Ex-Cienega star makes debut

On Arizona’s third drive of the game, Sumlin made a change at quarterback. Who he chose was a bit of a surprise. True freshman Jamarye Joiner made his UA debut, lasting three plays before the Wildcats punted. Starter Khalil Tate then re-entered the game. Joiner, a Cienega High School product, is the second local quarterback to take snaps this season. Catalina Foothills grad Rhett Rodriguez played against Houston and Southern Utah.

Has that ever happened before? (No, really, we’re wondering.)

Close connections

Saturday’s game featured a lot of familiar faces on new teams. Arizona punter Dylan Klumph faced his former team and didn’t disappoint. Klumph booted a 57-yard punt in the first quarter, and finished the half with averaging 45.3 yards per punt. The special teams connection between UA and Cal doesn’t stop there: Golden Bears special teams coordinator Charlie Ragle, a former UA assistant, made sure to say hello to several of his former players before the game. Ragle was on Arizona’s staff from 2012-16.

The connections didn’t stop there. Arizona on-campus recruiting coordinator Christina DeRuyter is the daughter of Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. UA hired Christina DeRuyter in June.

DeMarco in the house

Landed in Tucson with heartbreaking news. My #sooners were upset by those guys in burnt orange 😡😡.Excited about this match up tonight between #Calbears & #ArizonaWildcats Will Khalil Tate finally revert to the explosiveness we all saw last year? @CFBONFOX #fs1

— DeMarco Murray (@DeMarcoMurray) October 6, 2018

Oklahoma great and longtime NFL running back DeMarco Murray called Saturday’s game for Fox Sports 1. The 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year talked with UA coach Kevin Sumlin during warmups. Sumlin was on Oklahoma’s coaching staff as a tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator from 2003-07. Murray played at OU from 2006-10.

Honoring the past

Under Sumlin, Arizona is using honorary captains for the pre-game coin toss. Former UA defensive back Brandon Sanders, a member of the “Desert Swarm” defense of the early 1990s, was Saturday’s honoree.

The San Diego native played three seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants and one season with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL. He then moved to Tucson and went into coaching. His Pueblo High School team is  3-4 this season, and has outscored its opponents 91-0 the last two weeks. Arizona’s previous honorary captains include Ricky Hunley, Ka’Deem Carey and Lance Briggs.

Sanders wore a red No. 18 jersey — his old college number — for the coin toss.

Face masks!

For the second week in a row, Arizona paired its white helmet with a new face mask. This time, the Wildcats broke out red chrome face masks. A week ago, Arizona went with navy blue face masks on the white lids. On Saturday, Arizona wore red jerseys and white pants.

Family weekend

Parents weekend @UofA with @keyshawnnnn pic.twitter.com/4jM9W5xDTo

— Keyshawn Johnson (@keyshawn) October 6, 2018

Family Weekend brought new faces — and a few famous ones — to Arizona Stadium. Former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson Sr. came to Tucson to support his son, Keyshawn Jr., who is a student at the UA.

The three-time Pro Bowler posted a photo on Twitter with his son before Saturday’s game.

Also in the crowd: Former Wildcats offensive lineman Jacob Alsadek. Alsadek is currently a free agent after he being cut by the Green Bay Packers before training camp.

Big Number

Does this look like 44,253 people? pic.twitter.com/DZu8RAmCdb

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) October 7, 2018

44,523

Saturday’s announced attendance