This was Khalil Tate’s least effective performance since the Oregon game last November. He never found room to run (14 yards on eight carries) and wasn’t particularly efficient as a passer (17 of 34, 197 yards). Tate did account for two touchdowns, he didn’t turn the ball over and he suffered only one sack behind a rebuilt offensive line. He also missed some throws he needed to make to keep drives going, especially in the third quarter, when the game turned.
J.J. Taylor was one of Arizona’s bright spots. He finished with 112 scrimmage yards on 22 touches, with 86 of those yards coming after halftime. Gary Brightwell, in his first extended action as a running back, gained 30 yards on nine carries. Neither he nor Taylor had huge holes through which to run. Converted safety Anthony Mariscal made a cameo in the first half, catching one pass for 3 yards.
Wideouts Shawn Poindexter and Tony Ellison combined for eight catches, 113 yards and a touchdown. The receivers collectively drew three pass-interference penalties, netting 45 yards and three first downs. Shun Brown, last year’s leading receiver, wasn’t very involved (one catch, 11 yards). Neither were the tight ends, who had no receptions. Bryce Wolma couldn’t come down with a 50-50 ball in the first quarter. Stanley Berryhill III recorded his first career catch, good for 19 yards.
All things considered, this group performed admirably. Missing left tackle Layth Friekh (NCAA ruling) and center Nathan Eldridge (injury), Arizona had only one lineman (Cody Creason) with any Division I starting experience. The line couldn’t get a consistent push in the run game, resulting in a 3.7-yard average per carry. The group allowed only one sack, however, and it was on a play where Tate held the ball because he couldn’t find anyone open.
The plus is courtesy of linebackers Colin Schooler, Tony Fields II and Anthony Pandy, who combined for 28 tackles, including Arizona’s only two stops for losses. Pandy’s lone tackle in limited duty was a TFL. The rest of the defensive front did not make much of an impact. DE Justin Belknap led the way with four tackles. DT Dereck Boles had three. “Stud” Kylan Wilborn had one. DT PJ Johnson had none. Simply put, the Wildcats need more production from this group.
Free safety Isaiah Hayes ended up with a career-high 13 tackles – not necessarily a good sign for the defense. CB Tim Hough, starting in place of the apparently injured Jace Whittaker, had six tackles and one pass breakup in his UA debut. CB Lorenzo Burns had three pass breakups and probably should have turned at least one into an interception. Safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles got beaten by tight end Matt Bushman for the first of BYU’s three touchdowns in the third quarter.
New placekicker Lucas Havrisik made 1 of 2 field-goal attempts; his first, from 43 yards, was blocked. Four of his five kickoffs went for touchbacks; the one that didn’t hooked out of bounds. New punter Dylan Klumph averaged 45.6 yards, but his longest kick, a 53-yarder, bounded in to the end zone. Klumph pinned returner Michael Shelton near the sideline in the third quarter, but the coverage unit couldn’t keep him corralled; Shelton’s 37-yard return set up BYU for a 36-yard TD drive.
More than 50,000 fans showed up expecting Arizona, a double-digit favorite, to beat BYU; Kevin Sumlin and his staff couldn’t deliver them a victory. Even after a full allotment of spring and training-camp practices, it’s clear that Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone have yet to figure out how to maximize Tate’s talent. Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates’ group was expected to take a step forward this season; in Week 1, the unit took a step back, failing repeatedly to get stops in the second half.
