The path to bowl eligibility became easier for Arizona after the Wildcats defeated No. 19 Washington State 44-6 on Saturday in Pullman.
Arizona ends its two-game losing streak while the Wildcats head into a bye week. UA also broke a three-game losing streak against the Cougars and defeated WSU in Pullman for the first time since 2014, the last meeting between the two schools as conference opponents.
Arizona coach Jedd Fisch (left) smiles as players return to the sideline after a touchdown against Washington State on Saturday in Pullman, Washington.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
Saturday’s result was Arizona’s largest win over a ranked away opponent in program history. It was also the biggest win against Washington State since the Wildcats beat the Cougars 45-6 in 1983.
“We know we’re good and we have to show it today,” Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch said after the game.
“We’ve spent all week preparing to have our best outing of the year today. I think we achieved that against a very good team. “Washington State is in the top 20 in the country and we went on the road and played our best football,” he added. “More importantly, we as employees are excited about the direction of the program. We know Arizona football has reached a point where we can compete with anyone in the country.”
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Sophomore quarterback Noah Fifita, playing for the third straight game in place of the injured Jayden de Laura, who got fit and took part in pregame warmups, completed 34 of 43 passes for 342 yards. Fisch said Fifita deserved the start “when I saw Jayden couldn’t protect himself in the pocket.”
Fifita, the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Week, is coming off back-to-back 300-yard performances. Fifita praised “the people around me” for his individual performances in Arizona’s one-possession losses to Washington and USC and the Wildcats’ loss to Washington State – all three ranked opponents.
“Coach Fisch, all the coaches, my teammates, they’ve helped me over the last three weeks in ways that I can’t explain,” Fifita said on the Pac-12 Network broadcast. “We played three great teams, today was no different – great quarterback, great team.
“Their love, their support and being able to stay extra after practice, stay extra to watch more film, that’s what you saw tonight,” Fifita added of his UA teammates.
Fisch said Fifita “led our offense great” on Saturday.
“The thing about these quarterbacks is how hard they work to run an NFL offense,” Fisch said. “The same crime they see on Sundays is the same crime they are allowed to commit here in Arizona.”
Since being forced into the lineup after a deficit in Arizona’s win at Stanford, Fifita has completed 90 of 121 passes (74%) for 924 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
When Fisch was asked if he was ready to officially install Fifita as a full-time starter, he responded directly but politely: “I’m just going to talk about the game today.”
All of Arizona’s touchdowns were rushing scores, including a career-high three-pointer from sophomore Jonah Coleman, who also caught a 69-yard pass on the Wildcats’ first drive. Coleman had 168 all-purpose yards on Saturday. Senior starter Michael Wiley was sidelined for the third straight game with an ankle injury. Rayshon Luke and DJ Williams also each scored a touchdown on Saturday. Kicker Tyler Loop set a single-game career high with three field goals, including a 40-yarder in the first half.
“First, I want to thank the (offensive) line for giving us offense,” Coleman said. “They put me in the right position to make plays. It felt good, I can’t complain. The coach prepared me for it. The other defenders, like Mike Wiley and DJ Williams, told me it was my moment, so take advantage of the opportunities and make plays.”
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (11) looks for a receiver during the first half of the Wildcats’ 44-6 win over No. 19 Washington State on Saturday. Fifita completed 34 of 43 attempts for 342 yards.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
Washington State received the opening kickoff and started the game with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Cougars methodically stalked down the field with screens and short passes. A failed two-point conversion attempt gave the Cougars an early 6-0 lead.
After this opening trip, the rest of Washington State continues:
“I like everything about the way the defense played today,” Fisch said.
Washington State, which had the second-most passing yards per game in the nation Saturday (365.6), had 199 passing yards and 234 total yards on offense despite an efficient 22-for-30 performance from quarterback Cameron Ward. Washington State, the best third-down team in the Pac-12, went 3-3 on third-down conversions on the opening drive; The Cougars were 4-11 on Saturday.
The Cougars had 22 rushing attempts for 35 yards – good for 1.6 yards per carry.
“The goal is to always make the offense one-dimensional, that’s the goal,” Fisch said. “We felt like we had a really good plan for their running game. If we can do that and know that they had to throw the ball to beat us, then together we can develop the plan we want. It gives you some opportunities to blitz, it gives you some chances to play different coverages, it gives you a chance to intercept the football and it started with not giving them space in the running game.”
Arizona defensive tackle Jacob Kongaika and defensive end Taylor Upshaw each had a sack in the first half. Cornerbacks Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis each recorded an interception – Arizona’s first picks since the Territorial Cup victory to the end of last season.
“It felt good,” Prysock said after the game. “The offensive formation put me in a position I don’t normally play in and I saw (Ward) throw the ball and I went to get it.”
Arizona defensive tackle Bill Norton forced a fumble, while linebacker Justin Flowe recovered it.
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman (3) carries the ball past Washington State linebacker Kyle Thornton (52) during the first half of Arizona’s 44-6 win on Saturday in Pullman, Washington. Coleman had 11 carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns while also catching four passes through the air for an additional 98 yards.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
Arizona’s three takeaways on Saturday marked the Wildcats’ most takeaways in a Pac-12 road game since they had four at Utah in 2014.
“We always say that sales or takeaways come in bulk,” Fisch said. “We dropped a few this year, but today we caught them. That was the key.
“It’s a complete catalyst. It’s about how you score 40 or 50 points in games when you take the ball away,” he said. “If we don’t take the ball away, it’s difficult to get as many possessions and score as many points. If you take the ball away, it’s a lot easier.”
The Wildcats finished the contest with 44 unanswered points en route to their fourth win of the season.
Arizona heads into a bye week (4-3) before hosting No. 15 Oregon State on Oct. 28 in Tucson.
Arizona running back Rayshon Luke, center left, and backfield mate Jonah Coleman celebrate Luke’s 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter Saturday at Washington State. The pair combined for four rushing touchdowns (Coleman had three) as the Wildcats defeated the No. 19 Cougars 44-6 in Pullman, Washington behind quarterback Noah Fifita.
Young Kwak photos, Associated Press
“Our team believes they are good and they know they are good. You can’t always hear it from me or our staff,” Fisch said. “Sometimes you have to put it all together – and we put it all together last week. We missed a play, we missed another play – maybe there were four or five plays over the course of the game where we said, “Wow, that would change the outcome of the USC game.”
“We didn’t win the game, but we knew we were on the right track. We knew we were right there against Washington, so that was two top-10 teams and then we went out and beat a top-20 team and won by 38 points,” he added. “I think that shows us we’re pretty good.”
The Star reported on this game from Tucson.
Contact Arizona star football beat reporter Justin Spears at [email protected]. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
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