On paper, Arizona’s Big 12 Conference opener at Iowa State was arguably going to be the toughest remaining on the schedule, certainly more difficult than the first three opponents. And while winning was the ultimate goal, just being competitive against one of the best teams in the league would have made for a nice consolation […]
On paper, Arizona’s Big 12 Conference opener at Iowa State was arguably going to be the toughest remaining on the schedule, certainly more difficult than the first three opponents. And while winning was the ultimate goal, just being competitive against one of the best teams in the league would have made for a nice consolation prize.
Ah well, alas.
The Wildcats were outplayed in all facets of a 39-14 road loss to the 14th-ranked Cyclones on Saturday night, allowing more points than during the 3-0 start.
Arizona’s pass defense struggled on deep balls, while Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) also scored five short rushing touchdowns. The Wildcats (3-1, 0-1) were 4 for 13 on third down and Noah Fifita was intercepted twice, his first picks since November, and special teams was a disaster from the opening whistle.
Fifita threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns on 32-of-48 passing but he missed several throws. Twelve different Wildcats had at least one reception with Kris Hutson at the top of the chart with six catches for 67 yards and his first UA TD.
Ismail Mahdi ran for 85 yards on 13 carries as Arizona gained 360 yards while allowing 386. It only gave up 111 on the ground but Iowa State made the most of that yardage, with all five TDs coming from within the 3-yard line.
Arizona trailed 22-7 at halftime, getting on the scoreboard in the final minute of the first half. Another big play in the passing game quickly got Iowa State into scoring position to open the second half, with Becht pushing the pile from a half yard out on 4th and goal to make it 29-7 with 11:30 left in the third quarter.
The UA went for it on 4th and 2 from its own 44, after Chris Hunter couldn’t hold onto a catch that would have put the ball in ISU territory, but Fifita’s pass was batted down at the line. The Cyclones translated that turnover on downs into Becht’s third 1-yard TD run which came right after a trick play that saw a tight end throw to a wide receiver.
Fifita hit Tre Spivey on a 1-yard TD pass on 4th and goal to get within 36-14 with 2:46 left in the third. Another TD opportunity was wasted when Fifita was picked off at the goal line with 3:29 to go.
Arizona avoided disaster to start the game when Mahdi lost a fumble on the opening kickoff but replay ruled him down. The Wildcats moved the ball into Iowa State territory but had to settle for a 46-yard field goal, which Michael Salgado-Medina missed wide right.
It was the fourth miss in the past two games for Salgado-Medina and fifth for Arizona this season. Tyler Loop only missed five field goal attempts all of 2024.
Iowa State scored on its first possession, a 43-yard pass down to the 1 setting up a Becht rushing TD, then the Cyclones went for two and got in on the ground for an 8-0 lead. Arizona went 3-and-out on the next two drives, and after the second Dalton Johnson was flagged for hitting the punt returner early despite replays showing an ISU player shoved him.
The Cyclones took advantage of that penalty, and a pass interference call, to go up 15-0 with 12:41 left in the second on a 1-yard Hansen run.
Fifita’s interception midway through the second quarter was his first in 165 pass attempts, dating back to the first quarter at TCU last season. It was returned 42 yards and a few plays later Hansen scored from three yards out.
Arizona avoided the first half shutout by scoring with 22 seconds left before the break when Fifita hitHutson from nine yards out.
The UA returns to Tucson for its Big 12 home opener next Saturday against Oklahoma State. The game is set for a 12 p.m. PT kickoff, the earliest in a season the Wildcats have played during the day at home since 2004.
Category: General Sports
