Arizona lost to USC for the sixth consecutive time as the Wildcats fell 24-20 in their Pac-12 home opener Saturday night.
UA quarterback Khalil Tate went 16-of-33 passing for 233 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
After trailed 24-7 with less than 10 minutes left to play, Arizona linebacker Kylan Wilborn sacked USC quarterback JT Daniels and forced a fumble, which was recovered by UA's PJ Johnson.
Following the fumble, Tate found Cedric Peterson for a 32-yard touchdown to cut USC's lead 24-14.
In the ensuing drive, Arizona Colin Schooler forced a fumble and recovered it near midfield to give the Wildcats a sliver of hope, but after a holding penalty on right tackle Donovan Laie, the Wildcats couldn't convert.
Arizona then stopped USC and had another shot at the comeback after Gary Brightwell rushed for a one-yard touchdown, but Lucas Havrisik missed the point-after which made the score 24-20. After the failed onside kick, the Trojans ran out the clock to secure the win.
USC out-gained Arizona 254-98 in rushing yards and 451-330 in total offense despite 18 penalties called on the Trojans.
For the night's full recap, complete with postgame coverage, click here.
THIRD-QUARTER UPDATE:
The Arizona Wildcats are running out of time for another miraculous comeback against USC.
The Cats trail the Trojans 24-7 entering the fourth quarter of their game Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.
After getting shut out in the first half, Arizona finally scored on a 33-yard pass from Khalil Tate to Stanley Berryhill III with 7:44 left in the third quarter. By that time, USC had a 24-0 lead, courtesy of Aca’Cedric Ware’s 69-yard touchdown run earlier in the quarter.
Ware has 150 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. USC has outrushed Arizona 216-70.
Tate has completed 13 of 24 passes for 166 yards. Counterpart JT Daniels is 13 of 20 for 177 yards.
USC has been penalized 12 times for 132 yards.
Tate rallied the Wildcats from a 28-6 third-quarter deficit in last year’s meeting. The game was tied at 35 before USC pulled away for a 49-35 victory.
HALFTIME UPDATE:
Arizona’s offense has gone missing.
The Wildcats, who entered this weekend first in the Pac-12 in total offense, have yet to score – and have barely threatened to score – halfway through their game against USC.
The Cats trail the Trojans 17-0 through 30 uninspiring minutes Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona has just 116 total yards and didn’t run a play in USC territory until the last play of the half – a 38-yard Lucas Havrisik field-goal attempt that was blocked.
Khalil Tate has completed 9 of 18 passes for 77 yards with an interception. He has rushed five times for 14 yards.
Tate’s counterpart, JT Daniels, is 11 of 16 for 156 yards.
USC has outgained Arizona 124-39 on the ground. Vavae Malepeai and Aca’Cedric Ware have TD runs for the Trojans.
The teams have combined for 14 penalties, totaling 145 yards. USC has been flagged nine times for 95 yards.
Arizona linebacker Tony Fields II left the game in the second quarter because of an apparent right-shoulder injury.
USC running back Aca'Cedric Ware (28) blows straight up the middle past the diving Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler (7) in the first quarter of their Pac-12 game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday September 29, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
FIRST-QUARTER UPDATE:
The Arizona Wildcats trail USC 7-0 entering the second quarter of their game Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.
USC struck first on a 1-yard touchdown run by Vavae Malepeai. Malepeai’s score culminated a 12-play, 90-yard drive.
Arizona’s defense was in position to make a stop long before Malepeai plunged into the end zone. But on third-and-12 from the USC 8, JT Daniels hit Michael Pittman for 19 yards. The Wildcats rushed only four and didn’t get any pressure on Daniels.
The freshman quarterback later completed passes of 37 yards to Josh Falo and 19 yards to Velus Jones Jr. to set up the touchdown.
Arizona hasn’t gotten anything going on offense. The Wildcats have just 42 yards on 15 plays. Khalil Tate is 5 of 7 for 31 yards.
Arizona’s Xavier Bell was credited with a blocked punt, the first by a Wildcat since 2014. The punt traveled 30 yards.
