By Jeff Alba for DieHardDevil.com

During pregame introductions, Dennis Erickson stood at the entrance of the Tillman Tunnel and personally shook the hand of each senior as they took Frank Kush Field for the last time.  Vice President of Athletics Lisa Love stood directly behind the head coach to also pay her respect to the seniors. Earlier in the day, the Sun Devils were officially eliminated from any possibility of playing in the Pac-12 championship game.   Win or lose on Friday night, one couldn’t help but wonder if this was also Erickson’s last appearance at Sun Devil Stadium leading the maroon and gold.

Although this was an emotional night for the senior players and their families in attendance, the Sun Devils came out flat and gave Cal the early lead.  As a credit to Brock Osweiler and the team, they didn’t hang their heads and fold, but fought back and took the lead at halftime 28-27.  Two unlikely players helped the Sun Devil comeback as Rashad Ross and Trevor Kohl each caught their first touchdown pass in an ASU uniform.  Ross is going to be a future star next year.

As the second half began, the Sun Devils received the kick and quickly put another three points on the board.   In response, Cal then drove 77 yards on their next possession to retake the lead at 34-31.  Later in the third quarter, Cal scored again on another broken pass coverage by the ASU secondary.  However, the Sun Devil offense quickly charged back as Cameron Marshall scored his second touchdown of the night and eighteenth of the season, which tied him with Woody Green and Terry Battle for the all-time ASU list.

In the fourth and final quarter, the Sun Devil defense made a solid goal line stand to hold Cal to a field goal and a six point lead to provide some hope.  But in the end, the all too familiar result played with more penalties, mistakes and lack of leadership that would once again doom the Sun Devils.

As the clock ticked down on the seniors’ last game in their home stadium, it became very obvious that throughout the season, the ASU defense has desperately missed the on field leadership of Omar Bolden and Brandon Magee.  Senior Colin Parker and a few others did their best to lead by example, but nothing could replace the vocal and active leadership abilities of those two.  Also, ASU racked up a season high 121 penalty yards that included two more personal fouls on Vontaze Burfict, who didn’t play in the second half.  With this disaster of a finish to the season, it is a foregone conclusion that ASU will most likely make a coaching change as early as tomorrow.

It is always darkest just before the dawn.