Arizona outlasted No. 11 Oregon State 27-24 on Saturday at Arizona Stadium, matching last season’s win total and moving just one game away from bowl eligibility, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by the Wildcats in six years.
The triumph over OSU marked the first time since 2014 that Arizona beat ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks. It was also the Wildcats’ first win over a ranked team in Tucson since they beat Oregon in 2018.
“All in all, it was a great team win,” said Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch. “All three phases contributed to the win and it was a blast to coach that game.”
Speaking of all three phases, here’s an in-depth breakdown of notable offensive, defensive and special teams storylines from Arizona’s win over the Beavers, along with key statistics and quotes as the Wildcats turn their focus to (checks notes) another ranked opponent coming to Tucson on Saturday.
Pertinent storylines
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, right, celebrates with wide receiver Jacob Cowing after the Wildcats scored a touchdown late against Oregon State.
‘No flinch’ in Fifita
Just call him No(ah) Flinch(ita).
Second-year quarterback Noah Fifita started his fourth straight game on Saturday and ended the night completing 25 of 32 passes (78%) for 275 yards, three touchdowns and one interception — and a key 49-yard pooch punt that rolled inside the Oregon State 5-yard line in the fourth quarter.
“I thought Noah had a great game tonight,” Fisch said. “He did a great job in managing the game. As alway, we always look back and take away a play or two or three and learn from them. But he did a fantastic job in running the team. In a situation where the game is going back-and-forth, he showed great poise and composure and everything we always expect out of him.”
Fisch said “there’s no flinch” in Arizona’s redshirt freshman quarterback, who has taken over the starting role since the fourth quarter of Arizona’s win over Stanford to begin Pac-12 play after starter Jayden de Laura exited with an ankle injury. De Laura was active for the second game in a row but was the backup, while the calm and collected Fifita improved to 2-2 as a starter in games against four ranked opponents.
“The biggest thing in him is you’re going to get the same guy every day,” Fisch said of Fifita. “That gives you poise, that gives you confidence and that gives you the ability to go out there and really not flinch. I think he showed that tonight.”
In 17 quarters, Fifita has completed 75% of his passes for 1,199 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. Fisch hasn’t publicly anointed Fifita as Arizona’s starter, albeit he doesn’t need to. Arizona’s new QB1 is Mr. No Flinch.
“It’s definitely been a blessing,” Fifita said. “I don’t take that lightly, being in this leadership role, the quarterback role, and having people trust me. The last three weeks have been great. The trust part is probably the best part about it.
“The play-calling hasn’t changed, the confidence and belief in my teammates hasn’t wavered. That’s who you do it for. The wins are great but being able to win the locker room and being able to have a relationship with those guys is the best part.”
Arizona wide receiver Jacob Cowing skips over Oregon State defensive back Alton Julian to get loose in the secondary during UA's 27-24 win.
Rise of the kicking — and return — game
Just before halftime, Oregon State faked a 34-yard field goal with a run by kicker Atticus Sappington, who was stopped about 10 yards short of the goal line by UA safety Gunner Maldonado.
The blunder at the end of the second quarter ended Oregon State’s perfect red-zone scoring mark at 26 trips; the Beavers are now 28 of 29 in scoring inside the red zone.
“This is a team that scored every time they were in the red zone until this game. ... That one stop is the game,” Fisch said.
OSU head coach Jonathan Smith took accountability for the Beavers’ “ultra aggression” and said, “it was just a bad call.”
A field goal separated Oregon State from Arizona, which made both of its field goals, including a 51-yarder in the first half — the longest of kicker Tyler Loop’s UA career; his previous best was 48 yards. It’s the first 50-yarder of Loop’s career.
Arizona kicker Tyler Loop celebrates after hitting a career-long 51-yard field goal against Oregon State last season.
Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing, who had five punt returns for 9 yards entering Saturday, had two critical punt returns in the fourth quarter, including a 20-yard return, “which was a huge return in the game,” that put the Wildcats on the Oregon State 40-yard line subsequent to cornerback Ephesians Prysock’s pass breakup on third down.
“If you can punt return 10 yards, you’ve gotten one more first down for the offense,” Fisch said.
Two plays after Cowing’s return, running back Michael Wiley took a dump-off pass down the left sideline for his first of two receiving touchdowns to end the game.
“We strive to be a full team. We don’t want to just be a team that goes out there and focuses on one side of the ball or the other,” Fisch said. “We’re a team, and that’s how I believe we win games. Great teams that I’ve had a pleasure to coach on, that’s how we won. We didn’t just win by being a great offense or being a great defense or being great at special teams.
“You really win championships by all three phases together.”
Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei chases down his own fumbled snap on Saturday night.
UA’s ‘hard-nosed’ defense adjusts
Like a defensive boxer, Arizona used the first drive to feel out its opponent for the second straight game. Both OSU and Washington State had problem-free opening drives and stormed down the field, scoring a touchdown against Arizona’s improved defense.
Thirteen of the 30 points Arizona surrendered in the last two games were in the first quarter. Beyond the opening period, the Wildcats are only allowing 2.8 points per quarter.
After the first drive, Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu said the Wildcats’ defense was instructed “to keep playing and trust the process.” After converting all three third-down conversions on the opening drive, the Beavers finished were 3 for 9 the rest of the way, finishing 6 for 12.
“Just being resilient throughout the whole game,” Manu said.
Arizona running back Michael Wiley (6) outruns the diving tackle from Oregon State defensive back Jaden Robinson (4) in their Pac-12 matchup on Oct. 28 at Arizona Stadium.
By the numbers
10: Pass breakups by Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis, which leads the Pac-12. Maldonado had a team-high 10 tackles.
94: Arizona’s 94-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter is the longest of the season. The Wildcats previously had two 92-yard drives at USC.
7.5: Sacks generated this season from UA defensive end Taylor Upshaw; he leads the team.
They said it
Fifita, on Wiley, who scored two receiving touchdowns after missing three straight games with an ankle injury: “He’s a veteran player for us and he’s a leader. He just brings a different type of swag and confidence to the huddle that can’t really be emulated. ... He’s a very special player with the ball in his hands — even more special as a leader and a person.”
Fisch, on Arizona’s 51 rushing yards in the fourth quarter after having just 26 in the first half: “I felt like our run game was going. Felt really good about leaning on the run game there in the second half and we kind of used that to our advantage. That’s kind of what we’ve become. We’ve become a team that can be physical, make plays when the opportunity presents itself, but I think we can wear some guys out in the run game.”
Looking ahead
The Wildcats (5-3) open up as 1.5-point underdogs in their homecoming matchup with No. 20 UCLA (6-2) on Saturday night, according to Action Sports Network.
The Wildcats are 7-1 against the spread, which is the best ATS record in the Power 5; they’re 5-0 against the spread as underdogs.
The 20th-ranked Bruins mark the fifth straight game against a Top-20 opponent for the Wildcats. The Wildcats and Bruins face off for the final time as Pac-12 opponents in Tucson. In their contest last season at the Rose Bowl, Arizona upset the 12th-ranked Bruins for its first win over a ranked opponent under Fisch.
