On Saturday, the Arizona Wildcats proved to be the opponent to bring No. 10 Utah their first Big 12 loss of the season. The unranked Wildcats cut through the Utah defense with unmatched efficiency, something the Utes could not make up for on the offensive side.
First Half
The first half of this game was a defensive slugfest, as both teams were unable to keep their offenses on the field. Arizona was able to gain the slight edge, however, finding the end zone with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter. A game in which many thought would be a high-scoring affair saw just 13 total points with the Wildcats taking a 10-3 lead into halftime.
The Utah offense was able to move the ball seamlessly down the field throughout the first half but could not find the end zone, failing to convert twice on fourth down and settling for a field goal on their third trip to the red zone.
Drive number one saw Utah move the ball down the length of the field all the way to the Arizona 10, but a run up the middle on fourth down halted the Utes momentum and allowed the Wildcat defense to get off the field.
After an Arizona field goal late in the first quarter, the Utah offense trotted back onto the field, looking to provide an offensive spark. An 11-yard pitch and catch from Isaac Wilson to Dorian Singer, followed by another 18-yard connection from the duo, set up the Utes in Arizona’s territory heading into the second quarter. Despite Utah’s ability to move the ball, another failed fourth down attempt, this time from the 2-yard line, halted yet another promising Ute drive.
Utah was finally able to get on the board as Cole Becker knocked in a 23-yard field goal with 7:01 to go in the half, but Arizona’s offense had an answer. An 8-play 75-yard Wildcat drive capped off by a touchdown helped push Arizona in front, 10-3.
Both teams got the chance to possess the ball in the final three minutes and change, but neither could score any points, allowing Arizona to take a 10-3 lead into halftime. Utah would need to make some major halftime adjustments in the second half in order to avoid the upset.
Second Half
The offensive woes continued into the second half for Utah as a Wilson interception shortly after a Wildcat field goal allowed Arizona to tack on yet another field goal, taking a 16-3 lead with 06:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Utah’s inability to do anything of significance on offense was the common theme in the first half and continued to plague the Utes into the third quarter. Another Utah fourth-down conversion, this time from the Arizona 44-yard line, was unsuccessful once again, allowing the Wildcats offense to set up with great field position.
After the game, an emotional Micah Bernard had this to say about the offensive execution in the red zone: “We got the play calls; we just gotta go on the field and execute; we’re not doing that. I think that’s going to be the emphasis for the next few weeks … It should be an emphasis because this is unacceptable.”
Fortunately for Utah, a Tao Johnson interception in the end zone would give the Utes life once again. After failing to reach the end zone for three quarters, a 20-yard dart from Wilson to Caleb Lohner helped the Utes cut into the Arizona deficit, now trailing 16-10.
The Wildcats offense would not stay away for long, however, as an unbelievable 8-play 87-yard drive capped off by a 35-yard touchdown gave Arizona a commanding 23-10 lead with 8:13 to go in the game.
Utah attempted to mount a comeback, but the Wildcat defense held strong, forcing another Wilson interception and closing this one out on another failed fourth down conversion by the Utes. After a couple of Arizona kneels, Utah would drop this one 23-10 and fall to 4-1 on the season.
Analysis
Overall, it was an abysmal day for the Utes on both the offensive and defensive sides. Though Wilson managed to throw 280 passing yards, only around half were completed, making it difficult for Utah to run the ball.
From strictly a statistics perspective, Arizona and Utah made similar offensive plays, going 61-358 and 69-364, respectively. Although fans from both sides alike will say that the Wildcats were inarguably more efficient, with Arizona making good on both of their Red Zone opportunities while Utah went two for four.
On a brighter side, Bernard was able to have a positive night, marking 91 rushing yards with no losses. Singer also had the most impressive performance on the offensive side, claiming 155 yards of his own in receiving.
“All is not lost, I don’t want to paint the picture that it is,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a post-game press conference. “We have a really good football team, we just need everybody to recommit, rededicate themselves, so that we can finish the season strong.”
