Arizona Football competed against USC, but came up short

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Paris Shand #95 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates his sack of Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans with Anthony Pandy #8, Jerry Roberts #48 and Jalen Harris #1 during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Paris Shand #95 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates his sack of Kedon Slovis #9 of the USC Trojans with Anthony Pandy #8, Jerry Roberts #48 and Jalen Harris #1 during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – Despite putting forth a great effort, Arizona Football (0-8, 0-5) came up just short against USC in their 41-34 loss. 

Will Plummer played his best game in an Arizona uniform, throwing for 264 yards on 20 of 35 passing while rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown as the Wildcats scored a season-high, 34 points. However, it wasn’t enough as Arizona Football came up short, losing 41-34.

The Wildcats played a competitive game from start to finish, even despite trailing 35-14 at the half, but at the end of the day, Arizona is now losers in all eight games this season, and has extended the nations longest active losing streak to 20 games.

Things certainly started hot as the Wildcats trailed 7-0 after the first offensive possession of the game, however, Arizona would respond in a big way! Turning to Jamarye Joiner at quarterback, the redshirt sophomore wide receiver/utility play would unleash a 73-yard bomb to Tayvian Cunningham which turned into a Wildcat touchdown.

Unfortunately, USC would score 21 unanswered points to make it 28-7 later in the second quarter, which made this one appear as if a route was soon coming.

However, a big second-half by Arizona Football kept this one competitive as the Wildcats came up just short in their upset bid over the USC Trojans.

For any team in the middle of a 19-game losing streak, it would be very easy to roll over and fold things up, but over the past few weeks, Arizona has shown resiliency and is desperately trying to turn things around.

Trailing 35-14, the Wildcats would open the half, scoring on a pick-six from Anthony Pandy, and despite the Trojans responding with a field goal to make it 38-20, Arizona would eventually score again, this time on a 16-yard scramble from Plummer to make it 38-28.

Arizona would add two more field goals before time would expire in this one, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as the Wildcats’ upset bid came up just short.

The Game was Over When…

Arizona fought until the end, and they even had a chance to get the ball back after scoring on a 40-yard field goal from Tyler Loop to make it 41-34 with 1:18 to go, but a failed onside kick would give the Trojans the ball back. USC would run the clock out, en route to securing the win.

Where will the Wildcats go from here…

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 0-8 (0-5) on the year and will return to action next Saturday when they take on Cal (3-5, 2-3) at home. Kick-off is set for 12:00 PM.

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