Special teams is often discussed as “one-third of the game,” but who are we kidding, it doesn’t have the same value in football discourse as offense and defense. You’re either a liar or a former kicker, long snapper or punter if you say otherwise.
Sometimes special teams isn’t a topic of conversation unless game-affecting blunders happen, like USC’s botched field goal at the end of regulation in the Wildcats’ triple-overtime loss to the Trojans in Los Angeles or, most recently, Oregon State’s rush attempt with kicker Atticus Seppington on a fake 34-yard field goal just before halftime on Saturday in Tucson; UA safety Gunner Maldonado stopped Seppington at the 9-yard line.
Special teams was instrumental in Arizona’s upset win over the No. 11-ranked Beavers. In comparison to other wins this season, including the 38-point beatdown of Washington State in Pullman, one could argue Saturday was the most well-rounded game Arizona has played in all departments this season.
“The one thing that we didn’t necessarily hit on enough was what a great job our special teams did in that game,” said Arizona coach Jedd Fisch during his news conference on Monday.
Later added Fisch: “It was a good team win. ... All in all, I thought it was an excellent team win. Probably one of the best overall team games — Washington State was a pretty good one, too.”
Arizona’s first points on Saturday was a 51-yard field goal by junior kicker Tyler Loop — a career-long for him. Loop’s only other attempt at a field goal longer than 50 yards was a miss at USC this season. Prior to this year, Loop hadn’t attempted a field goal that was 50 yards or longer.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita celebrates with wide receiver Jacob Cowing (2) after the Wildcats scored a touchdown late against Oregon State. UA may return to the Top 25 if it can knock off No. 20 UCLA this week.
“I asked him how he was feeling pregame and he felt like the ball was coming off his foot really well,” Fisch said. “The air was great. In our home stadium we have a good altitude situation, so the ball flies off his foot. I just felt like in that situation, as confident as he was, I was more confident in his foot than I was in that fourth-and-6 call at the time.”
Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing only had five punt returns for 9 yards entering Saturday. In the fourth quarter, Cowing had two returns for 36 yards that set up the Wildcats near midfield. Cowing’s first return, following Arizona’s third-down stop, was 20 yards to the OSU 40-yard line; two plays later, running back Michael Wiley took a dump-off pass down the sideline for the go-ahead touchdown.
After his 16-yard return to the UA 45-yard line with 7:42 left, Arizona went on a 10-play touchdown drive that shaved 5:20 off the clock — and extended the Wildcats’ lead to 27-17 with just over two minutes remaining.
“If you look at the two punt returns, those were critical to the success of the team,” Fisch said.
Arizona punter and former All-Pac-12 selection Kyle Ostendorp boomed a punt 54 yards that pinned OSU inside the 20-yard line, while quarterback Noah Fifita pooch-punted the football 49 yards down to Oregon State’s 5-yard line. Fisch said “both of those were huge plays.”
After just one first down gained by the Beavers on the following drive, OSU’s punt to Cowing was the one who set up Wiley’s first receiving touchdown of the night. Cowing also knocked the loose ball out of bounds on the onside kick at the end of the game to retain possession and run out the clock to win the game, which Fisch said “was a big-time play in a tight game.”
“We talk so much about offense and defense,” Fisch said. “I think it’s really important to talk about in that past game — and I talked to the team about that (on Sunday) — what a great job our special teams did.”
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita gets off a pass in the arms of Oregon State linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold in the third quarter Saturday. Fifita has been named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after each of his past three starts. Fifita even had a clutch 49-yard punt that helped flipped the field position in the fourth quarter, helping UA go from a 17-13 deficit to a 27-17 lead.
Fifita Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Just call him Mr. October.
Fifita was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week following the Wildcats’ 27-24 win over No. 11 Oregon State. Fifita has won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week award in his last three starts — all in October.
“The last three starts he’s had, he’s won it, which is a pretty cool stat in itself,” said Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch on Monday. “He’s continued to go out there and impress.”
Former Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, who became “Mr. October” in 2017 after winning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week four consecutive times (the only player in conference history to accomplish that feat), tagged Fifita in a post on X (Twitter) with the popular “Spider-Man pointing” gif attached to it.
Fifita was also named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Great 8 and Manning Award Stars of the Week lists on Monday.
In his fourth straight start, after replacing Jayden de Laura, the redshirt freshman completed 25 of 32 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Toward the end of the second quarter and start of the third quarter against Oregon State, Fifita completed 11 of 12 passes, including six straight prior to his lone interception, which appeared to be miscommunication between Fifita and Cowing. Fifita was also sacked four times.
“Four sacks is too many,” Fisch said. “We talked to Noah about that. ... The goal here is to not take sacks and how quickly can you get the ball out of your hand? Throwing, rhythm and timing is really critical.”
Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch reflected on the Wildcats' statement win over No. 11 Oregon State, the impact of quarterback Noah Fifita, special teams and the return of running back Michael Wiley — and Halloween candy. Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
In 17 quarters since taking over in the Stanford game following de Laura’s ankle injury, Fifita has completed 75% of his passes for 1,199 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. Fifita is now Arizona’s season leader in passing yards (1,221), attempts (157), completions (119) and passing touchdowns (11). His 75.8% completion rate is fourth-best among FBS quarterbacks — second in the Pac-12 behind Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
“Those are really good numbers and I think he’s being rewarded for that. ... He deserves it,” Fisch said. “He’s completed over 70% of his passes each game and I expect him to continue to get better.”
Arizona’s Jacob Cowing, pictured in September against UTEP, will end his college football career Thursday at the Alamo Bowl with 300-plus catches, more than 4,300 yards receiving and at least 31 touchdowns.
Extra points
Arizona received six votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. If Arizona beats No. 20 UCLA this week for its third straight win over a ranked opponent and moves to 6-3, the Wildcats will likely become ranked for the first time since 2017.
Wiley, who returned from his three-game absence due to an ankle injury, is the first Wildcat running back to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards. He has 1,034 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over his five-year career.
In his official NFL debut, former Arizona kicker Lucas Havrisik made both of his field goal attempts in the Los Angeles Rams’ 43-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Havrisik’s first kick was from 33 yards out, and he later made a 47-yarder.
The Arizona-UCLA game on Saturday is a “white out,” and fans attending are encouraged to wear white.
