Arizona Wildcats vs. UTSA: Start Time, TV Channel, Live Stream and More
Game 3: Arizona Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. UTSA Roadrunners (1-1, 0-0 CUSA)
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. (MST) at Arizona Stadium (56,037 capacity) in Tucson, Ariz.
Television: Pac-12 Networks (Roxy Bernstein and Anthony Herron)
Live Stream: Pac-12.com (with subscription)
Radio: Arizona Radio Network, 1290 AM and 107.5 FM in Tucson (Brian Jeffries, Lamont Lovett, Dana Cooper)
Game Notes: Arizona, UTSA
Odds: Arizona (-24.5), O/U 60.5 (Odds Shark)
Meet the Coaches
Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez is in his second season with the Wildcats after stints at Salem (1988), Glenville State (1990-1996), West Virginia (2001-2007) and Michigan (2008-2010). Over the course of his 19 seasons as a head coach, the 50-year-old Rodriguez possesses a 130-89-2 career record. In his debut season with the Wildcats, Arizona went 8-5 including a dramatic win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl. It was Rodriguez’s first debut winning season and first bowl appearance in a debut season. He also tied Jim Young for most wins in a coach’s first season at Arizona. At the three schools he coached for more than one year, Rodriguez increased his win total from the first to the second season, averaging a 3.67 win increase from year one to year two.
UTSA’s Larry Coker is in his third season with the Roadrunners after previously serving as the head coach of Miami (FL) from 2001-2006. Over the course of his nine seasons as a head coach he possesses a 73-26 career record, including a 13-11 record at UTSA. Last season, the Roadrunners finished 8-4 with a 3-3 conference record in their first season in the WAC. At Miami, Coker led the Hurricanes to a 60-15 record over the course of six seasons. The 65-year-old Coker won the 2001 National Championship with Miami and was named Big East Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
Scouting Arizona
The Wildcats are coming off a 58-13 win over UNLV in Las Vegas and have now outscored their opponents 93-13 through two games.
So far this season, Arizona has relied heavily on their running game, as they rank 6th in the NCAA with 351.5 rushing yards per game. Junior Ka’deem Carey ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns in his season debut, while senior Daniel Jenkins has ran for 218 yards and a touchdown in the first two games. Quarterback B.J. Denker has added 134 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
The passing game hasn’t clicked, as the Wildcats have yet to eclipse the 100-yard mark this season. Only three wide receivers have caught more than one pass this season: junior Garic Wharton, sophomore Johnny Jackson and freshman Nate Phillips. Wharton leads the team with 52 receiving yards.
A year removed from ranking as one of the worst defenses in the country, Arizona has only allowed 458 total yards through two games. They have also forced four interceptions, returning three of those picks for touchdowns.
Junior safety Tra’mayne Bondurant has been one of the best defenders in the country through two weeks, recording 11 tackles (two for loss), one sack, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. Freshman linebacker Scooby Wright leads the Wildcats with 13 tackles, while senior linebacker Jake Fischer and freshman cornerback Devin Holiday both have one interception.
The Wildcats have already recorded 4.0 sacks, which is just 12 less than they recorded all last season.
Senior kicker Jake Smith was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week Monday and has made 3-of-5 field goals and 12-of-12 PATs. Sophomore punter Drew Riggleman has averaged has averaged 35.2 yards on five punts, having one downed inside the 20-yard line. Wide receivers Jackson and Phillips split the kick and punt returning duties.
Scouting UTSA
The Roadrunners are coming off a 56-35 loss to No. 13 Oklahoma State at home in the Alamodome.
UTSA’s offense has been impressive so far, averaging more than 300 passing yards and nearly 150 rushing yards per game. Senior quarterback Eric Soza has thrown for 545 yards and five touchdowns, but has thrown three interceptions, which is one less than he threw all last season. He also leads the team with 73 rushing yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Kenny Bias is a home run threat, as he accounted for three touchdowns – two receiving and one rushing – against the Cowboys. He has five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Junior wide receiver Kam Jones leads the team with nine catches.
While the offense did score 35 points against Oklahoma State, the defense yielded over 500 passing yards and 600 total yards of offense. They have also have yet to force a turnover. Junior safety Triston Wade leads the defense with 15 tackles. Freshman defensive lineman Codie Brooks leads the team with two sacks.
Junior kicker Sean Ianno has missed both of his field goal attempts, but has made all eight of his PATs. Junior wide receiver Kenny Harrison has averaged 30.0 yards on two punt returns, while wide receiver Jones has averaged 19.8 yards on eight kick returns. Junior punter Kristian Stern has averaged 39.2 yards on eight punts.
Arizona Injury Report
Out – wide receiver David Richards (foot), wide receiver Austin Hill (knee), offensive lineman Beau Boyster (knee, season-ending), linebacker Cody Ippolito (knee, season-ending)
Arizona vs. UTSA Series History
This is the first ever meeting between the two schools. They are scheduled to play again in 2014 and 2015.