TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona football coaching staff on Sunday announced its weekly honors following Saturday’s thrilling 37-30 double-overtime upset of then-No. 10 Utah. The victory was the 32nd over the last four seasons for the Wildcats, who honored 21 total players on Senior Night at Arizona Stadium.
Junior receiver Cayleb Jones collected the team’s offensive player of the week honor, while awards were shared by players on defense and special teams. Senior defensive end Reggie Gilbert teamed with junior defensive back Tellas Jones for the defensive award, while kicker Casey Skowron and punter Drew Riggleman deservedly split the special teams honors.
Cayleb Jones led an explosive passing attack with five receptions for 126 yards (25.2 average) and a 17-yard touchdown. With UA trailing 27-20 in the third quarter, Jones took a short pass reception and turned it into a 50-yard gain (his longest pass reception of the season), setting up the tying score a few players later. The 126-yard output was Jones’ third 100-yard game of the season, while four of his five receptions resulted in a first down or touchdown.
Defensively, Tellas Jones led a spirited defensive effort with a game-high nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup as the Wildcats shut out No. 10 Utah in the fourth quarter. A defensive back, Jones was active around the line of scrimmage, making four of his nine tackles for a gain of one or fewer yards, including a solo tackle for loss on a third down play in the decisive second overtime. He split one of UA’s four sacks in the game, a tally that was twice as many as the Wildcats collected in any previous Pac-12 game this season.
Sharing the defensive honor Gilbert, who turned in another stout performance up front. The Laveen, Ariz., collected five tackles, including 2.0 for loss and 1.0 sacks. His effort in run support also helped limit Utah’s Davontae Booker to a 4.3 yard-per-carry average, which was a half-yard below his season average despite 34 total carries.
In the kicking game, Skowron totaled 13 points as he was perfect on all of his kicks (3-for-3 field goals, 4-for-4 PAT) in a 37-30 double-overtime victory against No. 10 Utah. He converted field goal tries of 47, 40 and 35-yards, the final attempt tying the game and forcing a second overtime. The senior booted five of his six kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks, while making on special teams tackles. His kicking helped limit Utah to an average starting field position of its own 22-yardline.
Equally as critical in the kicking game was Riggleman, who in addition to punting also holds on place-kicking attempts for Skowron. Riggleman was called on to punt only three times, yet he placed two of his boots inside the 20-yardline. He averaged 47.0 yards per punt, and the Wildcats’ coverage team actually netted a minus-2 tally for punt returns in the contest.
Scout Team Player of the Week honors went to freshman lineman Christian Lopez and freshman running back Khaylub Thompson (offense), freshman safety Albert Green (defense), and freshman linebacker Carrington Vaughn (special teams).
The team’s Hard Edge Player of the Week was junior linebacker Paul Magloire Jr., while sophomore running back Zach Green was named the Student of the Week. Skowron was also recognized with the Community Service Award.
Arizona closes out the regular season with the annual Territiorial Cup showdown against Arizona State this Saturday, Nov. 21. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (MST) at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., with a television broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
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