gable was booted after nailing Arizona's Daniel Greer from behind on an interception return, and Wildcat Kelvin Eafon was ejected for retaliating. Sun Devil Derrick Ford got axed and Arizona offensive lineman Frank Middleton found himself a seat on the bench.

All in all, it became a game filled with overflowing emotion.

"It's one of the most intense rivalries you can imagine," Arizona linebacker Armon Williams said. "You cannot internalize the hatred until you have played."

Arizona did start the game well, stopping ASU on four straight series' and overcoming a fumble at the Sun Devil 48. Yet too much field position and too much of the ASU running game eventually took over.

The Sun Devils began their first scoring drive near the end of the first quarter at the Wildcat 34-yard line. ASU's fullback Jeff Paulk blasted over the left side twice on carries of seven yards before Battle shot through the Wildcat line for a 20-yard touchdown.

That's when Arizona began to shoot itself in the foot. The Wildcats faced a second and eight at their own 45-yard line when they were tagged for a personal foul. A Gary Taylor run dropped the team back another four yards. Facing a third down and 31, the Wildcats attempted to quick-kick the ball, but tailback Kevin Schmidtke's kick was blocked by an ASU player. Two plays later, Battle was in the endzone again.

"Some of those big emotional swings just killed us," Arizona defensive back Chris McAlister said. "When you are playing on emotion, you can't have that kind of turnaround."

The Wildcats, however, were able to stay in the game on the next drive. Arizona drove 70 yards in just under four minutes, sparked by a pair of quarterback Keith Smith's plays. Smith found open ground on a 23-yard run to keep the drive alive on a third down and later hit wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel on a 28-yard pass to move to the ASU 7. Two plays later Smith punched the ball in from the one.

"We thought we were back in it," Smith said. "We would make big plays and say 'we can beat these guys.' Then we just couldn't keep it going. We weren't ready, and I don't know how we weren't."

Smith's run were the last points the offense would score, and just 1 minute and seven seconds later, the Sun Devils were in the end zone again. ASU used three plays, a six-yard run by Battle, a 42-yard run by Paulk and a 27-yard pass by Plummer to Poole to answer the Wildcat drive.

The Wildcats went three plays and out again, but it looked as if the old rivalry magic would kick in when a Matt Peyton punt was recovered by the Wildcats after it bounced around and hit an ASU player. Arizona produced a 20-yard run by freshman tailback Leon Callen on the next play and a five-yard run by Eafon to take the ball to the Sun Devil 25-yard line. Smith was then sacked for a 10-yard loss, and when Peyton attempted a 37-yard field goal, it was blocked by Brent Burnstein.

Plummer then hit Poole 46 yards downfield and the ASU running game made it 28-7 at halftime.

"We never gave up, but the odds kept mounting," Smith said.

In the second half, the odds just went off the board. ASU kept running and Arizona kept retreating on offense. Plummer threw a pair of second half touchdowns, one to Poole, one to tight end Steve Bush. Arizona State's backup tailback Marlon Farlow added the final two touchdown runs.

Plummer ended the game 10 of 19 for 201 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Battle led the Sun Devil ground game with 143 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. In all, ASU carried the ball 59 times for 450 yards.

"They controlled both sides of the ball, and that usually wins games," Tomey said.

Arizona's only other score came on a 98-yard interception return by safety Mikal Smith. The play was strangely reminiscent of Chuck Cecil's 106-yard return 10 years ago, except that this time it wasn't a close game and this time it nearly sparked an on-field brawl.

"It was crazy, wild talking. It was like another world," Smith said. "I guess it's the rivalry, but you have to respect the game."

Smith finished his season completing 6 of 15 attempts for 91 yards and an interception. He was also sacked seven times. Taylor, the senior tailback, finished with 14 yards rushing on 10 carries. Senior defensive lineman Joe Salave'a had five tackles in his final game.

For Arizona State, their eyes have turned to a Rose Bowl game against Ohio State. For Arizona, it's next season.

"I'm already looking to next season, to getting better," Smith said.

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