Arizona lost to Colorado 49-24 Saturday night at Arizona Stadium. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics:
NOTES
* Arizona is 0-7 in Pac-12 play. The Wildcats have lost seven games in the Pac-10 or Pac-12 three times: 2002, ’03 and ’11. John Mackovic and Mike Stoops were fired before the ’03 and ’11 seasons ended.
* Arizona ended its streak of scoring fewer points in each successive conference game. But the Wildcats had only 10 points entering the fourth quarter and trailed by 32 points.
* UA receiver Nate Phillips caught four passes for 55 yards, extending his consecutive-catch streak to 43 games.
* WR Trey Griffey did not catch a pass for the first time this season.
* Colorado allowed 168 rushing yards in its previous three games combined. The Wildcats rushed for 257 yards against the Buffs.
* Brandon Dawkins is up to 673 rushing yards on the season. He’s Arizona’s leading rusher. In order to reach 1,000 yards rushing on the season, Dawkins will need to average 163.5 rushing yards in Arizona’s final two games. He’s averaged 84.1 per game this season.
* Dawkins completed less than 50 percent of his passes for the third week in a row and the fourth time in his past five starts.
* Anu Solomon started Arizona’s season opener against BYU and attempted 30 passes. He since has attempted only 22 without a single start.
* Since amassing 35 pass attempts and 39 rushes across three games (UCLA, Utah and USC) earlier this season, UA quarterback Khalil Tate has since attempted only eight passes and run the ball seven times in three games.
* Samajie Grant and Zach Green scored the first rushing touchdowns of their Arizona careers.
* Linebacker Brandon Rutt, a redshirt sophomore, notched the first interception of his career.
QUOTES
UA coach Rich Rodriguez on the Wildcats’ 13 penalties for 138 yards: “Those are killers. It’s so hard for us to stop somebody. We finally stop them, then give them a first down on a penalty or some kind of poor technique. You can’t do those things. We’re not a good football team. When you do those things, you don’t give yourself a chance to beat anybody.”
Rodriguez on the quarterback situation: “Brandon was running the ball well. Throwing the ball, some of the protection was breaking down. Then Anu went in there and did some good stuff. I don’t know – I may start him this week (Saturday at Oregon State). It’s better to watch the film first to truly judge the quarterbacks and (their) decision-making.”
Rodriguez on kicker Josh Pollack having an off night: “Off on kickoffs, punts, field goals. Our kickoff guy (Edgar Gastelum) somehow got hit with a ball in practice. He didn’t have his helmet on. He wasn’t paying attention. It’s just hard to believe. The ball hit him on the head. Somehow that caused a concussion, and he can’t kick. That’s a first. I mean, are you kidding me? A kicker has a concussion? I mean, wow. You can’t make this stuff up. I wish I was.”
Dawkins on why Arizona couldn’t score despite moving the ball: “A multitude of different things. We got some penalties when we got down in the red zone. Some of it is on me. There were some plays I could’ve done better with.”
Grant on the possibility of a fourth-quarter comeback: “Honestly, I always feel like that, even when we’re down by a lot. I personally don’t think any team that we’ve played is that good. I believe we can come back from anything. I never give up. I’m pretty sure my teammates don’t (either).”
Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre on the victory: “We had a little bit of a lull at the start of the fourth quarter. Anu made a couple great plays, and we had the bop pass (tipped ball for an interception). But I thought our guys played really hard and came out with fire. It was a good win for us. RichRod does a heck of a job, they’ve beat us three years in row, and we finally got them. The last time we were here we got beat pretty good (38-20), so am I excited about what we have done and we are going to get some In-N-Out burger(s) after this.”
Colorado QB Sefo Liufau on the Buffs being in contention in the Pac-12: “The most important thing is that we came out here and won today. There were ups and downs, and we would have liked to be a little more consistent as a team. But to be able to come out here and get a win at a place where we haven’t won in a while – or ever, I don’t know the history – is great for the team.”
STATS
* Arizona gained 412 yards; Colorado gained 388. Both teams averaged 5.3 yards per play.
* Colorado converted 7 of 14 third downs; Arizona converted 5 of 15.
* Colorado scored four touchdowns in four trips to the red zone; Arizona went 3 of 6.
* Colorado’s average starting field position was its 34-yard line; Arizona’s was its 25.
* Grant rushed for 113 yards on 16 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per attempt.
* Linebacker Paul Magloire Jr. led Arizona with nine tackles.
* LB Michael Barton had seven tackles, including 1.5 for losses (one sack).
