The Arizona Wildcats defeated UCLA 47-30 Saturday night at Arizona Stadium. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics:
NOTES
* Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate rushed for 230 yards and joined Ka’Deem Carey as the only players in school history to have two games of 230 or more rushing yards. Tate has rushed for 557 yards over the last two games, which is the second-highest total behind Carey’s 570 in 2012. Tate also became the first FBS quarterback to rush for 200 or more yards in back-to-back games since Navy’s Chris McCoy in 1997.
* Arizona free safety Scottie Young Jr. left the game in the second quarter because of an undisclosed injury and did not return. Jarvis McCall Jr. initially replaced young before yielding to Kwesi Mashack, who finished with three tackles, including two for losses, and a pass breakup.
* Arizona defensive tackle Parker Zellers was ejected for targeting after a hit on UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. Because the foul occurred in the third quarter, Zellers must sit out the first half of next week’s game at Cal.
* Arizona shut out UCLA in the fourth quarter. It was the third time this season that the Wildcats have held the opposition scoreless in the final period.
* Arizona has scored 45 or more points in four of its first six games for the first time in school history.
* Arizona rushed for more than 400 yards for the second week in a row, the third time this season and the fourth time in its past seven games.
* RB Nick Wilson (135 yards) recorded his first 100-yard rushing game since Week 2 of last season. He has 30 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks third in school history.
* Freshman DE-LB Kylan Wilborn had four sacks, the most by an Arizona player since Joe Salave’a also had four against Arizona State in 1997. Wilborn also has three forced fumbles, the most by a Wildcat since Scooby Wright had six in 2014.
* CB Jace Whittaker had two interceptions, including one he ran back for a 42-yard touchdown. He became the first Wildcat to record a pick-six since Cam Denson did it in 2015 vs. ASU.
* Arizona forced two or more turnovers for the fifth time this season and the sixth time in seven games dating to last year.
QUOTES
Rodriguez on Tate: “I’m really proud of the way he’s kind of taken charge. There’s still going to be enough mistakes that we can correct. He can play even better. But man, when we needed a big play – whether it was a big pass like the one at the end there to Tony Ellison or a big run – he was delivering.”
Rodriguez on Zellers’ targeting penalty: “I thought he hit him in the shoulder. He may have led with the crown of his helmet. I don’t know. I’d have to watch the film or maybe the TV copy to see if that was justified. The penalty is one thing, but when you throw a guy out and he has to sit out the first half of the next game, that’s a pretty severe penalty.”
UCLA coach Jim Mora on Tate: “He’s a heck of a player. My hat’s off to him and to Arizona. That young man is dynamic, and he changes the game. You have to defend him every single play. He makes you miss, and when he gets in the open field he is spectacular. He has had two tremendous games in a row. We put all our energy into stopping him, and we did not get it done.”
Wilborn on beating UCLA: “I feel like this was a real big confidence boost, because most of this team is from California. So to go against those kids that you played against in high school and Pop Warner, it’s pretty cool to come out with the win.”
Whittaker on his pick-six: “That’s one of those things that as a kid, when you’re growing up in the front yard playing football, that’s what you dream of. It turned into reality.”
STATS
* UCLA had 28 first downs; Arizona had 27.
* Arizona had 457 rushing yards; UCLA had 190.
* Arizona averaged 7.5 yards per rush and 8.2 per play; UCLA averaged 5.0 and 5.7.
* Arizona had 605 total yards; UCLA had 409.
* Arizona ran 74 plays and possessed the ball for 34:06; UCLA had it for 72 and 25:54.
* UCLA converted 5 of 10 third downs; Arizona converted 3 of 10.
* UCLA scored touchdowns on 4 of 6 trips to the red zone; Arizona scored on 3 of 6.
* Arizona had a season-high 11 penalties for 113 yards; UCLA had seven for 80.
* Arizona WR Shun Brown had a team-high three receptions for 61 yards.
* Seven of Lucas Havrisik’s nine kickoffs went for touchbacks.
* Arizona safety Dane Cruikshank tied for the team lead with six tackles, including one TFL. He also had an interception.
* Cornerback Lorenzo Burns also had six tackles, plus a pass breakup.
