The University of Arizona football team (2-0) crushed Weber State University 48-3, on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at Arizona Stadium. Despite more than a two-hour weather delay due to lightning in the area, Arizona remained undefeated in the young season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita led the way going 17-for-22, 353 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. Redshirt senior wide receiver Javin Whatley capped off a career night with five receptions, 168 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Offense
Arizona started rolling offensively, scoring 24 first quarter points and scoring on all drives in the first-half. Less than three minutes into the game, Fifita rifled one to Whatley for a 31-yard touchdown. On the very first play of the ensuing drive, Fifita connected to Whatley again, this time for 85 yards, making it Fifita’s longest passing play of his career.
Midway through the second quarter, Arizona’s offense continued to punish Weber State with Fifita threading the needle to redshirt freshman wide receiver Brandon Phelps for his first career touchdown, advancing the lead 34-0.
In the second half, Fifita found senior transfer running back Ismail Mahdi for an easy 27-yard touchdown. The touchdown put Fifita at No. 4 on Arizona’s all-time passing touchdowns (50) list, surpassing former Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon.
“He has such a high standard for himself and we all have such a high standard for him. I thought it was great the way we executed the first-half on offense,” head coach Brent Brennan said.
Defense
Arizona’s defense shutdown Weber State all night. WSU did not cross the 50-yard line at all in the entire first-half. Junior defensive back Genesis Smith picked off WSU sophomore quarterback Jackson Gilkey to put the Arizona offense at Weber State’s 12-yard line.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Jabari Mann was called for roughing the passer in the second quarter, which got overturned to targeting. This resulted in Mann being disqualified for the remainder of the game.
“Keep your head out of it […]. He knows better, he’s been playing football for a long time. Targeting is not a new rule,” Brennan said.
Halfway into the third, redshirt junior defensive back Jay’Vion Cole returned an interception for a 27-yard touchdown to extend Arizona’s lead to 48-0.
The pick-six was the first one for Arizona since Anthony Pandy in 2021.
Looking ahead
Arizona looks to stay undefeated against Kansas State University on Friday, Sept. 12, at Arizona Stadium, kicking off at 6 p.m. The game will also be streamed on Fox.
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