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The Arizona Wildcats tied a season-low with four helmet-stickers in the 17-7 loss at UCLA last week, and it could have been worse.
Arizona achieved the sticker for at least four possessions of eight plays — signifying a sustained execution — with exactly four but the Wildcats failed to cash in on most of them.
The Wildcats’ 12-play drive in the first quarter — aided by three UCLA penalties — resulted in a touchdown pass from Anu Solomon to Cayleb Jones — but the other three prolonged possessions ended this way:
Second quarter: Nine plays, from Arizona’s 25 to UCLA’s 47, punt.
Third quarter: 13 plays, from Arizona’s 25 to UCLA’s 22, missed field goal.
Fourth quarter: 11 plays, from Arizona’s 35 to UCLA’s 9, blocked field goal.
Other notes:
— For the first time this season, Arizona failed to achieve a sticker for recording at least 10 plays of 12 or more yards. The Wildcats had only one such play by halftime, the 14-yard touchdown pass from Solomon to Jones.
— Also for the first time, the Wildcats earned a sticker for five penalties or less. The Wildcats finished with only four for 40 yards compared to 11 for 118 yards for UCLA.
— Scooby Wright III, a sophomore linebacker, was again responsible for Arizona achieving a sticker for at least three sacks. He had three sacks himself, increasing his season total to 12. Defensive end Reggie Gilbert recorded the other sack.
— The Wildcats tied in the turnover battle and are 4-3-1 in that regard this season. They could have won another but Solomon’s last attempt was intercepted. Solomon went 183 pass attempts without an interception before the throw that could have been caught by Nate Phillips.
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HELMET STICKER RESULTS
HS: Helmet stickers
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Drew Riggleman
— Arizona punter Drew Riggleman has become a stabilizer in the Wildcats’ inconsistent special teams execution. He earned Arizona a sticker by punting inside the 10, to the 8, where UCLA’s returner fair-caught the ball in the second quarter. Riggleman averages 47.2 yards a punt, which ranks No. 2 in the nation behind Idaho’s Austin Rehkow (48.5).
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HELMET STICKER CRITERIA
The Wildcats earn cat claws for the Arizona helmet if they achieve these following marks. This helmet will be updated weekly as the Wildcats attempt to fill the helmet with the cat claws:
LAST SIX GAMES
[table “” not found /]FIRST SIX GAMES
[table “” not found /]ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
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