The Arizona Wildcats are pulling away from NAU and are well on their way to another win in a home opener.
Long touchdown runs by quarterback Brandon Dawkins and tailback Zach Green boosted the UA’s lead to 48-14 through three quarters at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.
Dawkins opened the second-half scoring with a 66-yard sprint down the left sideline. It was his second rushing touchdown of the game. He had two others called back because of penalties.
Dawkins exited about midway through the quarter, yielding to sophomore Khalil Tate.
Green’s touchdown run covered 37 yards.
Assuming nothing crazy happens, Arizona will extend its winning streak in home openers to 17 games.
HALFTIME UPDATE:
The Arizona Wildcats struggled at times during the first half of their season opener against Northern Arizona but made enough big plays to take a double-digit lead into the locker room.
Arizona forced three turnovers and produced four long touchdowns to take a 34-14 advantage over NAU at halftime of their game at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.
Four of Arizona’s five first-half touchdowns covered more than 40 yards: Shun Brown’s 66-yard punt return, Nick Wilson’s 46-yard run, Tony Ellison’s 43-yard reception and Tyrell Johnson’s 55-yard end-around.
With 21 seconds left in the half, Brandon Dawkins added a 10-yard scoring run.
The Wildcats took the ball away three times, including two interceptions by safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. He’s the first Wildcat to have multiple picks in a game since 2013.
Although the score favors Arizona, the Lumberjacks have outgained the Wildcats 273-241. Arizona has converted only 1 of 5 first downs, while NAU has converted 4 of 10.
Dawkins is 6 of 12 for 74 yards. Ellison has four catches for 64 yards. Wilson has five carries for 57 yards.
FIRST-QUARTER UPDATE:
The Arizona Wildcats lead Northern Arizona 14-7 after one quarter of the season opener at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.
The opening period of the season was filled with big plays and massive momentum swings. NAU hit a 45-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage and drove inside the 10-yard line. But the drive stalled, and the Lumberjacks botched the field-goal attempt. The fumbled snap rolled all the way to the UA 47.
After an exchange of three-and-outs, Shun Brown scored the first Arizona touchdown of the season. His 66-yard punt return was the Wildcats’ first since 2015. It exceeded their entire punt-return yardage (56) from last season.
The lead was short-lived. Three plays later, Cory Young went untouched for 58 yards to tie the score at 7-7.
Arizona reclaimed the lead after forcing a turnover. Freshman Kylan Wilborn sacked NAU quarterback Case Cookus, forcing him to fumble. Finton Connolly recovered the ball.
Five plays later, Nick Wilson raced 46 yards to the end zone to put Arizona up 14-7.
NAU outgained Arizona 203-78 in the first quarter.
