#21/24 Arizona State (8-3, 5-3 Pac-10) vs. Purdue (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten)
El Paso, Texas - Sun Bowl Stadium
Friday, December 31, 2004 - 2:00 pm ET - CBS
Coaches: Arizona State - Dirk Koetter, Purdue - Joe Tiller
Series Record: First Meeting

Points shouldn't be scarce in the 71st edition of the Vitalis Sun Bowl on December 31st. This years contest will pit the Purdue Boilermakers against the Sun Devils of Arizona State. Both teams are known for their offensive firepower, particularly through the passing game. The Boilermakers ranked as one of the top offenses in the nation this season in part due to the passing attack

led by senior quarterback Kyle Orton. The Sun Devils offense was also powered by its star quarterback, Andrew Walter, but a separated right shoulder in ASU's regular season finale - a 34-27 loss to Arizona - will keep the highly touted QB on the sidelines for what would have been his final collegiate game.

While this is the first meeting between the two schools, both are familiar with the Sun Bowl and Sun Bowl Stadium. Purdue makes its second appearance in the game and at El Paso, Texas in the last three years. In 2002, the Boilermakers defeated the University of Washington, 34-24. This year's game is the fourth trip for ASU to the Sun Bowl overall and first since 1997 when it defeated Iowa, 17-7, on Christmas Eve. The Sun Devils also appeared in the sixth and seventh editions of the bowl in 1940 and 1941 and now hold a 1-1-1 record all-time in the game.

Arizona State's Bowl Record: 10-9-1
Purdue's Bowl Record: 7-5

Purdue on Offense

The Boilermaker offense was full steam ahead for much of the first. Overall in 2004, Purdue averaged 32 and a half points-per-game during the season.

As quarterback Kyle Orton goes, so goes the Boilermaker offense. The senior QB will end his collegiate career versus the Sun Devils, capping a four year span, and a 2004 season, which saw him break several school and conference records. A match-up of Orton and Walter would have featured two storied QBs at their respective schools, but, with Walter shelved the spotlight will squarely focus on Purdue's veteran signal caller. Despite missing two games after inuring his hips, Orton managed to throw for 2,809 yards and 28 touchdowns. Look for a big game from Orton to conclude a highly successful college career.

First team All-America Taylor Stubblefield will also try to put the finishing touches on his tenure at Purdue with a big game Christmas Eve. The senior pulled down 15 touchdowns in 2004 off of 82 receptions and 1,104 yards gained. Like ASU, Purdue is also deep at the wide out positions with Kyle Ingraham and Dorien Bryant giving Orton three familiar targets to hit. Ingraham caught 50 passes for 621 yards and seven TDs, while Bryant reached pay dirt three times on 34 catches while gaining 561 yards.

While the strength of the Boilermaker offense is the passing game, Jerod Void and Brandon Jones give Purdue a formidable running game. The duo combined for five scores this season while gaining over 1,000 yards. With the Sun Devil offense in flux entering the game, a solid performance by head coach Joe Tiller's offense could give PU their third bowl victory in the Tiller era and second Sun Bowl crown in three years.

Arizona State on Offense

The loss of Walter will hurt the offense of Arizona State, which must now rely on Sam Keller to lead the offense. Keller is a true sophomore who has only attempted 69 career passes in his time backing up Walter. In 2004, Keller saw action in five games and completed 17 of his 26 pass attempts for 236 yards and two touchdowns. The heir apparent to Walter, who was a three year starter for head coach Dirk Koetter, Keller has the intangibles to keep Arizona State's offense rolling. He is a big at 6'4", 228-pounds and is accurate, completing well over 50 percent of his passes in his brief career.

A veteran recruiting corps should help Keller feel comfortable in the pocket in his first start. After gaining over 1,000 yards receiving this season, Derek Hagen should be Keller's primary target down the field. A junior, Hagen has received some consideration for all-American status from various media outlets around the country this season due to his 74 catches and nine touchdowns in 2004. Hagen came up just short of averaging 100 yards-per-game receiving during the regular season. At 6'2" and 201-pounds, Hagen is a good sized target with speed which could prove to be troublesome to the Purdue secondary.

In addition to Hagen, Zach Miller pulled in 51 passes for 524 yards on the season but did reach the end zone six times and at 6'4" and 245-pounds, the tight end creates defensive mismatches for many teams. Terry Richardson, Moey Mutz completes the receiving corps and gained 625 yards with six TDs and 414 yards with one score this season, respectively.

On the ground, Hakim Hill saw the bulk of carries this season at 122, which resulted in 596 yards and five touchdowns. However, Richrdson was the only other player to reach the end zone rushing this season and he did that only once. First downs on the ground were also few and far between for the Sun Devils in the 2004 campaign. Only 68 times did ASU gain a first down rushing compared to 149 times passing. The weak running game combined with an inexperienced signal caller could prove problematic for a team used to having their offense average 30 points-per-game.

Purdue on Defense

The strength of the Purdue defense is in stopping the run, where it is ranked 10th in the nation. But, with Arizona State favoring a pass-heavy offense the Boilermakers will most likely have to shift their focus toward stopping the pass. The "D" should be up to the task though after holding teams to 228 yards-per-game passing and only allowing 12 touchdowns through the air all season. In addition, Purdue allowed 30 points only once, which is what the ASU offense is averaging per game.

To help out the secondary, the defensive front could blitz quarterback Keller early and often to try and rattle the inexperienced signal caller. Rob Ninkovich, Anthony Spencer and Ray Edwards dropped the opposing QB eight, seven-point-five, and seven times respectively in 2004. As a team, coordinator Brock Spack's defense totaled 32 sacks and will look or the same dominating performance the Purdue defense put up many times throughout the regular season.

Eight interceptions and 55 pass break-ups represent the work of the PU linebackers and secondary during the regular season. George Hall led the team with 88 tackles and two interceptions at the linebacker position while Bernard Pollard finished second on the team with 82 tackles.

Arizona State on Defense

The Sun Devil defense should be no match for the high powered attack of Purdue. Arizona State is allowing 24.6 points-per-game this season and gave up an average of 360 yards-per-game. This could spell trouble for Koetter's defense. While the cracks in the defense were usually compensated by a powerful offense, with Walter out the defense must step up and make some plays. The regular season told two stories of the ASU defense, the one that held its opponents to less than 20 points four times this season, and the one that allowed over 20 points in the seven other games. In the last three games of the season, ASU gave up 31, 28 and 34 points, losing only the last game - the game where Walter was knocked out - by a touchdown.

Dale Robinson and Justin Burks led the defensive unit with each tallying 82 tackles in 2004. The junior linebackers are solid in playing both pass defense and stopping the run. However, as a team against the run in '04 the Sun Devils gave up well over 100 yards-per-game.

Emmanuel Franklin is the leader in the secondary for defensive coordinator Brent Guy and has four interceptions on the season. Ten different players picked off a pass in 2004 for a total of 17 as a team. Orton will have to be careful and avoid throwing careless passes that will allow the ASU defense to capitalize. Added help should come from punter Chris MacDonald who averaged over 43 yards-per-punt in 2004 and stuck 15 of his 60 inside the 20 yard line.

Keys to the Game

What will the Arizona State offense look like? With Walter out, the Sun Devil passing game could take on a new look with more screens and short passes which will allow Keller to get rid of the ball quickly and avoid the frontline pressure of Purdue. For Purdue, it's not a question of what will their offense consist of, it's a question of will it be in sync. The Sun Devils managed to give up 45 points to the high powered USC offense back on October 16th and could see Purdue put up similar numbers in the Sun Bowl if the Boilermakers passing game remains on track.

Establishing a ground game will be a key for both squads not only to establish the pass, but to control the clock. Whichever team can get its tailbacks to gain some significant yards could be on its way to a victory.

For Arizona State on defense, stopping Taylor Stubblefield will be a key. In Purdue's four losses this season the senior tallied 232 yards and one touchdown. In its seven wins, 782 yards and 14 TDs. If Orton can find his favorite target then Purdue should be on the way to its fourth bowl win in the Joe Tiller era.