The Arizona Wildcats lost to Houston 19-16 Saturday night at Arizona Stadium. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics from the game:
NOTES
* Asked about changing quarterbacks in the fourth quarter, UA coach Rich Rodriguez said starter Brandon Dawkins “was a little nicked up” and “we tried to get a little spark.” Rodriguez later said he went back to Dawkins at the end because Khalil Tate “was still a little sore” – presumably a reference to the shoulder he injured the previous week. Tate did not appear to be 100 percent during warmups.
* Arizona had seven possessions in the second half. Only two ended in points for the Wildcats – a pair of field goals. Two ended with turnovers (one fumble, one interception) and another with a safety.
* The Arizona defense basically pitched a shutout in the second half; Houston’s only points came on the aforementioned safety. The two points were the fewest the Wildcats have allowed in a half since the UA shut out Grambling State in the second half on Sept. 10, 2016.
* Arizona’s three leading tacklers were two freshmen (Tony Fields II, Scottie Young Jr.) and a redshirt freshman (Lorenzo Burns). Fields finished with 10 stops. Young had seven, including one for a loss. Burns also had seven. Burns had his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
* Safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles’ interception gave him three on the season.
* Arizona allowed 383 yards – 179 fewer than in Week 1 vs. NAU.
* The Wildcats finished with 219 passing yards – the first time they surpassed 200 since the Utah game last season, a span of seven contests.
* Freshman tight end Bryce Wolma led Arizona with five receptions – the first five catches of his career.
* Josh Pollack’s three made field goals were a career high. His 45-yarder in the first quarter was 1 yard short of his career best.
* Four of freshman Lucas Havrisik’s six kickoffs went for touchbacks, making him 13 of 16 for the season
* The victory for Houston coach Major Applewhite was the first of his career.
QUOTES
Rodriguez on the difference in the game: “We didn’t execute at times. That was the key. We played hard. Guys gave good effort. I like our guys’ attention and their attitude, but we just didn’t execute. That costs you. There were a lot of missed opportunities.”
Rodriguez on the defense’s performance: “We played a lot better on defense. We let a couple things out here and there. But we tightened down a little bit. The defense gave the offense a lot of opportunities to win the game, and the offense didn’t execute well enough.”
Flannigan-Fowles on the defense’s performance: “When you look at the game, you can be like, ‘Oh man, Arizona’s defense gave good effort.’ But the overall outcome is we lost.”
Guard Jacob Alsadek on Arizona settling for field goals: “It’s hard if you can’t put the ball away. You’re trying to go down there and score. You’re down there to put seven points up, not three. We had a couple chances. We had two possible touchdowns, but they didn’t happen. I think the game would have been different. Four points is a big difference.”
Applewhite on the significance of the victory for Houston: “It was a great win for our program, a great win for our players and a great win for our city. … I’m proud of our players, because they’ve been through a lot. I’m really proud of our captains for our helping focus our team.”
Houston DT Ed Oliver on the Cougars hanging on in the second half: “U of H football. We’re always the underdog, and nobody thinks we can do it. We respond, and we play hard. That’s what we do.”
STATS
* Arizona had 21 first downs; Houston had 18.
* Arizona had 152 rushing yards; Houston had 158.
* Arizona had 219 passing yards; Houston had 225.
* Arizona held the ball for 30 minutes, 37 seconds; Houston had it for 29:23.
* Arizona converted 8 of 17 third downs (47.1 percent); Houston converted 6 of 15 (40 percent).
* UA tailback J.J. Taylor rushed for 87 yards on 17 carries.
* Oliver tied for the team lead with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. He also had a forced fumble.
* Houston’s average starting field position was its 35-yard line; Arizona’s was its 24.
