Arizona spring game takeaways: Noah Fifita connects with Malachi Riley, Rex Haynes for TDs

Arizona finished its five-week spring practice schedule on Saturday with its annual spring game under the lights at Arizona Stadium, a change of pace from the usual afternoon star times for preview spring finales. 

Courtesy of UA boosters Humberto Lopez and Jim Click, tickets to Arizona's spring game were available to the public for free, and the Wildcats drew a few thousand spectators for the first spring game under first-year head coach Brent Brennan. Brennan wore leis around his neck and a navy blue UA baseball jersey because "our baseball team has been rolling, so I just wanted to give them some props."  

It was also the last live UA football event aired on Pac-12 Network, which featured sideline interviews with quarterback Noah Fifita and defensive coordinator Duane Akina. Youth flag football players in Tucson were broken up into teams and had a 7-on-7 segment with the players and assistant coaches as play-callers.

Here are other notes and takeaways from Arizona's spring game Saturday night:

• Arizona Stadium played a tribute video for the late Heath Bray, who died last month at 54 years old. Bray was a defensive back, quarterback and special teams captain for Arizona under late UA coaching icon Dick Tomey from 1988-92 and was a part of building the "Desert Swarm" defense. Several of Bray's former UA teammates, including offensive lineman John Fina and defensive back Brandon Sanders, and friends were on the field before the game. Instead of flowers, Bray's family is asking for donations to the Heath Bray Endowment Fund at the University of Arizona.

• Several former players were in attendance for the spring game, including offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, who was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Morgan roamed the sidelines near fans and signed autographs.

• Arizona basketball coaches Tommy Lloyd and Adia Barnes threw t-shirts to fans at Arizona Stadium. 

• Several players were sidelined due to injury, including wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who Brennan said "had a small procedure" on his left leg earlier this week after limping off the field last Saturday following a one-on-one battle with cornerback Tacario Davis. Linebacker Jacob Manu, San Jose State transfer running back Quali Conley, left tackle Raymond Pulido, left guard Wendell Moe, Louisville transfer defensive back Marquis Groves-Killebrew and wide receiver Jackson Holman were also out. Freshman running back Jordan Washington, who entered the transfer portal this week, was on the sidelines but not dressed out. 

• With Pulido and Moe out, Arizona's first starting offensive line had left tackle Rhino Tapa'atoutai, walk-on left guard Zarius Wells, center Josh Baker, right guard Leif Magnuson and right tackle Jonah Savaiinaea. The second unit was freshman left tackle Matthew Lado, left guard Elijha Payne, center Grayson Stovall, Northwestern transfer and right guard Alexander Doost and right tackle Tylen Gonzalez. 

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* Arizona's starting defensive line had defensive end Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, defensive tackle Chubba Ma'ae, defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson and San Jose State transfer edge rusher Tre Smith. Sophomores Kamuela Ka'aihue and Taye Brown started at linebacker, and Arizona's secondary included cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Emmanuel Karnley, "Star" Treydan Stukes and safeties Dalton Johnson and Gunner Maldonado. While playing cornerback, Stukes had a pass breakup on a deep pass from Fifita to Lemonious-Craig; sophomore Genesis Smith was in at "Star." 

• The second defensive line group had edge rusher Sterling Lane, defensive tackle Julian Savaiinaea, defensive tackle Keanu Mailoto and defensive end Dominic Lolesio. Lane pressured quarterback Noah Fifita on the second drive of the spring game. Uiagalelei had a sack and Mailoto had a tackle for loss on Saturday. Justin Flowe continued to show his potentially new role as a blitzer and pass-rushing linebacker. 

• Fifita launched a 50-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Riley, who was covered by Karnley, during the 7-on-7 period to begin the spring game; Karnley intercepted Fifita later on. Riley, AJ Jones and Montana Lemonious-Craig started at wide receiver, alongside running back Rayshon Luke, tight end Roberto Miranda and Fifita. 

• Kicker Tyler Loop was in midseason form, knocking down a 47-yard field goal to begin the spring game. He made a 30-yarder later on. Before the game, Loop made a 75-yard attempt with just the tee.

• Third-year wide receiver Rex Haynes, the son of former NFL standout and Arizona State Sun Devil Mike Haynes, ran a deep post and hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Fifita on play-action. Freshman wide receiver and Gilbert native Brandon Phelps caught a touchdown after running a corner route lined up in the slot. Phelps is a state record-holder for most career receiving yards (4,475), touchdowns (60) and receptions (271) from his time at Gilbert American Leadership Academy. Devin Hyatt, brother of New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cole Tannenbaum. Between the aforementioned receivers and New Orleans native Chris Hunter, Arizona's receiver group shined this spring.

• Arizona continued to work on coach-to-player communication in helmets. 

• Along with "a large crew" of alumni and former players, the Wildcats had dozens of recruits on visits, Brennan said.

Photos: Arizona Wildcats football wraps offseason with annual spring game