Game 10: Washington (6-4, 2-4) at #17 Arizona (7-2, 4-2)
Game Notes: Arizona | Washington | Pac-12
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 1:30 p.m. (MST)
Location: Tucson, Ariz.
Stadium: Arizona Stadium (56,029)
Surface: FieldTurf
Television: FOX
All-Time Series: UW leads, 19-10-1
In Tucson: UW leads, 6-7-1
Last Meeting: Washington 31, Arizona 13 (Sept. 28, 2013, at Seattle)
Streak: Home team has won last six
Television: FOX
Play-by-Play: Gus Johnson
Analyst: Charles Davis
Sideline: Molly McGrath
Watch Online: FOX Sports Go App
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brian Jeffries
Analyst: Lamont Lovett
Sideline: Dana Cooper
Flagship Stations: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM
Statewide Affiliates: Click here
Listen on TuneIn: www.arizonawildcats.com
Satellite Radio: XM (84), SIRIUS (84)
Spanish Radio (Home games only): 990 AM
Play-by-Play: Francisco Romero
Analyst: Marco Rincon
Hard Edge Notes & Numbers
» The home team has won six straight games in the series dating to 2008.
» The Wildcats, ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25, are ranked for the sixth-straight week.
» Arizona has won seven regular season games for the third-straight year under Rich Rodriguez (UA was in 4-8 year prior to his arrival).
» LB Scooby Wright is a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Lumbardi awards. Wright is the only FBS player to rank among the top 25 in tackles, TFL, sacks and forced fumbles.
» Wright has a TFL in all 9 games (20.5 total).
» Arizona averages 27.9 first downs per game, ranking No. 3 in FBS.
» UA is one of six teams to have six players with 20 or more receptions this season.
» The Wildcats are 12-1 under Rodriguez when winning the turnover battle. They have outscored opponents 59-3 in points off turnovers this season.
» UA leads the Pac-12 for fewest tackles for loss allowed per game (4.56).
» UA has produced four all-purpose plays of 80+ yards this season, most in a single campaign since 2009.
» UA has 13 players with a pass reception, including 10 with a TD this season.
» Anu Solomon’s 25 passing TD are 10th-most in career history at Arizona.
» Freshman Nick Wilson turned in his fourth 100-yard rushing game last week.
Some Game Themes: Sunny skies – assuming the forecast holds – will shine on a Pac-12 North vs. South showdown at Arizona Stadium as the Wildcats head into the final quarter of their schedule. That’s right, after five night games to begin the home slate, Arizona hosts two day games in the coming weeks … While you make your dinner plans, this is the time of year to feast on football … Rich Rodriguez calls it “climbing the bowl ladder”, and both Arizona and Washington want to avoid missteps that could cost them in the pecking order come December … In his first season, Chris Petersen has the Huskies bowl eligible, but the sledding has been tougher in conference play. A win on the road against a ranked opponent could be a notable win to further legitimize the implementation of his system in Year 1 … Meanwhile, Rodriguez, is in Year 3 and has the Wildcats on track for their best campaign in some time. But work remains … The UA offense has been inconsistent at times, explosive at others. Part of that could be attributed to a freshman quarterback, but Anu Solomon is turning in a fine season and a 7-2 record for a rookie starter is rather unheard of in the desert … Perhaps the reemergence of Nick Wilson – hobbled with an ankle injury for several games – will get the Cats back on the track they were on in early October … For Washington, versatile Shaq Thompson, who plays both offense and defense, is one of the most entertaining players to watch in college football. The linebacker/running back has scored more defensive touchdowns (4) than he has offensive touchdowns (2), but his 7.5 yards per carry catches your eye … We’re going to see a handful of standout defensive players, including a couple other guys who are contending for Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright is the nation’s leader in tackles for loss per game and is chasing Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha for the honors in sacks. Both have relentlessly pestered opposing offenses this season … How the Wildcats can match up with Washington’s physical defensive front will be something to keep an eye not just for this weekend, but in the coming weeks against physical and aggressive defenses in Utah and Arizona State … It’s Arizona’s second-straight home game and if recent history is any indicator, that favors the Cats: the home team has won six straight times in the series … But that will mean absolutely nothing come Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. kickoff for a national TV broadcast on FOX.
Last Week: Arizona celebrated the 100th anniversary of its first Homecoming with an entertaining 38-20 victory and, in the process picked up its seventh win of the year to guarantee a winning season … It was an ominous start, though, when Sefo Liufau hit Shay Fields for a 75-yard touchdown before much of the 50,177 patrons had settled into the seats for the game’s first play … The Cats’ offense sputtered early, but the defense – despite giving up the initial home run play – came to play the rest of the way … Anthony Lopez sacked Liufau and Tra’Mayne Bondurant scooped up the loose ball to return it 22 yards for the tying touchdown by the end of the first quarter … UA’s defense forced another turnover, and Anu Solomon gave the Cats the lead with an eight-yard toss to Tyrell Johnson in the second … Some trickery tied things up when receiver Nelson Spruce threw back to Liufau on a seven-yard touchdown pass for the equalizer two minutes later, and then a Will Oliver 19-yard field goal gave the Buffs later in the half … Arizona’s defense struck again when Jourdon Grandon intercepted a pass at midfield with two minutes remaining. Solomon found David Richards in the corner of the endzone for a one-yard touchdown pass, giving the home side a 21-17 edge at the break … In the third quarter, Casey Skowron nailed a 37-yard field goal and Oliver answered with 33-yarder to keep it a four-point margin heading the final stanza … The fourth quarter was all Arizona. Nick Wilson, who finished with 153 yards on 21 carries, pounded the rock, and Solomon twice completed touchdown passes to Samajie Grant to put away the Buffs … Solomon passed for four touchdowns and racked up a career-high 115 rushing yards to pace the offense … Scooby Wright collected 10 more tackles, including two for loss and a sack, to continue his stellar season … Wright’s pals on defense forced a season-high four turnovers, and each led directly to 28 points – a clear deciding factor … It was the Wildcats’ third-straight win in the series after winning just one time in the first 14 tries against Colorado.
Cats in the Polls: Arizona is ranked No. 21 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the sixth-straight week the Wildcats have been ranked. After upsetting then-No. 2 Oregon in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 2, Arizona vaulted from unranked to No. 10 the following week, marking the largest jump in the poll’s history since it expanded to 25 teams back in 1989. Since, Arizona has bounced around depending upon weekly results. The Wildcats are No. 18 in this week’s Amway USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Arizona has also been ranked in each of the first two College Football Playoff Committee Rankings, released each Tuesday.
Last Year: Arizona suffered its first loss of the year when it dropped a 31-13 contest at Washington on Sept. 28, 2013. In that soaker in Seattle, the Wildcats kept themselves in the ballgame with some stingy first-half defense and the teams traded scores early in the third quarter before the Huskies scored the final 13 points. B.J. Denker threw his first interception of the season on the game’s opening drive and it turned into a quick six points for UW. The Huskies’ defense then forced three-and-outs on UA’s next three possessions, before the Wildcats spotted them two more points when a snap on a punt play when through the endzone. Washington added a field goal for an 11-0 lead before Arizona finally mounted a 14-play, 84-yard drive before halftime to get on the board. The second half opened with a 95-yard Washington drive that was followed by a 72-yard Arizona march for an 18-13 contest. But the Huskies answered with another 90-plus yard drive the a two-score advantage and a 10-play, 59-yard drive following another Denker interception put the game out of reach in the fourth. It was a tough all-around game offensively for Denker and the Wildcats, who totaled 313 yards and went three-and-out six times. The senior quarterback suffered his first career loss in five tries as a starter and tossed his first two interceptions of the season while completing 14-of-25 passes for 119 yards. He and Ka’Deem Carey provided the highlights with seven-yard and three-yard touchdown runs, respectively. Carey turned his typical workhorse effort with 132 yards on a career-high 30 carries and was the Wildcats’ leading receiver with four grabs for 49 yards. Keith Price and Bishop Sankey paced a workmanlike Washington offense. Price finished an efficient 14-for-25 passing for 165 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while Sankey added 161 rushing yards and a score on a school-record 40 carries. The home team won for the sixth consecutive time in the series.
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