A week after a win over No. 10 Utah put them in prime position in the Big XII, Arizona fell apart late, losing 28-22 to Texas Tech. Arizona had too many drives that ended in Tyler Roop field goals in the loss. Loup made five field goals on six attempts. Loop’s two FGs ended after Arizona entered the red zone.
After making two looping field goals in the third quarter, Quali Conley scored on a 3-yard TD run with 1:10 left in the third quarter to bring Arizona within 18-16. A loop FG with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter gave Arizona a 19-18 lead. The mistake cost Arizona the remaining games. Loop missed a field goal on their next drive and could have extended their lead to four points.
Texas Tech went on an eight-play, 2:31-second, 47-yard drive that culminated with Gino Garcia’s 41-yard field goal with 2:21 left to give the Red Raiders a 21-19 lead. gave. On the first play from scrimmage of the next drive, Tetairoa McMillan lost a fumble after an 18-yard gain.
Needing to hold Texas Tech to at least a field goal, Red Raiders running back Taj Brooks ran 32 yards for his third touchdown of the night, extending Texas Tech’s lead to 28-19. In the first half, Brooks’ TD led to Texas Tech’s two-point conversion, which made a big difference in the final minutes of the game, making it a two-point lead.
Brooks had 21 carries for 128 yards and three TDs. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton led the Red Raiders to a balanced attack with 29 passes and 29 runs, going 17-29 for 214 yards. McMillan continued his trend of alternating big games with eight receptions for 161 yards.
McMillan reached the end zone four times in the season opener against New Mexico, but failed to score a touchdown for the fourth straight game. Conley had 14 carries for 97 yards and seven receptions for 39 yards and a TD. In the end, Arizona won the game due to a turnover.
Finals from Arizona Stadium pic.twitter.com/bXgKeayOuU
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Noah Fifita was 28-of-49 for 301 yards, no TDs and two interceptions. The first interception came in the first half after Arizona led by eight points on its own to Texas Tech’s 43. Texas Tech returned the interception to the Arizona 20 and scored on Brooks’ 9-yard run six plays later.
Fifita’s second interception came on the next drive. Arizona had a chance to get within 15-10 at halftime. Fifita made an interception from Texas Tech’s No. 27 to the Red Raiders’ No. 20. Texas Tech drove 76 yards in four plays over 40 seconds and extended its lead on Garcia’s 30-yard field goal.
A 57-yard basket from Morton to Caleb Douglas was brutal at the end of the first half. That field goal played as much of a role late in the game as the two-point conversion. Arizona wouldn’t have been forced to kick a field goal late in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game.
Next. BYU’s Oct. 12 game time against Arizona should be advantageous for the Wildcats. BYU’s Oct. 12 game time against Arizona should be advantageous for the Wildcats. dark
The Wildcats could have gone for it on fourth down. Instead of falling to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big XII and heading to No. 17 ranked BYU next week, Arizona fell to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big XII. The progress Arizona made with its win at Utah was lost in Saturday’s home loss to Texas Tech.
