EL PASO, Texas - Arizona’s defense lived up to its billing on all but two plays; those spelled doom as Baylor’s big scoring passes helped beat the Cats, 20-15, in the John Hancock Bowl.
UA, which unleashed a no-huddle, wide-open passing attack, opened scoring with a Steve McLaughlin first-quarter field goal and increased the lead to 10-0 with a 65-yard scoring drive capped by a George Malauulu quarterback draw for seven yards mid-way through the second quarter.
BU halfback Brandell Jackson hit Melvin Bonner for a 61-yard strike three minutes later, but Arizona answered with a 14-play drive to set up another McLaughlin field goal and take a 13-7 halftime lead.
The Bears, held to 47 yards rushing, went to the air and struck again with another Bonner TD catch for 69 yards from QB J.J. Joe. Shortly into the fourth period, the Bears capitalized on two Arizona fumbles in UA territory and cashed them in for two Terry Weir field goals and a 20-13 lead.
With time running out, Arizona held BU deep on fourth-and-eight, and punter Rhett Delaney took an intentional safety at 0:31. A Chuck Levy 27-yard kickoff return put the Cats in decent shape, and UA drove to the Baylor 28. Two passes from Malauulu into the end zone were incomplete although Heath Bray nearly snagged the game winner on the first try.
