The University of Arizona football team (3-0) won 23-17 over Kansas State University on Friday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. at Arizona Stadium, marking its third consecutive victory. The Wildcats went into this game with back-to-back wins after hosting both the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Weber State University with a combined score of 88-9.
With 40,051 fans in attendance, redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita led the way, going 16-for-33, 178 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Senior running back Ismail Mahdi ran for 189 yards.
“Respond with redline. I think that’s one of those things, keep the message clean […]. I think that’s one of those things that’s all part of our journey as a football team and learning how to do that with consistency […]. How are you going to respond in the tough moments? That’s what gives you a chance to be a good football team, is your response in the tough moments. Do you respond with redline? Do you respond with effort? Do you respond with execution? Do you respond with accountability?” said head coach Brent Brennan.
Offense
To begin the game, Fifita was able to scramble up the middle, gaining 15 yards. Shortly after, Fifita completed an 11-yard pass to Javin Whatley, advancing close to Kansas State’s 50-yard line. During early minutes of play, Arizona was reviewed for an incomplete pass, with the ruling standing. With a chance to gain its first point, Arizona’s 47-yard field goal attempt kicked by Michael Medina-Salgado was no good.
Mahdi allowed Arizona to be in K-State’s red-zone after running 60 yards in one play. Fifita scored Arizona’s first touchdown of the night after rushing 15 yards, gaining a 7-3 advantage over K-State. Fifita was able to complete multiple passes, including a 27-yard pass that allowed Luke Wysong to get into Kansas State’s redzone. Arizona’s next points came from Salgado-Medina kicking a successful 31-yard field goal attempt, putting the Wildcats ahead 10-3 with about 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
About halfway through the second quarter, Kansas State safety Logan Bartley was disqualified after being called for targeting. This was K-State’s second foul of the night. With about four minutes remaining in the second quarter, Fifita rushed up the middle of the field where the play was reviewed and ruled as a touchdown after Fifita reached the ball over the line. UA led 17-3 going into halftime after failing to hit a field-goal attempt from 62 yards.
After Arizona was limited to scoring in the third quarter, Medina-Salgado kicked a successful 31-yard field goal attempt, putting Arizona ahead 20-17. With under half to go in the fourth quarter during the third down and 15, Fifita’s checkdown pass to Mahdi was a 27-yard gain, bringing Mahdi to 216 all-purpose yards. Soon after, Medina-Salgado pushed Arizona’s lead to 23-17 with a 41-yard field goal.
Defense
Senior backer Max Harris was able to quickly stop Kansas State’s attempt at drawing up the ball early in the first quarter. Luis Rodrigues gained Kansas State’s first points after the kicker scored a successful 51-yard field goal attempt to put K-State up 3-0. Throughout the first half, Arizona’s defense put pressure on Kansas State, denying them from scoring a touchdown. Less than a minute into the third quarter, K-State wide receiver Jayce Brown scored Kansas State’s first touchdown, putting them within the 17-10 score.
After a play was reviewed for a potential touchdown from the opposing team, Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson was ruled successful for a 1-yard touchdown during the second and goal. At this point, Arizona’s defense seemed to be lackluster as the score was leveled 17-17. Shortly after, a 31-yard pass by Whatley that was intended for Keyan Burnett was intercepted by Qua Moss, limiting Arizona’s ability to gain an advantage in the third quarter.
Kansas State took two back-to-back timeouts with two minutes remaining in the game as Arizona found a way to hold its lead and secure the 23-17 victory. With a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, a pass by Johnson was broken up by Genesis Smith who was able to gain another turnover for Arizona to put the game away.
Looking ahead
Arizona will enter its bye week as the Wildcats prepare for their first conference match of the season against Iowa State University on Saturday, Sept. 27. Arizona heads on the road to play in Ames, Iowa, at Jack Trice Stadium.
“I think it’s very important to get out there and just take care of our bodies and mentally […]. Just taking care of our bodies, rest, recover and just focus on everything mentally,” Mahdi said about the team entering its bye week.
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