Wildcats game day breakdown: Arizona's 'Spur' of the moment, Jace Whittaker's big night, and one crazy quarter

Former cornerback Dane Cruikshank has become Wildcats’ Spur of the moment

Cornerback always will be Dane Cruikshank’s first love.

Safety might be his best chance for a long-term relationship.

When the Arizona Wildcats shifted the senior from corner to safety during training camp, it seemed like a peculiar move. Arizona had more depth at safety than corner, and Cruikshank started all 12 games at the latter last season.

But defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who also coaches the cornerbacks and “Spur” safeties, wanted to get what he felt were the Wildcats’ five best defensive backs on the field. That meant inserting redshirt freshman Lorenzo Burns at corner and moving Cruikshank to Spur.

His initial reaction?

“I’ll do whatever’s best for the team,” Cruikshank said. “That’s all I said.

“I want to win. We had a losing season. I’ll do whatever it takes to get us winning again.”

Cruikshank has performed as if he has been playing the position for years, not months. He ranks fifth on the team with 26 tackles and is tied for second with three stops for losses. He also has an interception and a forced fumble for Arizona’s suddenly respectable defense.

“I will always love corner more than any position on the field,” Cruikshank said this week as Arizona prepped for Saturday’s game at Cal. “But it is still fun. Football is fun, period.”

It’s fun when you’re winning and making plays. Cruikshank helped seal last week’s 47-30 victory over UCLA with a fourth-quarter interception. He also tied his season high with a team-leading six solo tackles.

“Every week Dane is getting better,” Yates said. “We’re still on him about playing every snap hard. He’s a guy that when he goes hard and he knows what he’s doing, he’s effective. Every week you can see that light starting to click on.”

Cornerback and Spur carry different responsibilities. At corner, Cruikshank almost always lined up on the outside and followed receivers down the field. At Spur, he’s usually in the slot or just outside the tackle box. Sometimes he’ll cover a receiver or drop into a zone. Sometimes he’ll blitz or crash down to defend the run.

At 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, Cruikshank is well suited to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

“Dane’s a big guy,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He’s got corner ability, so he can guard people in the slot. He’s also a good blitzer. I think that’s a comfortable position for him.”

Cruikshank was left in an uneasy position early in the first quarter of Arizona’s Week 2 game against Houston. He got hit in the sternum as the Cougars were approaching the UA goal line. He then vomited into the north end zone.

“I wasn’t really thinking about everybody looking at me,” Cruikshank said. “It hurt at first. I was in a lot of pain. It finally came all up.

“I came to the sideline, rinsed my mouth out and just went back on the field.”

Moments later, Cruikshank stripped Houston quarterback Kyle Allen. The Cougars recovered the ball but had to settle for a field goal.

Whatever it takes.

Reliable veteran Kwesi Mashack hoping for another golden opportunity at Cal

Kwesi Mashack came off the bench against UCLA to record three tackles, included two for losses, and a pass breakup. He was named to Pro Football Focus’ Pac-12 Team of the Week.

Was that the best Mashack has played as an Arizona Wildcat?

“That’s probably the most I’ve played,” the senior said with a laugh.

Whether it was the best or simply the most, Mashack came through when his team needed him. Starting free safety Scottie Young Jr. injured his knee in the first quarter vs. the Bruins. The coaches first turned to senior Jarvis McCall Jr. to replace Young. Then they called on Mashack, who had spent most of the week working with the scout team.

Mashack knew the game plan but hadn’t specifically practiced any of it. Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates didn’t change any of his calls. He trusted the veteran, who mostly has played on special teams during his UA career but has produced when given a chance on defense.

“Kwesi’s physical,” Yates said. “Kwesi’s smart. Kwesi’s been here. Kwesi has confidence.”

Mashack played so well that PFF acknowledged him as one of the 11 best Pac-12 defenders of the week. Despite that performance and Young’s likely absence (he’s listed as doubtful on the injury report), Mashack is not expected to start at Cal on Saturday.

Freshman Troy Young (no relation to Scottie) said he was working with the first team, which would put Mashack back on the bench. It’s not an unfamiliar position.

“Eventually you’ll get your opportunity,” Mashack said. “That’s what my coaches have been telling me and a lot of other people have been telling me. You’ve just got to stay on your toes. When you get the opportunity, you want to be able to take advantage of it. Don’t ever slack.”

Mashack will be ready if called upon. He’ll play on special teams regardless, and it’ll be something of a special occasion when he takes the field in Berkeley.

Mashack made his college debut against the Golden Bears in 2014. (It was his only appearance of the season, and he might pursue a fifth year of eligibility). Mashack’s mother, Meika, graduated from Cal.

So whom will she be rooting for Saturday?

“She’s obviously rooting for me,” Kwesi said. “But at the same time, if Cal does something good, she’s going to be like, ‘Go Cal.’ ”

Said Meika: “I'm torn! However, I'm going with ’Zona. I'm a Cal grad for life. I think my cohorts will give me a pass for the week … maybe!”

Zach Green has carved out valuable role in Wildcats' crowded backfield

Any talk about Arizona’s running backs starts with the two-headed monster at the top of the depth chart. But there’s more to Arizona’s backfield, coaches and quarterbacks insist, than just Nick Wilson and J.J. Taylor.

UA coach Rich Rodriguez will often go out of his way to mention and laud senior bruiser Zach Green.

“He doesn’t say much, he just goes about his business, but he’s as reliable a player as we got,” Rodriguez said. “He’s always been that way.”

That’s one of the reasons Rodriguez leaned on Green late in last week’s win over UCLA.

The senior toted the ball five times on Arizona’s final possession, killing the clock. Before the final drive, Green had just one carry all night.

“When you’re in the red zone or you’re trying to run the clock out at the end of the game, you can count on No. 34,” Rodriguez said.

Green says he’s happy with his role, which has been a long time coming. Through six games, Green has 27 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns.

“I’m a third-down back in this offense and I’m a power back, so I mean, I love the role. I get my yards,” Green said. “J.J. and Nick are doing a fantastic job out there so whenever my number’s called, I do what I have to do.”

Green redshirted his first year and only carried the ball just 14 times in 2014 and 2015 combined. Green carved out a larger role last season as the Wildcats dealt with injuries at the position. He finished with 372 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Green was at his best against Arizona State, rushing 14 times for 126 yards and two scores.

“Ever since the ASU game, I know it kind of clicked,” Green said. “I mean, this has been a crazy journey.”

Jace Whittaker's big night came as father watched from hospital bed

Jace Whittaker is one of the bigger personalities on Arizona’s team, comfortable enough to sit in a news conference and say, of UCLA, "I never like them."

Whittaker had the best game of his career against the Bruins, intercepting two passes off a future NFL quarterback in Josh Rosen and returning one for a touchdown.

Whittaker's affable nature darkened a little this week when asked about his father.

Jerry Whittaker was admitted to the hospital last week and diagnosed with stomach cancer. The former big-league baseball player Whittaker watched his son's performance from his hospital bed.

Jace Whittaker dedicated his performance to his dad.

"That man taught me football growing up," he said last week, "so that was all for him tonight.”

UA coach Rich Rodriguez something was different about the junior cornerback.

“He’s an ultra-focused guy anyway and football is important to him. I can tell the game meant a little extra to him,” Rodriguez said.

Whittaker led Arizona with 11 pass deflections last season. He’s already at seven for this season, and is an early candidate to be named an All-Conference selection.

Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates says Whittaker has “gone to another level.”

Is he playing his best football right now?

Before the question is even finished, Whittaker already starts answering.

“No. Not at all,” Whittaker said. “I got a lot of work to do.”

When Whittaker scored the defensive touchdown against UCLA, his father celebrated in his hospital bed.

“He was in pain while he was doing it, so he had to ease up,” Jace Whittaker said.

Usually after a game, his father will let him know the things he needs to fix. This time he was a little more happy. Jerry Whittaker was discharged from the hospital this week.

“That’s been my role model from day one and he’s taught me everything I know to this day,” Whittaker said. “I still have a lot to work on.”

'Hill Mary' play capped craziest quarter in recent memory

The Arizona Wildcats appeared headed for certain defeat the last time they played Cal, in 2014. The Golden Bears led 28-6 at halftime, prompting most of the ZonaZoo to head for the exits.

Cal led 31-13 heading into the final quarter. That’s when things got weird. Here’s how the Wildcats — and Austin Hill — managed to pull off the biggest comeback in recent memory:

14:46: Arizona’s Casey Skowron makes a 31-yard field goal. Cal 31, Arizona 16.

13:36: Arizona’s Austin Hill catches a 9-yard touchdown from Anu Solomon. Cal 31, Arizona 23.

10:56: Cal’s Khalfani Muhammad scores on a 50-yard touchdown run. Cal 38, Arizona 23.

8:09: Cayleb Jones catches a 16-yard touchdown from Solomon. Cal 38, Arizona 30.

5:21: Muhammad scores on a 6-yard touchdown run, Cal 45, Arizona 30.

3:30: Arizona’s Terris Jones-Grigsby scores on a 6-yard touchdown run. Cal 45, Arizona 37.

3:27: Arizona recovers an onside kick, “which doesn’t happen very often,” UA coach Rich Rodriguez says.

2:44: Jones catches a 15-yard touchdown from Solomon, but the two-point conversion fails. Cal 45, Arizona 43.

0:52: Cal’s James Langford misses a 47-yard field goal.

0:00: Solomon finds Hill in the back of the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown throw that will be known as the “Hill Mary.” Arizona wins 49-45.

“What an improbable outcome in that game,” Rodriguez said after. “We were dead in the water and kept playing, kept playing and didn’t think we’d get enough possessions or score enough to beat them. We couldn’t stop them.”

Solomon set UA record for pass attempts (73), completions (47), passing yards (520) and total offense (566 yards).

Jones finished with 13 receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns.

His 13 receptions are the second-most in school history, and his three touchdown catches tied a school record.

Arizona scored 36 fourth-quarter points, a program record.

Linebacker Scooby Wright finished with 18 tackles, four for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

“That was one of the craziest games I’ve ever seen,”  running back Zach Green said this week. “You call Hail Mary and you kind of just think somebody is going to bat it down, but it actually happened.”