Sep 63 min read

Ranked Wildcats Meet Northern Arizona in the Desert

Wildcats Touchdown — © Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

The No. 20 Arizona Wildcats face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at 10:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 7 at Arizona Stadium in Tuscon, Ariz. After an exciting 61-39 victory over the New Mexico Lobos last week, expectations are high for the Wildcats in the second game of coach Brent Brennan's debut season.

Series History

The Lumberjacks and Wildcats have clashed on the gridiron 18 times since the 1931 season, and Arizona holds a 16-2 advantage over that span. The pair of in-state programs last met a year ago when the Wildcats rose to the occasion in a 35-point victory. Northern Arizona's most recent win over Arizona occurred in 2021 when the Lumberjacks upset the Wildcats by a score of 21-19.

T-Mac Attack

After a standout 2023 season where junior wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan logged 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns, the 6-foot-5 wideout appears to have elevated his game even further at the start of the 2024 campaign.

It became evident last week that New Mexico's secondary had no answers for McMillan as the Hawaii native broke the Arizona single-game receiving record with 304 yards on 10 receptions. He became only the fourth receiver in Big 12 Conference history to go over 300 yards in one game. Fresh off of being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, McMillan is determined to shatter every Arizona school record for receiving.

Defensive Surge

Surrendering 39 points to New Mexico last week might raise concerns for this defensive unit, especially given they gave up 24 points and 305 yards in the first half. However, Arizona's defense tightened significantly in the second half, which played a key role in their victory.

The Wildcat defense needs to tighten up soon as it will be tested by the rest of the Big 12 starting next week on the road versus Kansas State. It will be vital for the Wildcats to use this weekend's matchup as a game to fix some problems and feel better about themselves moving forward.

Wildcats to Watch

Noah Fafita: Since becoming starting quarterback almost a year ago today, the five-foot-ten signal-caller has been an offensive revelation. Although the sophomore isn't the typical height for someone at quarterback, Fafita makes up for it by having pinpoint accuracy and the ability to make any kind of throw. In his first performance of the season, Fafita could not be stopped as he compiled 422 yards through the air and threw 4 touchdowns.

Jacob Manu: With a relentless motor on defense, the junior linebacker seems to be involved in every play. As the anchor of the Wildcats' defense, he excels on both the run and the pass. Named a First-Team All-Pac-12 player in 2023 after leading the conference with 116 tackles, Manu is a force to be reckoned with.

Lumberjacks to Watch

Seth Cromwell: Named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year after rushing for 758 yards and an impressive 18 touchdowns at Missouri Western last season, Cromwell is a talented back with a knack for finding gaps in the defense. The redshirt freshman tallied 78 rushing yards in his first appearance as a Lumberjack in the team's 66-6 thrashing of Lincoln University last weekend.

Alex McLaughlin: Tasked with the daunting challenge of slowing down McMillan, the skilled sophomore defensive back is well-prepared for the job on Saturday. A 2023 FCS All-American as a freshman, McLaughlin demonstrated his versatility with 4 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, and 71 tackles. Last season, he faced Arizona and performed admirably, recording 10 tackles and 2 pass deflections.

Final Thoughts

The Lumberjacks will give it all they've got during this in-state throw-down, but the Wildcats are the far superior team, given they have Big 12 Championship aspirations on their minds. Expect a lopsided result in favor of the Wildcats in front of a raucous Tuscon crowd this Saturday night.