Box Score EUGENE, Ore. - Senior Terris Jones-Grigsby accumulated a career-high 210 all-purpose yards, including scoring the eventual game-winning touchdown with 2:54 remaining, as Arizona stunned No. 2 Oregon, 31-24, Thursday night at Autzen Stadium.
For the Wildcats (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12), the win extends their streak to six consecutive games dating back to last season and five straight to begin 2014, both the longest since 1998. UA has also now defeated an Associated Press Top-10 team in 10 of the last 11 seasons and in each year under head coach Rich Rodriguez, including two-straight over top-25 ranked Duck squads. Tonight also marked UA's first win over an AP Top-25 team on the road since 2009.
Arizona trailed Oregon (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) 7-3 at halftime but outscored the Ducks 21-7 in the third quarter and 28-17 in the second half, including scoring on its first three possessions of the second half.
Jones-Grigsby had a night to remember, as he racked up a career-high 210 all-purpose yards, accumulating a career-best and game-leading 95 receiving yards on four catches and a game-leading 115 yards on the ground on 27 carries for his second 100-plus yard rushing game of the season, while extending Arizona's streak to 27 straight games with a 100-plus yard rusher.
Freshman running back Nick Wilson nearly broke the century mark on the ground as well, rushing for 92 yards on 13 carries, while scoring three touchdowns, including a career-high equaling two rushing scores. Wilson scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives to begin the second half.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Soloman had an efficient night, throwing for 287 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-31 passing, including going 13-of-18 for 217 yards and a touchdown in the second half alone. He tossed the ball to nine different Wildcats on the night, with four receivers hauling in three or more catches.
The UA offense accumulated 29 first downs in the game, with 20 coming in the second half, while it converted on 9-of-17 third downs, including 7-of-9 third downs in the second half.
Safeties William Parks and Jared Tevis led the Cats with eight tackles each, while five different players accounted for UA's five sacks on the night, including sophomore Scooby Wright's game-clinching sack and forced fumble.
Arizona got things going early as kicker Casey Skowron booted through a 28-yard field goal to put the Wildcats up 3-0, after UA sustained an 11-play, 58-yard drive, taking advantage of good field position after the defense stopped Oregon on fourth down on its opening drive of the game.
Oregon then got its offense going, as the Ducks converted on a trick play, with tailback Royce Freeman tossing a 26-yard touchdown strike to Marcus Mariota to give UO its first lead of the night at 7-3 with 14:37 remaining in the first half.
The defensive battle would continue for the rest of the first half, as the two squads combined for three first half turnovers, while the two offenses accounted for just 382 yards of total offense, as the Ducks hung on to a slight 7-3 lead at the intermission.
The Wildcats opened up the second half with an offensive statement of their own, as Wilson capped off an 80-yard scoring drive with a three-yard touchdown run to put the Cats back in front, 10-7 with 12:52 remaining in the third quarter.
However, Oregon answered with a counterpunch, as Mariota tossed his first touchdown of the night to Devon Allen in the back of the end zone to put the Ducks back on top 14-10 with 9:58 remaining in the third.
Arizona struck right back, scoring on its second straight offensive possession to begin the second half, as Wilson punched in a two-yard touchdown score for his second touchdown of the night, giving the Wildcats a 17-14 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Wilson then found the end zone for the third straight time in as many offensive drives, this time hauling in a 34-yard Solomon pass down the right sideline, to sport the Cats their first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14 with 3:11 left in the third.
Oregon then scored 10 unanswered points to tie the game at 24-24 with 8:21 remaining in the contest.
But the Cats took advantage of one last offensive opportunity, as Jones-Grigsby capped off his career day, but most importantly, clinched the win for Arizona, after he punched it in for his first rushing touchdown of the year from a yard out with 2:54 remaining in the contest.
Then fittingly, it was the Wildcat defense that finished the upset bid, as Wright sacked Mariota and forced a fumble to give the Wildcats possession and the win.
Arizona will get back after it next Sat., Oct. 11, when it plays host to USC in what will be the Cats' first Pac-12 South contest of the season. Slated for 7:30 p.m. MST, the game will be televised by ESPN2 and carried on the Arizona IMG Sports Radio Network.
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