Arizona football (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) lost 41-19 to No. 14 BYU on Saturday, Oct. 12 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Wildcats were unable to respond coming off their first ever Big 12 loss last week against Texas Tech University and have now dropped back-to-back Big 12 games.
Offense
With the game being on Big Noon Kickoff, a lot of pregame hype came Arizona’s way and the team delivered early with a first-drive touchdown to wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig from 14 yards out. Lemonious-Craig scored his first touchdown of the season with the catch after getting three last year.
On Arizona’s second drive of the game, Noah Fifita was intercepted by BYU safety Tanner Wall at the BYU 1-yard line. The interception continued Fifita’s streak; he has thrown a pick in every game this season.
Arizona failed to score 10 points in the first half for the fourth time this season after Quali Conley was short on a fourth down run in BYU territory. The Wildcats trailed 14-7 at the end of the first half but would be receiving the second half kickoff.
On the first play of the second half, Fifita was picked off for the second time, this one on a screen pass by cornerback Jakob Robinson, leading to another BYU touchdown. It would only get worse for the WIldcat offense as the next drive almost ended just as quickly, as Fifita fumbled the ball while he was sacked. After these two turnovers, BYU took a commanding 24-7 lead over Arizona.
The Wildcat offense was able to drive into field goal range for kicker Tyler Loop, who nailed a 47-yarder to make the game 24-10. Loop, the reigning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, is now 14-17 on field goals this year.
After a BYU field goal, Arizona’s offense once again moved the ball down the field for another Loop field goal after an 18-play drive that took almost eight minutes. The score was 27-13 with nine minutes left in the game.
Conley was able to get a late game touchdown to make the score 34-19 after an unsuccessful 2-point conversion for Arizona.
After a turnover on downs and a pick six, BYU’s offense ran out the clock to end the game.
Fifita threw for 275 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions to set a new career high in picks in a single game. Tetairoa McMillan had five catches for 78 yards to lead the receivers and Kedrick Reescano led the running backs with nine carries for 48 yards.
Defense
The Wildcat defense took a massive hit minutes into the game when linebacker Jacob Manu got called for a targeting penalty and was disqualified for the rest of the game. Despite this loss, the defense was able to stop BYU on fourth and four inside Arizona’s 10 yard line to get the offense the ball.
After Arizona’s offense scored, the Wildcat defense allowed a five minute BYU drive that ended in a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Retzlaff to wide receiver Parker Kingston.
Arizona’s defensive struggles continued as the Wildcats allowed a 99-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a trick play touchdown. As the throw came from BYU’s wide receiver Kingston, it marked the second time in his career that he has caught and thrown for a touchdown in the same game.
Arizona’s defense was daunted by short fields off of the offense’s turnovers and gave up a touchdown and field goal in back-to-back drives to start the second half. The defense was unable to get consistent stops, allowing back-to-back scoring drives for BYU.
Arizona got their one and only turnover of the game with less than three minutes to go when defensive back Demetrius Freeney recovered a fumble.
Looking ahead
Arizona’s next game will be Saturday, Oct. 19 in Tucson against the University of Colorado Boulder at 1 p.m. for this year’s homecoming game.
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