In a stunning upset, the Arizona Wildcats defeated the highly-ranked Utah Utes 23-10 on Saturday night, thanks to a remarkable defensive effort and a strong performance from quarterback Noah Fifita.
Fifita threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to their first win over a top-10 team on the road since 2012. The Arizona defense was the real star of the show, however, holding the Utes to just 10 points and stopping them on fourth down four times.
Utah was forced to play without starting quarterback Cameron Rising, who has been sidelined with a hand injury since September 7. Freshman Isaac Wilson stepped in, but struggled to convert in the red zone and threw two interceptions.
The Wildcats’ defense was relentless, recording two interceptions, eight pass breakups, and seven tackles for loss. They also stopped the Utes on their first two possessions, both inside the Arizona 10-yard line on fourth-and-2.
Fifita’s impressive performance was highlighted by a 41-yard pass to Tetairoa McMillan on third-and-11, followed by a 35-yard touchdown pass to Keyan Burnett on another third-and-11. The Wildcats’ offense was clicking, with Fifita using quick passes to avoid Utah’s pass rush and leading his team to a 10-3 lead at halftime.
The Utes threatened to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats’ defense held strong, securing the win and improving Arizona’s record to 3-1 on the season.
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