TUCSON — Noah Fifita threw for 284 yards and had a hand in three touchdowns, and Arizona’s defense shut down one of the country’s most productive running games in a 34-7 win over Cincinnati on Saturday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
The victory moved the Wildcats to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play and handed the Bearcats (4-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season.
Fifita threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, while Arizona piled up 238 rushing yards and outgained Cincinnati 522-227. The defense held the Bearcats to 74 rushing yards, nearly 200 below their season average, according to the Associated Press.
“We knew they wanted to run the ball,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said after the game. “We said no, we’re not going to let you do that.”
How it unfolded
Arizona struck first on Kedrick Reescano’s 10-yard touchdown run to cap a 75-yard opening drive. Cincinnati had chances to answer: Stephan Rusnak’s 53-yard field goal try clanged off the right upright after a Fifita interception, and the Bearcats came up empty on fourth-and-goal from the 2 in the second quarter. Michael Salgado-Medina’s 23-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 10-0.
Fifita opened the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run on a draw, set up by Antwan Roberts’ 58-yard burst. He later found Brandon Phelps for a 24-yard touchdown and Tyler Powell from 5 yards out as Arizona built a 34-0 lead before Cincinnati scored late.
“That’s Arizona football right there: we face adversity and come out with resiliency,” Phelps said.
The Wildcats were shorthanded entering the game and lost more players along the way, the AP noted, making the lopsided result all the more notable. Arizona travels to West Virginia next Saturday, Oct. 10, for a 9 a.m. Arizona time kickoff.
Photo: Msr69er via Wikimedia Commons (public domain). File photo of an Arizona Wildcats game.