This year’s annual Duel in the Desert produces arguably the most important game of the season for just about every player on the Arizona football team, whether they admit it or not.
For freshman quarterback Matt Scott, it means much more.
During his recruitment process last year, Scott and three of his friends from Corona (Calif.) Centennial had ASU as one of their final choices. Scott’s friends, Ryan Bass, Shell Lyons and Brandon Magee all chose ASU.
Scott, however, chose Tucson as his destination for college football.
“”It wasn’t really a tough decision. Arizona was my first choice,”” Scott said. “”I just felt like (Arizona) was a good opportunity for me with me being the first quarterback they recruited, so I felt I had a good opportunity and things are working out for me.””
With all three of his friends steadily contributing in Tempe – particularly Bass who has carried the ball 26 times for 120 yards on the season as a true freshman – Scott is particularly excited to be reunited on the same field as his old high school friends.
Scott said he keeps in touch with his old teammates from high school, but would like nothing more than to walk off the field at Arizona Stadium in the Wildcats’ regular season finale with a win.
“”They still think they are going to win, so we will see what happens,”” Scott said. “”I talked to them about two weeks ago, and you know the (game came up), and we talked a little about it.””
As if bragging rights were the only thing up for grabs, William Sutton, a senior at Centennial and one of Scott’s best friends, has ASU and Arizona atop his list for college choices for next season.
Sutton, a three-star defensive lineman according to Rivals.com, visited Arizona last weekend and saw Scott, but hasn’t yet made his decision.
“”Me and Will grew up playing baseball together back in the day, so before even high school we knew each other,”” Scott said. “”He came down on an official last weekend and he liked it, so he is just making his choice between the two schools.””
When Scott arrived at Arizona before the season, some expected to get significant time as quarterback next to current senior starter Willie Tuitama because of the dynamic he adds with his legs.
Scott hasn’t seen the field much, aside from late in the games Arizona had in hand, but he said he hopes to play some this weekend in the rivalry game, especially with his old friends on the other sideline.
Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said Scott could see some playing time Saturday.
“”When he got here he hit the ground running so fast early on we thought he was going to have a big role. But then he hit a freshman funk that guys typically run into,”” Dykes said. “”We are expecting him to play Saturday.””
Starting RB not
specified yet
Both Wildcat running backs have made big plays this season, putting this Arizona team on their backs in times of need, but Dykes said the decision hasn’t yet been made about whether Nic Grigsby or Keola Antolin will start Saturday against the Sun Devils.
Grigsby and Antolin differ in running style: Grigsby is a shifty runner who makes people miss while Antolin is a more straightforward power runner.
Grigsby entered the season as the starter, but after struggling with a fumbling issue, his playing time gave way to the true freshman Antolin.
Even so, Grigsby has gained the bulk of the carries with 172 opposed to Antolin’s 108, but the two combined have 1,462 yards and 21 touchdowns.
“”I don’t even know yet. We will just kind of see how they warm up,”” Dykes said. “”Both practiced well this week, and we feel good about both of them. It is really pretty insignificant to us who starts, because they are going to play about the same. We’ll see who gets hot.””
