Arizona Football: Ranking the Top Five upsets in Arizona Stadium
By Jake Faigus
No. 5 – Arizona upsets No. 6 Oklahoma 6-3
Who: Arizona vs No. 6 Oklahoma
When: September 16, 1989
Where: Tucson, AZ (Arizona Stadium)
On the third week of the season, a 2-0 Oklahoma team came into Tucson to to face the then 1-1 Wildcats. The Sooners were ranked No. 6 in the country coming into this one and highly favored.
At the time, both teams were predominantly wishbone offenses, so there was not much passing in this low-scoring affair. This game certainly epitomized the old saying, “three yards and a cloud of dust.”
Arizona struck first with a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter from kicker Doug Pfaff just before halftime, and then Oklahoma kicker, R.D. Lashar tied it in the third quarter with a 35-yard field goal.
Hoping to come away with the upset Arizona and the Wildcats would drive the field to Oklahoma’s 23-yard line, setting up a 40-yard field goal for Pfaff. Lining up, Pfaff would send it through the uprights as time expired to win it for Arizona!
The biggest difference in this game was the fact that Oklahoma lost three fumbles, two of which that came while they were driving down the field to score in the third and fourth quarters.
Passing was nonexistent in the game, with Oklahoma quarterback Chris Melson only throwing four passes, and not completing a single one, meanwhile Arizona quarterback Ronald Veal threw 16 passes, but only completed four for 49 yards.
Coming in, Oklahoma was averaging 428 yards on the ground, but only managed 222 yards in this one.
Arizona would finish the season 8-4 with a win over NC State in the Copper Bowl, while Oklahoma, plagued with NCAA sanctions finished 7-4, with no bowl game. This game is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in Arizona history, and was certainly a significant victory from former head coach, Dick Tomey.