Casey Skowron’s winning FG as time expires among Arizona Wildcats’ best

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Arizona Wildcats celebrate Casey Skowron’s game-winning 47-yard field goal by lofting him in the air (Fox Sports screen shot)

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“I’ll steal a line from one of the greatest movies ever made, Gladiator, ‘Are you not entertained?’”
— Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez

Arizona will go into the second half of November with a chance for the Pac-12 South title and that’s all that matters.

Casey Skowron’s 47-yard game-winning field goal keeps the Wildcats alive with a 27-26 win over Washington at Arizona Stadium today. With the attempt as time expired, coming on Nov. 15 in such a meaningful game for Arizona’s postseason possibilities, it is as big as they come. Max Zendejas, Doug Pfaff and Brett Weber make some room for Skowron.

They made field goals as time expired in this site’s Top 50 Games in Arizona History series. Nick Folk, Alan Zendejas, Steve McLaughlin, Gary Coston and Lee Pistor, among others, have either made winning field goals or contributed to victories with their attempts.

“I’m too young to get a heart attack.” – Jourdon Grandon on the close finishes for Arizona this year

— Matt Moreno (@MattGOAZCATS) November 16, 2014

A winning attempt with no time remaining after he was chastised last month for missing a potential game-winner against USC puts Skowron right up there among Arizona’s place-kicking elite in terms of clutch performances.

“Every time I kick I think about the USC game,” said Skowron, who endured criticism campus-wide after that game.

Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon had his problems against Washington. He looked lost at times and failed once again to connect with his receivers, a problem going back to the UCLA game two weeks ago. The Wildcats’ defense was battered for 504 yards by a Washington offense that ranked 95th nationally in total yards, averaging 365 yards a game.

Things looked bleak after what appeared to be Arizona’s last gasp was choked away by Washington on Solomon’s interception that was intended for Trey Griffey with 4:25 left. Washington cornerback Sidney Jones looked like the intended receiver.

The Huskies proceeded to get two first downs while Arizona burned two of his timeouts. Washington decided to continue with a running play instead of downing a knee and let the clock wind down after quarterback Cyler Miles rushed for a first down with 2:08 left.

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TOP ARIZONA GAME-WINNING FIELD GOALS AS TIME EXPIRED

Max Zendejas

1979 — Reserve place-kicker Brett Weber, a former walk-on, makes a 27-yarder to beat ASU 27-24 in Tempe after he missed a 37-yarder but was roughed on the play

1982 — Max Zendejas makes 48-yard field goal to beat No. 9 Notre Dame 16-13 at South Bend, Ind.

1983 — Zendejas nails a 45-yard field goal at ASU to beat the Sun Devils 17-15 and give “The Streak” some life

1989 — Doug Pfaff converts a 40-yard field goal as unranked Arizona shocked No. 6 Oklahoma 6-3 in Tucson

2014 PAC-10 SOUTH STANDINGS
Before tonight’s ASU-Oregon State game
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“Well, with our chart we felt like we had to run the ball again and get a first down,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said to reporters. “They had one timeout left and that’s the information we got.”

The play afterward resulted in another Arizona miracle: A fumble by running back Deontae Cooper forced by Tra’Mayne Bondurant and recovered by Derrick Turituri at the Washington 45.

After Arizona picked up a first down on the Washington 34, Solomon’s pass to Cayleb Jones in the back of the end zone was ruled as a touchdown catch. An official review overturned the call as it appeared Jones’ left big toe touchded the end-line of the end zone.

The Wildcats went into safe mode, running the ball to set up a game-winning field goal by Skowron, whose missed 36-yarder against USC is still fresh in the memory. When Skowron lined up for the 47-yarder, Petersen predictably called a timeout right before the snap.

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Skowron’s try went wide right as the officials blew their whistles for the timeout. In the loss to USC, Steve Sarkisian, the former Washington coach now with the Trojans, called a similar timeout. Skowron made his attempt while Sarkisian called the timeout.

His second attempt against the Trojans failed and he was roasted by many of Arizona’s fans.

Skowron’s second try against Washington today was true. He could have made it from at least 57 yards. Everybody in Tucson considers Skowron a hero now, especially after his 18-yard touchdown run on a fake field goal in the first half ignited an Arizona comeback after the Wildcats trailed 17-7.

“As I told the team, I think he wants to be the tailback, too,” said a relieved Rodriguez during the postgame press conference.

The game-winning field goal and Arizona’s Hail Mary pass — also from 47 yards — against Cal gives the Wildcats two victories at Arizona Stadium this season on the last play of the game.

Rodriguez’s team improved to 8-2 overall, which means he is the first Arizona coach to win at least eight games in three consecutive seasons since Jim Young went 8-3, 9-2 and 9-2 from 1973-75.

The Wildcats remain alive in the Pac-12 South with a 5-2 conference record. They must win at Utah and at home against ASU in the next two weeks while UCLA must beat USC next week and lose to Stanford the following week.

As Arizona knows, anything can happen this season.

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.