A sluggish first half dooms the Wildcats in the Foster Farms Bowl, as the Arizona Football team loses to Purdue in heartbreaking fashion.
Over a month since their last game, the Arizona Football team returned to action against Purdue in the Foster Farms Bowl.
What looked to be a decent start for the Wildcats turned quickly, as Arizona’s young defense looked rusty and a bit over-matched against a bigger and stronger Purdue team.
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The Wildcats would take an early 14-7 lead after Khalil Tate would connect with Tony Ellison for the 29-yard touchdown strike.
However, the lead would quickly dissipate, as the Boilermakers would bounce right back, and quickly. Just as Arizona took the lead, Purdue would score 24 unanswered points, taking a commanding 31-14 lead just before the half.
Purdue would also use a bit of trickery in the first half, lining up for what appeared to be a kneel down play, that they instead used to catch Arizona’s defense off-guard, putting them in prime position just before the half expired. That play also may have been dirty.
Remember that Purdue fake kneel down play? Both Rich Rod & Arizona's players say the refs told them beforehand it was a kneel & not to rush the passer.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 28, 2017
Trailing big, and desperately needing adjustments, the Wildcats would come out a bit sharper in the second half! The Wildcats would get to work quickly, chipping away a 17-point Boilermaker lead.
Behind the arm of Tate, Arizona would erase Purdue’s 31-14 lead, as Tate would connect with Ellison again, and eventually with Tyrell Johnson, to make it 31-28 with over six minutes to go in the third quarter.
After that, it became a pretty back and forth game, with neither team seemingly able to firmly grasp the momentum.
Heading into the fourth quarter, still trailing by three points, the Wildcats would have a bit of late game theatrics in this one.
Needing a score after holding Purdue through the second half thus far, Tate would once again, march his team downfield, this time connecting with Shun Brown for the go ahead touchdown with over three minutes left. 35-31 in favor of the Wildcats! The touchdown was also Tate’s fifth of the game setting a Foster Farms Bowl record for passing touchdowns.
3:21 4Q | The #BigCat fires his FIFTH touchdown of the game to a wide open Shun Brown. Cats take a 35-31 lead.#BearDown pic.twitter.com/1TL2lfZ2kt
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) December 28, 2017
However, the jubilation would be momentary. Perhaps fittingly as Arizona took the lead, Purdue would get the ball right back, marching down the field and scoring a heartbreaking touchdown to re-take the lead, and ultimately seal the win.
Arizona would have one last chance, but Tate would throw an interception, all but sealing the fate for the Wildcats.
Despite the gutsy performance of Arizona, and nearly completing the comeback, the loss is certainly heartbreaking for fans. After an amazing and surprising 6-2 start to the season, the Wildcats dropped four of their last five games.
The Wildcat will go into the off-season with quite a bit of talent, but also a bit of anger having lost a tough game.
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At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate the Wildcats on a solid season. We overachieved this year, and there is a lot to look forward to next year! Bear Down, Arizona!