Arizona lost to UCLA 45-24 Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics:
NOTES
* Starting left guard Freddie Tagaloa did not make the trip to L.A. He was not listed on the injury report. The reason for his absence is not known as of now.
* Arizona lost two more starting offensive linemen during the game. Right tackle Gerhard de Beer suffered an injury to his left foot or ankle (he was in a boot during the second half), and right guard Jacob Alsadek appeared to injure his right arm or shoulder.
* Since Arizona’s game vs. Oregon State last season, RB Nick Wilson has either missed or left early in 11 of the team’s 13 games. Wilson exited in the first quarter against UCLA after re-injuring his sprained ankle.
* In the fourth quarter, UA receiver Cam Denson scored the first offensive touchdown of his college career on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Khalil Tate. As a cornerback last season, Denson scored a touchdown on an interception return.
* Tate was the third quarterback Arizona used against UCLA. The Wildcats have played four quarterbacks through five games: Anu Solomon, Brandon Dawkins, Zach Werlinger and Tate.
* Since Rich Rodriguez was hired in 2012, the Wildcats are 1-8 playing games in the state of California, including the 2014 Pac-12 Championship Game in Santa Clara. Arizona’s lone win in the state came against Cal in 2013. The Wildcats lost those eight games by an average of 23 points.
* UA receiver Nate Phillips has recorded a catch in 38 straight games.
* Arizona’s team streak of recording at least one sack ended at 16 games. The Wildcats did finish with six tackles for losses.
* In his first career start, freshman safety Isaiah Hayes collected three tackles.
QUOTES
Rodriguez on how Dawkins’ injury affected the offense: “We wanted to run him. Brandon is effective because he can run. He was off to a pretty good start. But then when you can’t run him, and it was hurting him to throw a little it, then certainly you lose some of that skill set that you want to use.”
Rodriguez on the struggles of the special-teams units: “Our kickoff and our kickoff return were just awful. It’s not like they’re not trying. We’ve got to look at myself, what we’re doing there.”
Tate on what it was like playing his first college game: "I was kind of jittery because growing up I always went to UCLA games because of my cousin, Manny White; he played there in the early 2000s. So it was a great feeling to get that nervous burden off my chest and throw a touchdown.”
Tate on the possibility of redshirting before Saturday: "I never thought about it. Every day I go out, I play my hardest.”
UA safety Tellas Jones on pressuring UCLA QB Josh Rosen: “Our main focus was to get to the quarterback. He did a good job of getting out of the pocket and making some throws, and they deserved the win.”
Jones on all the injuries: “It’s pretty tough, but in practice we get the second- and third-stringers in there. They’re pretty talented, as you can see with Khalil, what he did in there. Whenever one person goes down, we expect a boost from the next guy.”
Linebacker Cody Ippolito on the defense getting after Rosen: “We hit him a couple times. We missed some sacks; I personally missed a sack. I thought our defense played well. Not well enough. We’ve still got to work on those big plays.”
Ippolito on the team’s mounting injuries: “For me it’s just next player up. You’re playing Division I college football for a reason. So when they call your number you’ve just got to step up – ones, twos, threes, fours, whatever it is.”
STATS
* Tate rushed for a team-high 79 yards on 15 carries.
* Tyrell Johnson rushed for a career-high 77 yards on 16 carries.
* Arizona average 4.9 yards per carry; UCLA averaged 3.9 yards.
* Arizona averaged 4.7 yards per pass attempt; UCLA averaged 9.5 yards.
* Shun Brown again led Arizona in receiving with four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
* Ippolito had a team-high six tackles, including one of Arizona’s six TFLs.
* Arizona was credited with 10 pass breakups, including two apiece by Jace Whittaker, Dane Cruikshank and Justin Belknap.
* Rosen was 9 of 24 for 168 yards and one touchdown in the first half, 11 of 13 for 182 yards and two TDs in the second.
* UCLA had a 12-yard advantage in average starting field position.
* Arizona, last in the Pac-12 in third-down percentage entering Saturday, converted only 4 of 17 vs. UCLA.
