Arizona Football gets outpaced by Stanford in offensive shootout

PALO ALTO, CA – It was a shootout in the Bay Area, as the Arizona Football team (4-4, 2-3) drop their third straight game in a loss to Stanford.

The Arizona Football team came out flat as the Wildcats couldn’t overcome mistakes and poor defensive play in their 41-31 loss to Stanford on the road.

My what a difference three weeks make. After starting the year 4-1 (2-0), Arizona has looked completely over-matched and unprepared in their three-straight losses.

Arizona Wildcats

Coming into this one, there was uncertainty as to whether Khalil Tate would start or not, but nonetheless he was under center for the Cats when the game kicked-off.

As for Stanford, the Cardinal were fully healthy with KJ Costello in at quarterback, and that was certainly the difference maker in this one today.

Arizona would start off the game looking pretty confident, as Tate and the Wildcats drove 64 yards on nine plays, making the game 3-0 early after a Lucas Havrisik field goal from 29-yards out.

On the ensuing drive, Costello and Stanford would go on quite the drive themselves, going 75 yards on eight plays, scoring a touchdown to make it 7-3.

A couple series later, Arizona would bring in Grant Gunnell who would help lead the Cats to a touchdown drive to give the Wildcats the lead at 10-7.

Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long as Arizona’s defense would look completely over-matched and unprepared as Stanford would score back-to-back touchdowns to go up 21-10 with 7:55 left to go in the first half.

Needing some sort of spark, the Wildcats would bring Tate back in, who would scamper 57-yards to a touchdown to make it 21-17 just a few plays later.

Stanford would respond by going 66-yards on five plays, scoring another touchdown to make it 28-17 Cardinal.

Luckily, the Wildcats wouldn’t go quietly, as Arizona would drive the field, eventually scoring on an impressive, 18-yard touchdown catch from Tate to Jamarye Joiner to make it 28-24.

But unfortunately it wouldn’t be an Arizona Football game, if the defense would give up another score before the half, allowing Stanford to drive 60 yards in 10 plays, converting on a field goal to make it 31-24 at the half.

Needing to make some major adjustments defensively, Arizona would come out the second half a bit more prepared, holding the Cardinal on their first drive, forcing a punt.

Tate and the Wildcats would drive 73-yards in eight plays, capped by a Drew Dixon touchdown to tie the game 31-31.

However, the momentum wouldn’t last long as Costello and the Cardinal would go on another big drive to regain the lead for good at 38-31.

Trailing by seven with over a quarter to play, the mistakes would set in for Arizona. Gunnell would come in leading Arizona on a nice drive, but a fumble by the freshman QB would put Arizona out of scoring range, forcing them to punt.

Then Tate would come back in, driving the field before making a bad read and throw, giving Stanford the ball right back after the Paulson Adebo interception.

Stanford would capitalize on the Arizona turnover, scoring on a field goal to make it 41-31, virtually ending this one.

The Wildcats would get the ball a couple more times, but another late interception by Tate would seal the deal in this one as Stanford escaped with the 41-31 win.

With the loss, the Wildcats drop to 4-4 (2-3), with their match-up against Oregon State looming. At this point, making a bowl game is looking pretty unlikely for Arizona unless they are able to win two games against OSU, at Oregon, Utah and at ASU.

At Zona Zealots, we’re disappointed in the loss, but can only hope the Cats can find some late magic in the season. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!