Oregon State at Arizona
After losing to USC by just two points and Washington by a TD the Wildcats have now won two games in a row over ranked opponents, the first time in nine years. Those wins came last week against then No. 19 Washington State and this week against a really good No, 11 ranked Oregon State—a team that I thought stood a great chance of playing for the PAC-12 title this year but now, with two conference losses, will need to win out and get lots of help to make that happen. This was a really close one from start to finish with Oregon State getting a slight edge in the 1st Qtr to go up 7-to-3, Arizona coming back in the 2nd to tie it up at 10 a piece at the break and then shutting out the Beavers in the 3rd to go up 13-10. But with both teams scoring two TD’s a piece in the 4th that 3rd Qtr shutout was enough to give the Wildcats the win.
Arizona’s starting QB Jayden de Laura injured his ankle in Week-4 and since then it’s been Freshman backup Noah Fafita who at 5’ 11” and 194 lbs is built more like a RB than a QB. But since taking over he has completed his throws at a 75% clip for over 1,200 yards, 11 TD’s and just 3 interceptions. Jayden de Laura is off the injury list but Fafita got the start anyway and didn’t disappoint connecting on 25-of-32 for 275 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 pick with two of those scores going to Senior RB Michael Wiley and the other to Sophomore WR Tetairoa McMillan. On the ground Sophomore RB Jonah Coleman and Senior DJ Williams combined for 106 yards on the ground for the Wildcats on 19 attempts. But maybe the game ball should go to Junior Place Kicker Tyler Loop who provided the margin of victory—although not at the end of the game—connecting on both of his field goals, one from 51 yards out, and all three extra points.
After trailing 13-10 at the end of three, Oregon State went out in front 17-13 at the beginning of the 4th Qtr on a nine play, 80 yard drive, capped by a Silas Bolden 8 yard TD run. But on back-to-back bookend TD’s after holding the Beavers to a three-and-out the Wildcats were back in front 27-17 with less than three minutes left in the game. Oregon State would get within three points, 27-24, just over a minute later on a 4 play 75 yard drive capped by four consecutive passes by QB DJ Uiagalelei—the last a 20 TD pass to Sophomore WR Jimmy Valise III. But, with just 1:38 to play in the game, the on-side kick was recovered by Arizona who picked up a 1st Down and the game on four running plays to end it. For Oregon State, QB Uiagalelei completed 16-of-30 for 218 yards and 2 TD’s, one to 6’ 4” Sophomore TE Jack Velling, with backup Aidan Chiles connecting on 2-of-3 for 58 yards. Velling’s TD was his eighth of the year which set an Oregon State single season record and is currently tops in the FBS. On the ground, Sophomore RB Damien Martinez continued to lead the way for the Beavers rushing 14 times for 87 of the team’s 131 yard total. Oregon State will look to right the ship against Colorado this next weekend on the road at Folsom Field in Boulder while Arizona stays home in Tucson to host UCLA.