By the numbers: Utah's lengthy drive foils Wildcats' upset plans

The Arizona Wildcats trailed Utah by two points late in Saturday’s fourth quarter, but gave up a touchdown in the final minutes and fell 38-29 in their final home game of the season.

These numbers explain how Arizona kept it close before ultimately losing to the first-place Utes.

8:24

After Arizona blocked a Utah punt and returned it for a touchdown with 10:34 remaining, Utah played keep-away. Leading by two points, Utah mounted a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took 8:24 off the clock.

Arizona appeared to have stopped Utah on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, but Isaiah Mays was called for a facemask penalty. The Utes were awarded first-and-goal from the 2. Two plays later, Utah running back T.J. Pledger found the end zone to put the Cats down two scores with 2:10 remaining.

2009

Trailing 31-23 in the fourth quarter, Arizona’s Nazar Bombata came free on a fourth-down punt and blocked the kick. The play resulted in a momentum-changing touchdown for the Wildcats after the ball was scooped up by Rhedi Short who returned the loose ball 3 yards for the score.

It marked the first punt block return for a TD by an Arizona player since Orlando Vargas did it in 2009 against Arizona State.

That made the score 31-29 with 10:34 to play and Arizona decided to go for the two-point conversion. UA coach Jedd Fisch called the Tucson version of the ‘Philly Special’ but it was snuffed out by Utah.

Arizona scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the game for the first time this season. The Cats opened the game with a seven-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by a 43-yard run by Will Plummer. Their next drive was a 10-play, 72-yard drive which ended in a 6-yard screen pass from Plummer to Michael Wiley. The early scoring helped Arizona eclipse 20 points in a game for just the second time this year.

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Arizona’s defense had gone six quarters without surrendering a touchdown heading into Saturday’s game. However, it took Utah less than five minutes to get into the end zone.

43

Plummer’s 43-yard scamper on fourth-and-5 was the longest touchdown run by an Arizona quarterback since Khalil Tate ran for a 57-yard TD against Stanford in 2019. Plummer has rushed for 149 yards in his last three games.

57

Lucas Havrisik tied both the Arizona school record and his own career-high with a 57-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was Havrisik’s longest field goal this season by 7 yards and the third-longest in college football this season.

174

Arizona held Utah to 174 rushing yards a week after the Utes ran for 441 against Stanford. It’s the fewest rushing yards by Utah since its Sept. 18 game against San Diego State.

Edge rusher Jalen Harris recorded a sack in the first half against Utah, marking the third straight game he’s been credited with either a full or partial sack.

Arizona had zero turnovers for the first time this season.

Saturday was the first 38-29 game in UA football history, and the first time Arizona scored 29 points in a game since 2011.