The final bowl game of the 2015 season went down to the wire in a shootout between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Arizona State Sun Devils. It was the Mountaineers who left with the Cactus Bowl with a thrilling 43-42 win. The two high-powered offenses combined for nearly 1,200 yards of offense in a game that featured nine lead changes.
WVU's Skyler Howard completed 28 of 51 passes for 532 yards, five TDs and two picks. He set the Cactus Bowl record for passing yards, breaking the previous mark set by Drew Bledsoe in 1992. His top target was Shelton Gibson, who caught four passes for 143 yards and a score. Ka'Raun White added 116 yards and Daikiel Shorts had two TD catches.
Arizona State scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a 42-36 lead with less than five minutes to play. However, West Virginia marched down the field and took the lead back with just over two minutes to play. Arizona State was unable to score and the Mountaineers held on for the win.
Both teams posted impressive passing lines. ASU QB Mike Bercovici completed 29 of 52 passes for 418 yards and four TDs. Devin Lucien led the way for Arizona State, catching nine passes for 144 yards and a score. Tim White caught only four passes, but two were touchdowns.
Compared to the passing attack, the team's ground games weren't impressive. ASU ran the ball 32 times for 102 yards, while WVU racked up 145 carries on 32 attempts.
West Virginia outgained Arizona State 676 to 520, but two turnovers nearly cost the Mountaineers a win. WVU had the largest lead of the game. The Mountaineers led 22-13 late in the second quarter, although that lead didn't last long as the Sun Devils blocked the extra point and returned it for two points. That three point swing nearly proved to be a major difference in the outcome.
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