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Cactus Bowl 2016, West Virginia vs Arizona State, 43-42: Full highlights, final score and more

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Daikiel Shorts (6) catches a touchdown pass under pressure from Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Kweishi Brown (10) in the second quarter of the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Daikiel Shorts (6) catches a touchdown pass under pressure from Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Kweishi Brown (10) in the second quarter of the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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West Virginia and Arizona State were looking to end the season on a high note with a win in the Cactus Bowl.

It wasn’t the best season for the Arizona State Sun Devils nor was it for West Virginia. The Sun Devils began the season as the nation’s 15th-ranked team, but saw their stock start to drop after a couple of early losses. A 6-6 finish to the regular season isn’t what this team had in mind.

West Virginia had the opposite luck, opening the season unranked and winning three games, jumping into talks of where the Mountaineers would be ranked to start week four. However, four consecutive losses made even a bowl berth look grim. They finished the season with four straight wins.

Despite missing out on seasonal goals in 2015, both teams came out firing, recording 10 different scores in the first half and going into the locker room with West Virginia leading 22-18. Within the first 11 minutes of the second half, three touchdowns were score and the Cactus Bowl had the makings of a shootout.

Arizona State’s pass defense was clearly struggling throughout as Skyler Howard passed for career-best marks. He looked like a Heisman candidate out there and kept the Mountaineers in the game.

The game went back and fourth until the very end as both quarterbacks put on a show for the fans and racked up nearly 1,000 combined yards through the air.

Three Stars

Skyler Howard hasn’t been known as one of the premier passers in the country this year, but he sure looked like it on Saturday night, passing for 532 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Mike Bercovici didn’t look like such a slouch, either. Although his stats weren’t quite as good as Howard’s, they were darn close as he passed for 418 yards and four touchdowns with no picks.

Although Shelton Gibson led the Mountaineers in receiving with 143 yards, Daikiel Shorts had the best overall game, catching six passes for 97 yards and two scores.

Full Highlights

"Lucien ➡️ 🏡 Watch the #CactusBowl now on ESPN! https://t.co/I5yj51BRuN— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) January 3, 2016"

"ICYMI: Howard goes deep to Gibson for the touchdown! #HailWVhttps://t.co/DibwyMTPed— WVU Football (@WVUfootball) January 3, 2016"

"👇 this is good, right? https://t.co/8FBzccm0bq— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) January 3, 2016"

"👇 this is good, right? https://t.co/8FBzccm0bq— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) January 3, 2016"

Betting Odds

West Virginia opened as a 2.5-point favorite and the over/under was set at 62.5 points. It was a shootout, so the teams combined for 85 points, exceeding the over, and the Mountaineers failed to cover the spread, winning by one point.

2016 Openers

West Virginia opens the 2016 season with a home game against the Missouri Tigers. Everyone loves a shot at knocking off an SEC foe.

Arizona State opens next year’s campaign with a less impressive home game against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

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