Arizona Wildcats snap 5-game losing skid, take down Houston to keep bowl hopes alive

For the first time in 48 days, the Arizona Wildcats are victorious — and their bowl hopes remain alive. 

Arizona (4-6) snapped its five-game losing streak and took down the Houston Cougars 27-3 Friday night in front of a half-full crowd at Arizona Stadium. 

Friday marked the fewest points Arizona surrendered in a game since the 38-3 win over Northern Arizona last season. Arizona's point total on Friday is also the most since the 61-point season opener against New Mexico. It's also Arizona's first win over Houston since 1986.   

"We're fired up," said first-year head coach Brent Brennan. "It feels good. The locker room is just electric. We were focused on just getting one (win). We had to get one. ... I thought our players responded great tonight."

Arizona's defense, after giving up 56 points in the loss to UCF, the most since the 70-7 loss to Arizona State four years ago, took advantage of a Houston team that entered Friday night with the seventh-worst offense in college football and the worst scoring offense in the Big 12. 

Following smothering punt coverage by sophomore Genesis Smith after Arizona's empty first possession, the second-year defensive back recorded a stop for loss and a fumble recovery that was forced by defensive tackle Stanley Ta'ufo'ou. Smith had seven tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and an interception, his third of the season, a team-high.

"We all just continue to see Genesis grow and develop as a really good player," Brennan said. "Some of that is him getting thrusted into action with some of the injuries we had early on. ... He continues to find the football and continues to make plays at the line of scrimmage. He's a guy we absolutely depend on." 

Arizona struck early with a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Fifita to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, his 25th career touchdown reception, which put him in sole possession of third place for all-time touchdown catches by a Wildcat. Houston defensive end Zykeius Strong jumped offsides, Fifita evaded the pressure and heaved the pass to McMillan in the end zone. 

McMillan, who finished with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, also had a highlight one-handed grab near the Texas Tech sideline, but was ruled out of bounds. McMillan is now 112 yards away from becoming Arizona's all-time receiving yards leader. 

In Arizona's following four drives, despite Smith's interception, a three-and-out and a goal-line stand, the UA struggled to grab a two-possession lead. Arizona's kicking operation malfunctioned, resulting in no points, for the third straight game. Freshman holder and punter Michael Salgado-Medina fumbled the snap and the Cougars disrupted kicker Tyler Loop's 29-yard field goal. 

Houston cut into Arizona's lead with a 49-yard field goal by kicker Jack Martin with 42 seconds left until halftime. 

Arizona's hurry-up offense to conclude the first half set up Loop to add to his historic career at the UA. Loop set an Arizona record with a 62-yard field goal to end the first half; the previous record was 57 yards by Loop's predecessor Lucas Havrisik (twice).

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"Funny enough, my last field goal that I hit before game day was a 62-yarder in practice," Loop said. "Going out, I was like, 'Heck yeah! I just did this two days ago,' which was a bunch of fun. That was really special."  

Arizona scored on its three opening drives in the second half — a 51-yard field goal by Loop and two touchdowns by senior running back Quali Conley — to take a 27-3 lead. Conley, who had two fumbles in the previous two games, led the Wildcats with 11 carries for 107 yards, the most since the NAU game in September, and had a 50-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats had 113 net rushing yards after recording 83 in the previous two games. 

Houston, one of the worst third-down teams in college football, ended up converting two third-down conversions on 13 attempts. The Cougars were also 0 for 4 on fourth down on Friday. After Houston's only points of the night, the Cougars had three three-and-out drives, a turnover on downs and a fumble by quarterback Zeon Chriss. Second-year defensive end Dominic Lolesio forced the fumble that was recovered by defensive back Owen Goss, who led the Wildcats with nine tackles. 

The three takeaways and seven tackles for loss were a result of Arizona's tweaked defense that disguised blitzes with defensive backs and linebacker Taye Brown, who had eight tackles and a forced fumble. The Wildcats often crowded the box and either pressured Chriss or dropped back in coverage. Brennan said the defensive objective this week "was obviously effective."

"I think that call gave us something in the game," Brennan said. "I thought the players did a great job of executing it. ... Tonight, we had good gap integrity and then I thought our guys played incredibly hard. That was the one thing I said coming out of this game, it needs to look on tape that we're playing harder than them. That's it. That's the only standard I gave the team for tonight: we need to play harder than the opponent."

To celebrate the win, Conley backflipped when the clock hit zeros and the UA football team sang "Bear Down, Arizona" in the Arizona Stadium locker room for the first time since Sept. 7. 

"This thing is never about me. It's about those kids," said Brennan, who was doused with water before his postgame press conference. "It's about seeing them smile, hug each other and dance and jump around, throw water. I'm just happy for them. To see that excitement on their faces, that hope on their faces, is really special."

Arizona now takes on TCU (6-4) in Fort Worth next Saturday for its final road contest of the season.

Extra points

• Arizona defensive end Chase Kennedy was held out with an undisclosed injury. Kennedy started eight games this season prior to Friday night. Kennedy recently played a stand-up, linebacker role in Arizona's dime defense, which has been the Wildcats' base defense following season-ending injuries to defensive backs Gunner Maldonado and Treydan Stukes and linebacker Jacob Manu.
• Arizona played its sixth different starting offensive line on Friday, with Nevada graduate transfer Joey Capra starting at right tackle. Arizona's offensive line was left tackle Jonah Savaiinaea, left guard Wendell Moe Jr., center Josh Baker, right guard Alexander Doost and Capra. Arizona allowed five sacks on Friday.
• Arizona cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the Wildcats' nonconference finale against Kansas State. Groves-Killebrew had five tackles and a sack.
• The Pride of Arizona Marching Band was honored at halftime for winning the Sudler Trophy, a biannual award given to the top college band nationally. The Pride of Arizona is the 34th band all-time to receive the award.

Photos: University of Arizona gets the win, 27-3 over Houston, Big 12 football