Arizona Wildcats pull off stunning upset over Utah Utes in Big 12 opener

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita silenced the crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Utah with a touchdown pass, securing a 23-10 victory over the No. 10 Utah Utes on Saturday night.

The upset win made the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) the first unranked team in seven years to beat the Utes in Salt Lake City. They also won their first official Big 12 game.

After Utah (4-1, 1-1) cut Arizona’s lead to 16-10 with 12:03 to play, the Wildcats took the lead at their own 13 line after a holding penalty on kickoff. It looked like the drive would stall five plays later at the Wildcat 25 on 3rd-and-11 before a timeout was called.

Fifita came out of the timeout, stood in the pocket and drilled a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Devin Hyatt to keep the drive going.

Two games later he topped it. He rolled to his right and found a rushing Keyan Burnett in the back of the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown that put the Wildcats back up by double digits.

Arizona’s defense did the rest, spending most of the game holding the Utes to within three points.

Fifita threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns. His only interception was costly, setting up Utah’s only touchdown of the game.

The interception by Utah’s Tao Johnson came in the end zone as Fifita was rushing for a touchdown to put the game out of reach and give Arizona a 16-3 lead.

Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson finally hit Caleb Lohner for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 12:03 left, cutting Arizona’s lead to 16-10.

Wilson was back on the squad with seventh-year Cam Rising. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported earlier Saturday that Rising’s availability was a mid-game decision. But during the broadcast, ESPN announcers said that Utes coach Kyle Whittingham told his team Friday that Wilson would start.

He threw for 266 yards and one touchdown and two interceptions. But Utah’s offense left points on the field as they failed to convert fourth downs on four different drives, including the first drive of the game that set the tone for the entire contest.

Arizona pushed Utah deep into territory when Wildcats cornerback Treydan Stukes tackled Utah running back Mike Mitchell just before a first down.

Stukes didn’t make it through the game. He was eliminated in the first half of the game due to injury. On Arizona’s final possession of the second quarter, he was wearing street clothes. It wasn’t clear what the injury was, but he suffered an injury in the Kansas State game two weeks ago.

Genesis Smith stepped into Stukes’ role and had an interception in the second half that led to a Wildcats field goal.

Both teams were able to move the ball, but only Arizona was able to score a touchdown in the first three quarters when Fifita hit wide receiver Jeremiah Patterson for a 3-yard touchdown with 3:17 left in the second quarter A touchdown gave Arizona a 10-3 lead.

Wildcats kicker Tyler Loop made field goals of 47 yards, 53 yards and 33 yards to help extend the lead to 16-3. Utah’s only points in the first 45 minutes came from kicker Cole Becker.