Arizona is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Pac-12 after its 21-20 victory over Stanford on Saturday night at Palo Alto, Calif.
- Arizona earned its first road win against Stanford since 2006 when the Wildcats defeated the Cardinal 20-7. The Wildcats had two quarterbacks play in that game similar to Jayden de Laura and Noah Fifita both getting time behind center Saturday. Arizona’s quarterbacks in 2007 — Adam Austin and Kris Heavner. Stanford went to 0-7 after the game under coach Walt Harris.
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 24, 2023
The last time Arizona defeated Stanford before today was on Oct. 17, 2009, when Noah Fifita was 6 years old. The last win at Stanford was in 2006 when he was 3.
Fifita, a sophomore, to Pac-12 Network after the game about what he thought went Jayden de Laura went down with an… pic.twitter.com/YXnE0K57Ve
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) September 24, 2023
Arizona fans chanting “U-OF-A!” with a 21-20 lead and less than a minute remaining. pic.twitter.com/FzLzLQIXtD
— AZ Band Cat Sports (@AZBandCatSports) September 24, 2023
- The Wildcats won a Pac-12 opener for the first time since a 20-17 home win over UCLA in 2019.
- Arizona’s victory on Saturday was its first win under head coach Jedd Fisch (hired before the 2021 season) when their opponent scored first.
- The Wildcats’ defense held the Cardinal to 20 points, the fewest Arizona has allowed on the road to a Pac-12 opponent since 2018 — a 35-14 win at Oregon State.
- Arizona’s five sacks are the most recorded by the team since notching five against Colorado in 2018. The Wildcats are 7-0 during the Pac-12 era when achieving at least five sacks.
Jedd Fisch on Noah Fifita: “It doesn’t surprise me at all about Noah. Noah is unbelievable in terms of his preparation, in terms of his focus, in terms of how much he loves the game of football. There was no flinch.”
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) September 24, 2023
“There was a little too many for my liking today.” — Jedd Fisch on Arizona’s several injuries at Stanford
Fisch added DT Bill Norton was held out on defense with a shoulder injury. pic.twitter.com/Uiozty0HGz
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) September 24, 2023
- QB Noah Fifita entered the game in the fourth quarter and was a perfect 4-for-4 for 47 yards and added 9 rushing yards on two attempts.
– Fifita 15-yard pass to Cowing
– Coleman 9-yard run
– Fifita keeper for 6 yards
– Fifita 18-yard completion to McLachlan
– Coleman 6-yard run
– Fifita keeper for 3 yards
– Williams up the middle for 2 yards
– Williams run for 6 yards
– Williams scores on a 2-yard run
9… https://t.co/A5dIvcUMB8— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) September 24, 2023
“One thing about him, he’s always going to be prepared.” — Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu, on longtime teammate and quarterback Noah Fifita pic.twitter.com/N5ctnGFpwM
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) September 24, 2023
Does Arizona have a QB controversy if Jayden de Laura is healthy and able to play against Washington after how Noah Fifita performed in the fourth quarter against Stanford?
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) September 24, 2023
Big hug and congratulations for Noah Fifita from … Jayden de Laura. You like to see that.
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) September 24, 2023
- WR Jacob Cowing extended his nation-leading streak to 48 consecutive games with a reception. He finished with a team-leading seven receptions for 78 yards, the 14th game of his career with at least 50 yards receiving.
- TE Tanner McLachlan’s 36-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was the longest reception of his career. He now has three touchdowns in his career at Arizona.
- McLachlan ended with 54 yards on two catches, giving him 619 for his Arizona career, the second most by a Wildcat tight end since 1996. Rob Gronkowski had 1,197 receiving yards in 2007 and 2008.
Tanner McLachlan hurdles his way into 2nd since 1996. pic.twitter.com/oSeAfRDn4c
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 24, 2023
*new Tanner McLachlan hurdle just dropped* pic.twitter.com/rCgMnS4laC
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) September 24, 2023
- QB Jayden De Laura’s 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his third of the season. He is one rushing touchdown shy of his career high of four, set last year at Arizona.
- DE Taylor Upshaw, a graduate transfer from Michigan, recorded a career-high two sacks. He is the first Arizona player with at least two sacks in a game since Kyon Barrs logged 2.5 against California two years ago.
- The Wildcats defense logged 11 tackles for loss against the Cardinal, their most since posting 12 on the road at UCLA in 2018.
“If you always swarm the ball … that’s how you’re able to get tackles for loss.” — Jedd Fisch, on Arizona’s 11 TFLs and 5 sacks at Stanford pic.twitter.com/D0JWv2EJpx
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) September 24, 2023
Taylor Upshaw having his best game as a Wildcat.
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) September 24, 2023
Arizona’s 5 sacks tonight were its most in a game since having 5 in a 42-34 win over Colorado in 2018
Most on the road since the upset win at No. 2 Oregon in 2014
— Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) September 24, 2023
- DJ Williams‘ fourth-quarter rushing touchdown to give Arizona the lead was his first of the season, with his last coming in the 2022 Territorial Cup. Williams now has four rushing touchdowns at Arizona.
- RB Jonah Coleman led the Wildcats with 75 rushing yards, a career-best mark. His previous was 74 against Oregon last season.
- Saturday marked the Wildcats’ first one-point victory since beating California 45-44 on the road in 2017.
Noah Fifita with that next man up mentality @PaycorInc pic.twitter.com/9tNvS0Z9gf
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 24, 2023
Jedd Fisch on…
– Arizona’s “hard-fought battle” at Stanford
– Jayden de Laura/Michael Wiley injuries
– Noah Fifita’s “tough situation.” pic.twitter.com/lVkC6jBWlF— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) September 24, 2023
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