Arizona pulled away early, its defense stifled Oklahoma State for much of the afternoon and Noah Fifita threw a career-best tying five touchdown passes, in a 41-13 win over the Cowboys on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
Fifita has now thrown 67 touchdowns in his career at Arizona, tying Khalil Tate for third on the all-time touchdown passing list.
The Wildcats outgained Oklahoma State 478 to 158 in the game, and the defense recorded three sacks in addition to its two forced turnovers and two turnovers on downs.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan was satisfied with his team’s bounce-back effort, citing their preparation and execution of his “redline standard” following last week’s 39-14 loss at Iowa State. Brennan specifically praised the team’s execution in the red zone and the performance by the defense.
“All week we talked about being accountable for last week’s game, and I when I think about this week, and how we practiced and how we attacked the work — that part of the accountability: player, coach, all of us. Everybody was all-in on how we were going to get that done this weekend against a really unique opponent. I think today you saw that red line show up,” he said.
Brennan praised Fifita for how he played, and his commitment to the program despite several offers from other programs in the offseason.
“Being a Division I quarterback on this level is hard. It’s really challenging, and you get way too much credit. You get way too much blame,” Brennan said. “Noah Fifita handles it with incredible class, with incredible dignity. He’s a great leader. He’s a great teammate. He loves Tucson. He loves the University of Arizona.”
Arizona (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) wasted no time setting the tone, capped by two first-quarter touchdown passes from Fifita to Tre Spivey, giving the Wildcats a 14-3 lead heading into the second quarter — one from 13 yards out on fourth down on the opening drive and a 22-yard pass late in the quarter.
Oklahoma State’s Logan Ward kicked a 47-yard field goal with 5:59 remaining in the first quarter. Arizona and Oklahoma State (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) traded missed field goals early in the second quarter, with Ward missing a 48-yard field goal and Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina missing on a 46-yard attempt. Fifita then threw a 47-yard touchdown to Luke Wysong to extend Arizona’s lead to 21-3 with about six minutes to go before half.
Oklahoma State’s Parker Robertson intercepted a pass by Fifita late in the half, setting the Cowboys’ offense up near midfield and leading to a 46-yard field goal kick from Ward to cut Arizona’s lead to 21-6. Salgado-Medina’s 34-yard field goal stretched Arizona’s lead to 24-6 at the half.
The second half began with a turnover, as defensive back Jay’vion Cole intercepted an Oklahoma State pass. Later, Max Harris forced a fumble that Tre Smith recovered. However, the offense could not convert either takeaway into points. Following the fumble recovery, Fifita gave the ball back deep in Oklahoma State’s territory, fumbling a botched handoff on the 4-yard line to end the threat. Fortunately for Arizona, two touchdown passes to close out the third quarter by Fifita — a 21-yard pass to Javin Whatley and a 29-yard pass to Chris Hunter — got Arizona’s offense back on track, extending the lead to 38-6.
Oklahoma State’s LaDainian Fields intercepted Arizona backup quarterback Braedyn Locke, who had replaced Fifita early in the fourth quarter, and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown when the game was out of reach. Salgado-Medina kicked a 57-yard field goal to put Arizona up 41-13.
Fifita completed 28 of 38 passes for 376 yards with an interception.
Spivey caught 3 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns, and Wysong caught five passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. They were two of 10 Arizona receivers to catch at least one pass.
Of Arizona’s 478 total yards, 433 were passing yards.
“My mindset whenever I get the ball is to be violent with the ball and always get to the end zone by any means necessary” Spivey said of his mentality on Saturday. “Whenever I catch the ball, I’m locked in to the end zone. Trying to find my way through contact, through physicality or agility. Just find some kind of way to get into the end zone. That’s the most important thing.”
Spivey said he and the receivers were hungry for a big game in the week of practice following the loss at Iowa State last week.
“Losing leaves a bad taste in anyone’s mouth,” he said. “I think we’ve got great leaders. Our leadership council did a great job of continuing to harp on responding, and being ready for the moment. Not getting too high or too low.”
Oklahoma State was led by interim head coach Doug Meacham after longtime coach Mike Gundy was let go earlier in the week.
Arizona hosts No. 23 BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) next Saturday at 5 p.m.
FOLLOW @KEVINMURFEE ON TWITTER! ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com writer Kevin Murphy was born and raised in Tucson, and has followed Arizona Wildcats athletics since childhood. Murphy is a journalist product manager with the Green Valley News the Sahuarita Sun. He has a bachelor’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU.
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