Arizona’s Noah Fifita completed two touchdown passes, Tyler Roop hit a school-record 62-yard field goal and the Wildcats took a 27-1 win over Houston on Friday night in Tucson, Ariz. They beat Houston in 3 and ended their losing streak at 5.
Fifita completed 20 of 35 passes for 224 yards for the Wildcats (4-6, 2-5 Big 12). The Wildcats never trailed, taking a 27-3 lead on Qualli Conley’s 50-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Conley had scored on a 13-yard reception early in the quarter.
Houston (4-6, 3-4), which entered the game third from the bottom in the nation’s scoring rankings (15.2 points per game), committed three turnovers and gave up the ball on fourth down. Repeatedly (including the fourth and goal). In the second quarter, he made a fake punt from the 1, and in the third quarter, he made a fake punt near midfield.
Loop ended the first half with a 62-yard field goal, breaking the Arizona state record of 57 yards held by four players. Loup added a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Conley gained 107 yards on 11 carries. Tetairoa McMillan caught six passes for 70 yards and one touchdown. Arizona safety Genesis Smith had seven tackles and 1.5 for a loss with an interception and a fumble recovery.
Houston had won three of its past four games, but fell short of double-digit points for the fourth time this season. With 4:27 left, the Cougars’ last scoring chance was thwarted by a fumble inside the Arizona 10.
Cougars quarterback Zion Chriss completed 16 of 27 passes for 191 yards with no interceptions. He also had 55 yards rushing on 18 carries.
The Wildcats took the lead midway through the first quarter with a 33-yard touchdown pass to McMillan, as Fifita scrambled to his left and sent the pass into the back of the end zone. Arizona maintained the lead early in the second quarter by breaking up a pass on fourth-and-goal from 1st.
Arizona wasted a chance with about four minutes left in the first half when holder Michael Salgado-Medina missed the snap on a 28-yard field goal attempt.
Houston’s Jack Martin kicked a 49-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 42 seconds left in the half, and the Wildcats moved into position for Loop’s 62-yarder. He has made 5 of 7 field goals of 50 yards or more this season.
–Field level media
