Arizona Football Great Darryll Lewis Had A Season For the Ages in 1990
By Brad Malone
Good news everybody. Only 191 days until Star Wars: The Force Awakens is released.
Even better news. In only 86 days Rich Rodriguez, Anu Solomon, Scooby Wright and the rest of our boys will be running onto the turf at Arizona Stadium for the home opener.
To pass the time until September, I’m going to be taking you back in time frequently to share with you some of my favorite Arizona Football memories.
The flux capacitor is fluxing and we are just 88 mph away from yesteryear. Today we are going to set the time circuits to September 22, 1990.
Arizona Wildcats
When I was a kid one of my favorite things to do was go to Arizona Football games on Saturday nights with my Dad. He would take turns taking my Mom, sister, brother, and myself.
I would always put dibs on the games when ranked teams came to town. My sister would try and pick games later in the season when it was cold, so she could have hot chocolate all night.
That left my brother and Mom with the leftovers. That means they probably got to see the Cats take on NAU or Utep every other year.
In 1990 I put dibs on the Oregon game. At the time the Ducks were not the juggernaut they are considered today, but they were decent. They were ranked 23rd that night, when they came to the desert.
Unfortunately Dad missed one of the greatest plays in Arizona Football history that night because he was out-of-town on business. I went to the game with a friend from school instead.
The game was a pretty boring offensive affair, but cornerback Darryll Lewis made up for that with his outstanding play. He intercepted two passes, including one he returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
(Check out the above video. Start watching from about the 5:40 mark for one of the greatest moments in Arizona Football history.)
The biggest play of the night came late in the fourth quarter. Things looked bleak for the Wildcats. They led 22-17, but the Ducks were knocking on the door.
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With under two minutes to play, Oregon had the ball on Arizona’s three-yard line. The Cats found a way to hold the Ducks until fourth down. On 4th and goal from the one-yard line the Cats had to Bear Down for one more play, to seal the victory.
Oregon quarterback Bill Musgrave took the snap and decided to make a run for the front right pylon.
Coming from the back of the end zone, Lewis had a long way to go to make a play. It was so nerve-racking. It looked like Musgrave was going to ruin the Cats Pac-10 opener.
Then Lewis came out of nowhere, knocking Musgrave out of bounds and stopping him inches from the goal line.
Brad’s ticket stub, signed by the great Darryll Lewis. Photo by Brad Malone
The Cats were victorious!
Lewis’s performance put him on track to be a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in college football.
I knew this game was special and I wanted something to remember it by.
After the game my buddy and I waited outside of McKale Center to try and see if Lewis would sign my ticket stub. Everyone wanted a piece of our hero, but after a bit of waiting, Lewis signed my ticket and I still have it 25 years later.
Later that season, Lewis helped his Thorpe candidacy when the Wildcats visited the UCLA Bruins in Pasadena. Late in the game, tied at 21, Lewis intercepted a pass and ran 70 yards for the game winning touchdown.
Lewis ended the Pac-10 season with seven interceptions.
When the year ended he was the first Arizona player to win the Jim Thorpe Award, but he would not be the last. Antoine Cason took home the Thorpe trophy after the 2007 season.
Lewis and Cason had their jerseys retired at Arizona in 2010.
It’s too bad my Dad had to miss one of the greatest individual plays in Arizona Football history. I’m just glad the game wasn’t on a cold night in November, or my sister might have seen it instead of me.
Can’t wait for Thursday Sep. 3 when our Wildcats take on UTSA at Arizona Stadium.
Bear Down!