Arizona football: Cats try to weather the storm

SEATTLE — The Arizona Wildcats touched down Friday afternoon with their season on the brink and their coach — or at least their defense — under fire.

This is a pleasure trip. Or at least it should be.

During their 36 hours in town, the Wildcats plan to see the sights — like, hopefully, a Washington punter. They’ll take in some live local music: The Huskies’ marching band plays a mean version of “Tequila.”

The UA will sample some local fare. Food — and, yes, victory — tastes even sweeter when you’re traveling.

“We work the practices,” coach Rich Rodriguez said, “but we need to play the games.”

Don’t be surprised if Arizona (5-3 overall, 2-3 Pac-12) plays looser and with more energy Saturday, when it takes on Washington at Husky Stadium. The Wildcats are essentially out of the Pac-12 South race, but can both become bowl-eligible and bury the ugliest loss of the Rodriguez era with a win.

Saturday’s game marks their best chance to win during the final month of a grueling season — and, maybe the last time to fully let loose. After facing the Huskies (3-4, 1-3), Arizona will travel to USC and host Utah before traveling to Tempe for a rivalry game with Arizona State.

Linebacker Jake Matthews said a victory Saturday “can be a big turning point, for sure.”

“If we win this one, we can play the next three weeks with a chance to win all three,” he said. “We’re not having a good year, but we can get back on track. We can still win nine games.”

As recently as seven days ago, Arizona looked like it may never win again.

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Washington State quarterback Luke Falk threw for 514 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-42 upset win at Arizona Stadium. The loss was the low point for a UA defense that’s been devastated by injuries and embarrassed by inconsistent play all season.

The Wildcats should fare better Saturday, in part because they can’t do much worse. It helps that Washington averages just 333.4 yards per game, 200 fewer than the UA, and has freshmen — Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin — at quarterback and running back, respectively.

The UA offense will look different, too.

Jerrard Randall is expected to start over Anu Solomon on Saturday, the UA’s first for-cause quarterback change in six years. The speedy Randall sparked the UA to a come-from-behind win over Colorado two weeks ago, and nearly pulled off a late-game upset of the Cougars last week.

Coaches have yet to name a starter, but Randall’s running skills and the prospect of rain on Saturday make it a smart play. The former LSU Tiger is averaging 11 yards per carry this season, tops among Division I FBS players. His passing, still a work in progress, will be tested by the inclement weather.

“You don’t think about it. You just go out and play,” Randall said. “I don’t care about the rain. I just want to win.”

And maybe have a little fun, too.

Wednesday’s practice was highlighted by a visit from local Pop Warner players. UA players and coaches signed autographs and slapped high-fives with the kids — “little giblets,” Rodriguez called them — on their way out of Kindall/Sancet Stadium.

If Arizona needed a dose of levity, they got it in about 100 little, loud doses.

“We’re trying to win, and we’re trying to do as much as we can, but we’re making it into more of a job instead of playing the game like we were when we were little kids,” Matthews said. “That’s what we’re trying to get back to. Just have fun when you’re playing.”