Arizona Wildcats at Utah Utes
· NCAA - FootballFifita throws 2 TDs and Arizona's defense stops No. 10 Utah on four 4th downs in 23-10 win
The Wildcats never let the pressure get to them, even when the Utes made it a one-score game and had the sellout crowd behind them.
“This is a special win,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “There's so much pressure to perform ... but they all started playing this game of football because it's fun. .. and, boy, did we have fun tonight.”
Arizona (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) turned in a stellar defensive performance with two interceptions, eight pass breakups and seven tackles for loss.
"We knew they were going to make some plays and there would be some adversity, but we were just out there having fun and making plays, showing out," Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu said.
Utah (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) played without QB Cam Rising again. Freshman Isaac Wilson moved the ball but couldn’t convert in the red zone and threw a pair of interceptions.
Fifita hit Tetairoa McMillan for a 41-yard pass on third-and-11 and then threw a 35-yard touchdown to Keyan Burnett on another third-and-11 to make it 23-10 with 8:13 to play.
Burnett had a career high five receptions and 76 yards.
Tao Johnson intercepted Fafita in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter before Wilson drove the field and found Caleb Lohner for a 20-yard TD reception to cut the lead to 16-10 with 11:54 to play.
In the third quarter after Tyler Loop’s 53-yard field goal, Wilson was intercepted by Genesis Smith on the next play. Loop’s ensuing 33-yard field goal gave the Wildcats a 16-3 lead.
Fifita used quick passes to avoid Utah’s pass rush and capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Patterson to give Arizona a 10-3 lead at halftime.
“Noah Fifita is just such an awesome football player and leader,” Brennan said.
Fifita completed all seven passes on the Wildcats’ opening drive but it was Kedrick Reescano’s 23-yard run that set up Loop’s 47-yard field goal.
The Wildcats stopped the Utes’ first two possessions on downs — both inside the Arizona 10-yard-line on fourth-and-2.
“Left points out there. We were horrible in the red zone. Awful. Awful. Until we get that fixed, we’re going to continue to have problems,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Utah fans and the team waited to see if Rising would be able to play after hurting his throwing hand on Sept. 7. Again, it was a game-time decision, but Wilson was the one who ran out with the offense. Rising, a seventh-year senior, has only played four total quarters this season after missing all of last season.
Arizona now has a 6-31-1 road record against AP Top 10 teams. The Wildcats defense allowed the fewest points to a top 10 team since the program shut out No. 10 Miami 29-0 in the 1994 Fiesta Bowl.
TAKEAWAY
Arizona: The Wildcats gashed Utah’s defense with surprise runs — 95 yards on their first seven carries — and then rode their defense and Fifita’s big plays in the second half. Arizona kept Utah from relying on their rushing attack and played the Ute receivers physically while forcing Wilson into tough passing windows.
Utah: Sloppy tackling allowed Arizona to grab the lead and red zone inefficiency doomed the Utes’ early chances. Utah had its most explosive first half of the season with 219 yards but only scored three points. Then, when the pressure was on, Wilson threw two interceptions despite a career-high 280 yards. ““I know better on those interceptions,” Wilson said. "I shouldn’t put the team in those situations.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Utah should tumble from their Top 10 perch after the loss at home while Arizona looks to find its way into the rankings.
UP NEXT
Arizona hosts Texas Tech on Oct. 5.
Utah has a bye and then plays at Arizona State on Oct. 11.
How To Watch
How can I watch Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah Utes?
- TV Channel: Wildcats at Utes 2021 College Football, week 5, is broadcasted on ESPN.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
FG | 1st Period 1:48 | Tyler Loop 47 Yd Field Goal | |
FG | 2nd Period 6:56 | Cole Becker 23 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 2nd Period 3:17 | Jeremiah Patterson 3 Yd pass from Noah Fifita (Tyler Loop Kick) | |
FG | 3rd Period 7:36 | Tyler Loop 53 Yd Field Goal | |
FG | 3rd Period 6:33 | Tyler Loop 33 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 4th Period 11:54 | Caleb Lohner 20 Yd pass from Isaac Wilson (Cole Becker Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 8:13 | Keyan Burnett 35 Yd pass from Noah Fifita (Tyler Loop Kick) |
Statistics
ARIZ | UTAH | |
---|---|---|
17 | 1st Downs | 19 |
4-13 | 3rd down efficiency | 6-15 |
0-0 | 4th down efficiency | 0-4 |
358 | Total Yards | 364 |
197 | Passing | 280 |
19/31 | Comp/Att | 20/40 |
6.4 | Yards per pass | 7.0 |
161 | Rushing | 84 |
30 | Rushing Attempts | 29 |
5.4 | Yards per rush | 2.9 |
5-35 | Penalties | 3-20 |
1 | Turnovers | 2 |
0 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
1 | Interceptions thrown | 2 |
28:05 | Possession | 31:55 |
College Football News
Ranking the best players in the college football transfer portal
John Mateer, Darian Mensah, Eric Singleton Jr. and Fernando Mendoza are among the best players who have entered the transfer portal. Here are our rankings.
College football transfer portal: Ranking best available QBs
The college football transfer portal is open, and several top quarterbacks are looking for new schools and some have already found theirs. Here are the best available.
Source: Missouri lands former Penn State QB Beau Pribula
Former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula is set to transfer to Missouri, a source confirmed to ESPN.
College football conferences with the best bowl game records
The SEC is a dominant college football powerhouse, especially when it comes to bowl games. See which other conferences also have bowl success.
Sources: Steve Belichick expected to join North Carolina as DC
Steve Belichick is expected to join father Bill Belichick's North Carolina staff as the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN.