University of Arizona
5-3 , 3-2
Oregon State
6-2 , 3-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon St. | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Arizona | 3 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 27 |
Fifita Leads Arizona to 27-24 Win Over No. 11 Oregon State
10/28/2023 | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Noah Fifita threw two touchdown passes to Michael Wiley in the fourth quarter and Arizona beat No. 11 Oregon State 27-24 Saturday night for its second-straight win over a ranked opponent.
The Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12) had a week off following a 44-6 win over then-No. 19 Washington State that matched their largest margin of victory over a ranked team.
Arizona maintained its momentum against Oregon State (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) behind Fifita.
Fifita threw for 275 yards on 25-of-32 passing and three touchdowns, hitting Wiley on passes of 40 and 3 yards in the final quarter. The Wildcats also held Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in check most of the night while limiting the Beavers' run game.
Uiagalelei hit Jimmy Valsin III on a 20-yard touchdown with 1:38 left, but Oregon State couldn't come up with the onside kick. Uiagalelei finished with 218 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-30 passing.
Fifita has played well since Jayden de Laura injured his ankle in Week 4, throwing for 924 yards and eight touchdowns in a little over three games.
De Laura is healthy again, but Fifita got the start against Oregon State.
The sophomore was solid at the start, opening with a 7-yard touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan in the back of the end zone, then set up Tyler Loop's 51-yard field goal. Fifita threw an interception near midfield late in the first half, but Oregon State couldn't capitalize, leaving the game tied at 10-all at halftime.
Fifita moved Arizona into position for another Loop field goal early in the third quarter, this one from 25 yards, and found Wiley on the three-yard score with 2:22 left.
The Beavers made it look easy on their first drive, picking apart the Wildcats on a 75-yard drive capped by Uiagalelei's 22-yard touchdown pass to Jack Velling.
The rest of the first half was a struggle against Arizona's vastly-improved defense.
Oregon State had to settle for a field goal after reaching Arizona's 12-yard line in the second quarter and tried an ill-advised fake field goal from the 16 on the final play before halftime. The Beavers had scored on all 27 of their trips into the red zone this season before the failed fake.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arizona: Fifita may have supplanted de Laura as Arizona's quarterback for good and the Wildcats' defense had another solid night against a ranked opponent.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Hosts UCLA next Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
OSU 7, ARI 0
OSU - Velling,Jack 22 yd pass from Uiagalelei,DJ (Sappington,Atticus kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:32
OSU 7, ARI 3
ARI - Loop,Tyler 51 yd field goal 14 plays, 41 yards, TOP 06:54
OSU 7, ARI 10
ARI - McMillan,Tetairoa 7 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Loop,Tyler kick) 7 plays, 94 yards, TOP 03:22
OSU 10, ARI 10
OSU - Sappington,Atticus 35 yd field goal 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 05:12
OSU 10, ARI 13
ARI - Loop,Tyler 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:33
OSU 17, ARI 13
OSU - Bolden,Silas 8 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:02
OSU 17, ARI 20
ARI - Wiley,Michael 40 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Loop,Tyler kick) 2 plays, 40 yards, TOP 00:45
OSU 17, ARI 27
ARI - Wiley,Michael 3 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Loop,Tyler kick) 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 05:20
OSU 24, ARI 27
OSU - Valsin III,Jimmy 20 yd pass from Uiagalelei,DJ (Sappington,Atticus kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:44
