Jordan McCloud and Arizona Football go down against UCLA

TUCSON, AZ – A competitive start by Arizona Football (0-5, 0-2) wasn’t enough as the Wildcats fell 34-16 to the UCLA Bruins (4-2, 2-1) on Family Weekend.

Arizona Football gained 362 yards of total offense and even forced two turnovers, but it ultimately wasn’t enough for the Wildcats as they came up short in their 34-16 loss to UCLA on Family Weekend.

From the start, Arizona looked competitive. Backed by 40,000+ strong in attendance for the Wildcats’ “White Out”, however, no amount of gimmicks or preparation seemed to help the Wildcats in this one.

Turning to quarterback Jordan McCloud again after his five-interception performance at Oregon, the former USF transfer would get the start in this one, looking to score the upset against a talented Bruins team.

Things even looked positive on his first drive too, as he and the Wildcats would get deep into UCLA territory, before settling for a Tyler Loop 28-yard field goal just minutes into the game to make it 3-0, Arizona.

However, for every positive play, the Wildcats had on Saturday, the Bruins would seemingly have an answer, responding with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. UCLA would make it 7-3 after converting on fourth and goal pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Greg Dulcich.

Arizona would exchange scores on the ensuing possession, as they drove down the field again, settling for yet another field goal to make it 7-6.

A few series later, UCLA would be leading 14-6, when an interception by the Wildcats set up a bit of trickery as the Wildcats found the end zone on a double pass from Jamarye Joiner who found running back Michael Wiley on a 10-yard route that made it 14-13 just before halftime.

However, self-inflicted mistakes and penalties by Arizona Football was the story in this one.

Despite trailing by just one point at the half, Arizona Football would have plenty of opportunities to regain the lead in the second half, or even take control of this game, but the Wildcats would finish the evening with 12 penalties for 81 yards.

The Bruins would outscore the Wildcats 20-3 in the second half, and the tide seemed to turn for the worst when McCloud went down with an apparent leg injury after taking a nasty hit on a bad snap.

However, at this time, not much is known about the injury, although McCloud could later be seen on the sidelines with crutches. The prognosis at this point does not seem good.

Gunner Cruz would come in as a back-up, but the former Washington State transfer struggled, finishing his day with 4/7 passing with 47 yards, seldom moving the offense for the Wildcats in his limited action.

With the loss, the Wildcats still hold the nation’s longest active losing streak in college football at 17 games, dating back to the 2019 season.

Arizona will return to action next week against Colorado in Boulder, where Cruz will presumably be the starter if McCloud is unable to go.