No. 20 Arizona Avoids Upset Loss Versus Northern Arizona

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Quali Conley rushed for 112 yards, Noah Fifita passed for 173 yards and a touchdown and No. 20 Arizona survived an upset bid by Northern Arizona 22-10 on Sept. 7. Trailing 10-6 at halftime, the Wildcats outscored the Lumberjacks by 16 points in the second half, overcoming a sloppy offensive performance to secure the win at Arizona Stadium.

Game Summary

A win is a win, no matter how it comes. The Wildcats are now 2-0 to start the 2024 season. This hard-fought victory also marks their ninth consecutive win, tying a school record. Moreover, the streak is currently the longest active one in the nation.

Under the Saturday night lights, Arizona didn’t quite resemble the team that captivated Tucson, Ariz., last year. But it did enough down the stretch to send the Lumberjacks back to Flagstaff, Ariz. While last week’s game featured a powerful offensive display in a 61-39 win over New Mexico, the Wildcats' offense was notably stagnant.

At halftime, Arizona struggled to find answers as NAU's defensive game plan stymied the Wildcats for most of the night. Fortunately, the defense stepped up in crucial moments, including a pivotal sack for a safety in the fourth quarter. With Arizona maintaining a 16-10 lead at that time, the Wildcats put the game on ice after running back Kedrick Reescano took it the distance on a 46-yard touchdown run.

By the time the clock had hit triple zeroes, Arizona outgained Northern Arizona 361-198 but also committed 10 penalties for 98 yards.

Surely, this is something that Arizona head coach Brent Brennan will want to clean up moving forward. All in all, the win was ugly, especially for a squad ranked in the AP Top 25. Give credit to Northern Arizona for fighting until the bitter end in a hostile environment.

What it Means: Arizona

For Arizona, as Big 12 Conference play approaches, the Wildcats need to elevate their performance. While the program is still adapting to first-year head coach Brennan’s strategies and philosophy, continued success in conference play will require a more cohesive approach to playing complementary football. Surprisingly, reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was limited to just 2 catches for 11 yards. That was on the heels of his 304-yard, 4-touchdown effort against the New Mexico Lobos. With Kansas State coming up this Friday, offensive coordinator Dino Babers must find ways to better utilize one of college football's top receivers. The Wildcats still have plenty to prove, but there’s ample time to turn things around.

What it Means: Northern Arizona

For Northern Arizona, the FCS Lumberjacks have to be pleased with their performance against a clearly superior opponent. At times on Saturday, it seemed like Northern Arizona might repeat its historic victory in Tucson from three years ago. However, NAU has yet to secure a win against a ranked FBS team and now holds a 10-55 record all-time against higher-level competition. With a 1-1 record so far, the Lumberjacks will look to build on this impressive effort as the regular season progresses.