To kick off its highly anticipated third football season under coach Jedd Fisch — also the program's last as a Pac-12 member — Arizona cruised past Northern Arizona 38-3 Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

In front of an announced attendance of 48,195 — it was the most attended season opener at Arizona Stadium since the UA's 2018 opener against BYU — the Wildcats avenged their historic loss to the Lumberjacks from the 2021 season and won a second straight season opener for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

The last time Arizona surrendered fewer than 10 points was the Wildcats' win over Cal in 2021 that snapped a 20-game losing streak. It's also the fewest points Arizona has allowed in a season opener since its 35-0 win over the Lumberjacks in 2013.

"I think all three phases played complementary football. ... It was a good, hard-fought game," Fisch said. "I think we showed our defense has improved. I think that's been very clear. They played with great passion, great energy. I thought that was nice to see."

Arizona had 478 yards of total offense and averaged 9 yards per play — 14.6 per completion and 6.9 per rush; the Lumberjacks were limited to 264 yards of total offense and averaged 3.8 per play.

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan gets behind Northern Arizona defensive back Colby Humphrey for a big gain in the first quarter of the Wildcats’ 38-3 win at Arizona Stadium on Sept. 2.

UA quarterback Jayden de Laura completed 18 of 24 passes for 285 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, the most since Arizona's loss to Washington in October. The junior did turn the ball over twice by way of a first-half fumble and a fourth-quarter interception, the latter when the game was already out of reach.

"That was a weird turnover going into the red zone," Fisch said. "Him and T-Mac (intended receiver Tetairoa McMillan) just weren't on the same page there. We gotta clean that up." 

The Wildcats set the tone on their first possession with a seven-play, 65-yard drive that saw de Laura connect on all four of his passes, including a 37-yard completion to running back Jonah Coleman down to the 4-yard line. De Laura subsequently connected with Jacob Cowing, the Pac-12's leader in receptions in 2022, for the first touchdown of the UA season. 

Coleman's 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter lifted the Wildcats to a 14-0 lead. Coleman concluded the game with three catches for 59 yards. Arizona senior running back Michael Wiley was the Wildcats' top pass-catcher with six catches for 57 yards. 

De Laura, who nearly threw his first interception of the season in the second quarter, exited the game for a suspected head injury after tucking for a run inside the red zone and colliding with an NAU defender. De Laura fumbled on the play.

"If I go out there (again), I'd probably do it differently," de Laura said. "But I can't so ..."

Arizona right guard Raymond Pulido did not make his expected collegiate debut on Saturday after the 6-6, 330-pound freshman "had a little bike accident on Thursday night driving home from practice," per Fisch; veteran Sam Langi started in place of Pulido.

"But I believe he will be back," Fisch said of Pulido. "We took care of that, stitched him up, but kept him at home tonight." 

Left tackle Jordan Morgan made his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury in November but didn't play after the first possession of the second half and was replaced with Joseph Borjon.

Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura watches the replay on the scoreboard, waiting for the final decision on Jonah Coleman’s touchdown run in the second quarter of UA’s season-opening win on Sept. 2, 2023, against NAU.

Arizona modified its Desert Swarm-style uniforms, adding an extra red stripe to the shoulders and changing the number font, akin to the New England Patriots' navy blue "color rush" uniforms from when ex-Wildcat Rob Gronkowski played for the Pats.

Besides Arizona's updated threads, the new-look defense, which defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen dubbed the "Sand Storm," played nine defensive linemen in the first half. With defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea suspended for the first half due to his ejection in the Territorial Cup game last season, UCLA transfer Tyler Manoa started in his place. Manoa started alongside Georgia transfer defensive tackle Bill Norton, Michigan transfer defensive end Taylor Upshaw and redshirt freshman Isaiah Ward, who recorded a pass breakup. 

The "Sand Storm" collected eight tackles for loss — six in the first half, including two from nickel back Treydan Stukes and 1.5 from Upshaw before the intermission. Arizona safety Dalton Johnson, who made his first career start, forced a fumble, with Washington transfer Daniel Heimuli falling on the loose ball for the Wildcats' first takeaway of the season.

NAU kicker Marcus Lye made a 48-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer for the Lumberjacks' only points of the night; UA led 14-3 after two quarters.

VIDEO: The Arizona Wildcats routed Northern Arizona 38-3 on Saturday at Arizona Stadium to kick off the 2023 college football season. Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star

In the second half, Stukes was replaced by UCLA transfer Martell Irby, who is the only newcomer out of the Wildcats' eight team captains this season. Stukes sat out the second half after getting banged up on a hit in the second quarter. Irby, a former walk-on, was rewarded a full-ride scholarship on Friday.

Co-captain and junior free safety Gunner Maldonado was ejected in the third quarter for targeting. The Wildcats had 11 penalties for 91 yards, including roughing the punter on Johnson. 

"There were some penalties that came along with their passion and energy and kind of their, let's call it, 'four weeks of practicing against themselves.' I think that showed up, and we need to clean (that) up," Fisch said. "And we will — we certainly will. But I don't think there's any question about their passion and energy at all three phases." 

Four plays after Maldonado's ejection, Arizona defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei blocked Lye's 26-yard field goal attempt. Cornerback Tacario Davis scooped up the loose ball and returned it 85 yards for the first touchdown of the second half. It was the Wildcats' first blocked field goal returned for a touchdown since 2002. 

Facing a fourth-and-2 on NAU's 37-yard line, Lumberjacks running back TJ McDaniel was stuffed for no gain by second-year linebacker Jacob Manu and former Cal edge rusher Orin Patu.

Arizona started its first offensive possession of the second half at the 9:36 mark in the third quarter. Following a trio of runs by Coleman and DJ Williams, de Laura threw a 5-yard TD pass to McMillan to extend Arizona's lead to 28-3. 

Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura, left, loses his grip on the ball after slamming into Northern Arizona defensive back David Spruiells while trying to run him over on a scramble in the second quarter.

With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, de Laura broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run on a run-pass-option play — the longest run of his career. To start the fourth quarter, the Wildcats had a goal-line stand, keeping the Lumberjacks in single digits. 

Up next: Arizona (1-0) will travel to Mississippi State (1-0), which beat Southeastern Louisiana 48-7 on Saturday. The Bulldogs rushed for 298 yards. The upcoming trip to Starkville, Mississippi, will be the Wildcats' first road game against an SEC opponent since 2006.

"We got a big challenge ahead of us and this week coming up against Mississippi State," Fisch said. "We've got to be a better football team. ... We'll attack the film and get ready for a very good SEC opponent across the country." 

VIDEO: Highlights of Arizona Wildcats's 38-3 season-opening win over NAU (Arizona Athletics YouTube)

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Contact Star Arizona football beat reporter Justin Spears at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports