Arizona Football starts slow but runs away from UTEP

TUCSON, AZ – Despite starting slow in this one, Arizona Football (2-1) ran away in the end to beat visiting UTEP (1-2) by a 31-10 final. 

Entering Saturday’s action looking to avenge its loss to Mississippi State last week, Arizona Football returned to Arizona Stadium as they closed out its non-conference slate of games.

Once again knocking off the rust and shaking a slow start, Arizona was able to eventually pull away in the end, outgaining the Miners 544 yards to 332 yards as they paced themselves to the dominant, 31-10 win.

Much like their previous games this year, the Wildcats struggled to maintain any offensive rhythm early on as turnovers and mistakes piled up and their drives stalled.

Luckily, the Wildcats would break through early in the second quarter when Jayden de Laura connected with sophomore receiver Tetairoa McMillan who scampered into the end zone to make it 7-0, Cats.

A few possessions later, UTEP would get on the board as they connected on a 25-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 5:13 to play in the half.

Arizona would then respond in a big way by driving 74 yards in 10 plays! A drive that would last 3:44 would end with a three-yard touchdown run from Michael Wiley to make it 14-3.

The Wildcats would enter the half with a comfortable lead!

Leading just 14-3 at halftime, Arizona Football would need to clean up a lot of their mistakes in the second half if they hoped to pull away.

Giving UTEP the ball to start the half, the Miners would go three-and-out setting up Arizona to go on an eight-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard Tyler Loop field goal to make it 17-3, Cats.

A few possessions later, Arizona would find the end zone again! This time it was de Laura finding Jacob Cowing from two yards out to make it 24-3 with 2:42 to play in the third quarter.

Leading comfortably, Arizona would find the end zone again early in the fourth quarter, after de Laura found Montana Lemonious-Craig on a four-yard reception to make it 31-3.

With the game virtually in hand, the Wildcats would use some of its bench to close out the game but unfortunately, UTEP would find the end zone late in the fourth quarter that made it 31-10.

The Wildcats would eventually cruise to the 21-point win over the visiting Miners.

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With the win, the Wildcats cap off their non-conference slate of games with a 2-1 record, and will turn its focus to Stanford as the Wildcats begin conference play.

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