It’s back to the drooling board for the Arizona football team. But that’s how it gets after beating a team few thought possible just a day or 13 before.
But Arizona did it, beating then No. 10 Utah in Salt Lake City, 23-10, in its best game since beating Oklahoma nine months ago. Arizona (3-1) finished just out of the AP Top 25 on Sunday.
But who cares? It clearly wiped out the memories of two weeks ago against Kansas State. Throw in great practices during the bye week and perhaps a sense of urgency and ‘voila’ it all worked.
“I thought we had great … effort, like guys playing hard, in the first three games,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “But I think maybe a little bit more discipline, more detail, which is kind of something we talked about a lot in the past two weeks.
“ That was something we felt hurt us against Kansas State (in a big loss), and kind of just really making it simple and drilling down … guys focusing on doing their job(s) and doing it with just extreme detail and effort. And I thought that showed up.”
Perfect timing after what had been a lackluster first few games – even in wins. And just in time for next week’s return-to-home game against Texas Tech. It should stir the juices of a good crowd after that give-them-hope game on Saturday night.
And what is an Arizona football fan without hope?
Here’s the issue: which team will show up the rest of the way? The one that struggled the first two weeks, the one that looked indifferent and uninspired against KSU two weeks ago or the one that showed up on Saturday night? The scary part is that any one could.
But let’s stick with the positive right now, where the defense showed up and played like the good old days, stopping the run – and the pass just enough – in key situations. Eight pass break ups, four fourth-down stops and an aggressiveness that had been lacking so far.
And an offense that looked good enough to beat most – if not all – Big 12 teams this season. And it was more than just Noah Fifita to Tetairoa McMillan, but Fifita to a few others that sparked an offensive that brought back shades of last year.
At least in some instances.
Arizona's Noah Fifita with an absolute BEAUTY of a throw for the touchdown
ESPN pic.twitter.com/lKnATYZDXf
— ESPN (@espn) September 29, 2024
“That’s been something that we’ve been working through as a staff all year,” Brennan told reporters in Salt Lake City. “I think everybody contributes to that process. Having an extra week to prepare helps. But I thought we the thing that was good was that we just gave ourselves a chance to avoid too many third and longs, which had been a challenge for us in previous weeks.”
And, of course, their star/leader came through with some sound and smart play like yesteryear. Of course, I’m referring to Fifita, who looked normal in a quarter or two then sensationational in another one or two. But, surely good when he had to be.
Brennan called his quarterback “an awesome football player and leader”
Rice Eccles Stadium will always be special to our family because of @Coach_Fifita94 @KTalavou journey.
Noah grew up in the stands admiring their play. We have come full circle as the two of them are now in the stands admiring @thenoah_fifita1 play on the same field. https://t.co/VgKoPEggKp pic.twitter.com/mEkTk5x41s— Naite Fifita (@naite_fifita) September 29, 2024
Then later waxed poetic on is late-game heroics that sealed Arizona’s upset win.
“We always talk about how special Noah Fifita is, but I don’t think you really can see it all the time like we do,” Brennan said. “He’s just got incredible poise. He always has a smile “
Put to bed the talk that Brent Brennan shouldn't wear a lei during a game.
You can criticize Arizona, a fan's right. But that's culture that involves so many of the Wildcats, and when a relative of one of those players offers it to you, you wear it with pride.
Of all the…— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) September 29, 2024
And it was wide after Saturday night’s win. Arizona now has five of its next eight games at home. Going into the season the thought of Arizona possibly going 1-1 against KSU and Utah good (but that turned unrealistic after the loss to KSU) only to play its best game of the year under tough conditions.
Now, who knows what’s next? Either way, right?
“I think it sets us up for the trajectory of the rest of our season,” Keyan Burnett said.
Maybe so. Maybe so.
