Arizona football breaks five game losing streak in dominant win over Houston

Melisa Guzeloglu

November 16, 2024

Quali Conley breaks away from the line of scrimmage for another touchdown against Houston on Nov. 15 at Arizona Stadium. Conley’s touchdown drive was only 1 play for 50 yards.

The University of Arizona football team (4-6, 2-5 in Big 12) returned to Arizona Stadium, securing a dominating 27-3 victory over the University of Houston on Friday, Nov. 15.

The Wildcats won their first game following five consecutive losses. This game also is the teams first victory since Sept. 28 against the University of Utah.

Offense

Arizona’s offense stunned Houston throughout the entire game. Quarterback Noah Fifita threw 2 touchdown passes, completing 20-of-35 passes for 224 yards. Houston’s defense struggled in the beginning as the Cougars jumped offsides to allow Arizona a free play. Fifita was able to take advantage of the play and found McMillan in the end zone early in the first half, completing a 33-yard pass for the touchdown.

The Wildcats led 7-0 halfway through the first quarter. Arizona failed to score after making it to the 11-yard line. On a field goal try, Michael Salgado-Medina dropped the snap and Tyler Loop did not get to attempt a field goal because of it. Jack Martin kicked a 49-yard field goal for Houston to gain the Cougars first points of the game as the Wildcats lead 7-3.

Right before the first half ended, Loop made a 62-yard kick for the Wildcats. This broke the previous school record by just five yards as well as broke Loop’s person best by 11 yards. Arizona led Houston 10-3 as they went into half time.

Arizona football Kicker Tyler Loop makes a career long 62 yard field goal as time expired in the first half on Friday Nov. 15 at Arizona Stadium. Loop made a 51 yard field goal later in the game which tied his previous best helping the Wildcats to beat University of Houston 27-3. (Nathanial Stenchever)

“Kicking is about not being a perfect kicker but being a perfect adjuster. Funny enough, the last field goal that I hit before game day was a 62-yarder in practice, so going out I was like, ‘Heck yea, I just did this two days ago,’” Loop said.

Arizona continued to be efficient offensively throughout the third quarter. Quali Conley extended the Wildcats lead to 17-3 after catching a 13-yard pass from Fifita to score the touchdown. After another field goal attempt, Loop made a 51-yard kick which tied his previous career best to put Arizona further ahead 20-3.

Conley did not stop finding opportunities to score for Arizona. After rushing up the field 50-yards, Conley scored another touchdown to secure a 27-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Houston did not find a way to make a comeback resulting in Arizona’s first win in five games.

Defense

The Arizona defense started the game off hot even after a short offensive outing by the Wildcats on their first offensive possession. Stanley Ta’ufo’ou forced a fumble by Houston’s running back as Genesis Smith recovered the ball for Arizona. The turnover lead the Wildcats first touchdown of the game in the first quarter.

The Wildcats limited the Cougars scoring immensely in the first half, only allowing a field goal. Smith was also dominant defensively, intercepting a pass from Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss to give possession back for Arizona’s offense late in the fourth quarter.

“I thought our defense was lights out. You hold a team to 3 points, you force multiple turnovers, you force multiple four-and-outs, you know turnovers on downs and you know, that was just outstanding,” head coach Brent Brennan said after the game.

Chriss was sacked twice in the game but ran for 55 yards as the Wildcats limited his offensive abilities. Arizona continued to respond to Houston attempts to score as the Wildcats forced three total turnovers. Arizona gained 10 points off turnovers and held Houston to only 3 points throughout the game.