Arizona Wildcats football: On lack of depth, McCaffrey's big night, Trier sighting
- Updated
Seen and heard at Arizona Stadium during Arizona's game against Stanford.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizona’s depth chart continues to be a weekly storyline.
As expected, Brandon Dawkins started at quarterback on Saturday even though he and Anu Solomon were separated by the word ‘or’ on the two-deep.
Samajie Grant was alone atop the running back depth chart. The 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound Grant is a wide receiver by trade.
Matt Morin — who was the team’s third-string tight end just a few weeks ago and played quarterback against USC — was listed as the starter at a newly created “running back/fullback” position.
Malcolm Holland was listed as the backup to Jace Whittaker at cornerback. Holland is a redshirt freshman walk-on who spent four years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization — playing with future stars like Corey Seager and Julio Urias — before switching to football.
Cedric Peterson started at the wide receiver position vacated by Grant. Peterson is a redshirt freshman with three career catches.
DaVonte’ Neal took over as the lead kick returner. Neal, a senior, had spent most of the season as a starting cornerback before losing his spot to Whittaker.
And Christian Boettcher made another start at left guard.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
72: Arizona and Stanford’s combined yards in Saturday’s first quarter. By comparison, UA and USC combined for 188 yards in the first quarter two weeks ago.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Saturday’s officials did nearly everything in their power to drain Stanford star running back/returner Christian McCaffrey’s energy.
The Wildcats booted the opening kickoff to McCaffrey and he returned it. Following off-setting penalties, however, Arizona was forced to re-kick it.
Later, Arizona punted it to McCaffrey who, off to the races, bolted for a long touchdown. The TD was called back because of a blocking penalty. Arizona booted it again.
Mission accomplished? Maybe?
Well, no.
McCaffrey took a second-quarter handoff up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown, then scored again later in the period on an 18-yard reception.
The two scores were McCaffrey’s first since Stanford’s win against USC on Sept. 17. McCaffrey also moved into fourth all-time in rushing yards in program history, passing Brad Muster, who had 3,010 career rushing yards. McCaffrey’s next target is Toby Gerhart, who rushed for 3,522 yards from 2006-09.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
1: McCaffrey’s second-quarter score was his first career rushing touchdown in a true road game.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
As he prepared for his first start at running back, Grant set a goal: Five yards per carry.
He was at 2.5 yards per carry on six attempts in the second quarter. Then, after one more carry, he was at minus-1.3.
That’s what happens when you lose 24 yards on a rush attempt, as Grant did as he tried to avoid tacklers by going backwards, only to be brought down far behind the line of scrimmage.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizona basketball players watched Saturday’s game from the ZonaZoo. Among them: sophomore Allonzo Trier, whose status for the upcoming season is in question.
The Wildcats will host College of Idaho in a Tuesday night exhibition at McKale Center. It’s unclear if Trier, who missed Pac-12 media day amid questions about his eligibility, will suit up.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Keller Chryst had a coming-out party of sorts against Arizona last season, playing in relief of starting quarterback Kevin Hogan during a blowout.
Chryst completed 6 of 11 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown and made headlines for a pancake block of Arizona’s Cam Denson.
Chryst was expected to replace Hogan, but lost the starting job to Ryan Burns in training camp.
Chryst was named the starter last week in part because of Burns’ struggles. He wasn’t much better on Saturday: Chryst completed 8 of 18 passes for 66 yards and rushed three times for minus-15 yards in the first half. He threw for one touchdown and was intercepted once.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona’s depth chart continues to be a weekly storyline.
As expected, Brandon Dawkins started at quarterback on Saturday even though he and Anu Solomon were separated by the word ‘or’ on the two-deep.
Samajie Grant was alone atop the running back depth chart. The 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound Grant is a wide receiver by trade.
Matt Morin — who was the team’s third-string tight end just a few weeks ago and played quarterback against USC — was listed as the starter at a newly created “running back/fullback” position.
Malcolm Holland was listed as the backup to Jace Whittaker at cornerback. Holland is a redshirt freshman walk-on who spent four years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization — playing with future stars like Corey Seager and Julio Urias — before switching to football.
Cedric Peterson started at the wide receiver position vacated by Grant. Peterson is a redshirt freshman with three career catches.
DaVonte’ Neal took over as the lead kick returner. Neal, a senior, had spent most of the season as a starting cornerback before losing his spot to Whittaker.
And Christian Boettcher made another start at left guard.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Saturday’s officials did nearly everything in their power to drain Stanford star running back/returner Christian McCaffrey’s energy.
The Wildcats booted the opening kickoff to McCaffrey and he returned it. Following off-setting penalties, however, Arizona was forced to re-kick it.
Later, Arizona punted it to McCaffrey who, off to the races, bolted for a long touchdown. The TD was called back because of a blocking penalty. Arizona booted it again.
Mission accomplished? Maybe?
Well, no.
McCaffrey took a second-quarter handoff up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown, then scored again later in the period on an 18-yard reception.
The two scores were McCaffrey’s first since Stanford’s win against USC on Sept. 17. McCaffrey also moved into fourth all-time in rushing yards in program history, passing Brad Muster, who had 3,010 career rushing yards. McCaffrey’s next target is Toby Gerhart, who rushed for 3,522 yards from 2006-09.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
As he prepared for his first start at running back, Grant set a goal: Five yards per carry.
He was at 2.5 yards per carry on six attempts in the second quarter. Then, after one more carry, he was at minus-1.3.
That’s what happens when you lose 24 yards on a rush attempt, as Grant did as he tried to avoid tacklers by going backwards, only to be brought down far behind the line of scrimmage.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona basketball players watched Saturday’s game from the ZonaZoo. Among them: sophomore Allonzo Trier, whose status for the upcoming season is in question.
The Wildcats will host College of Idaho in a Tuesday night exhibition at McKale Center. It’s unclear if Trier, who missed Pac-12 media day amid questions about his eligibility, will suit up.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Keller Chryst had a coming-out party of sorts against Arizona last season, playing in relief of starting quarterback Kevin Hogan during a blowout.
Chryst completed 6 of 11 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown and made headlines for a pancake block of Arizona’s Cam Denson.
Chryst was expected to replace Hogan, but lost the starting job to Ryan Burns in training camp.
Chryst was named the starter last week in part because of Burns’ struggles. He wasn’t much better on Saturday: Chryst completed 8 of 18 passes for 66 yards and rushed three times for minus-15 yards in the first half. He threw for one touchdown and was intercepted once.
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Arizona's only touchdown came on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Dawkins to Trey Griffey.
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