Redshirt freshman Noah Fifita performed well in his first career start in place of the injured Jayden de Laura. Fifita completed a high percentage of his passes (27 of 39, 69.2%) and had a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio (3-1). What was lacking? Downfield accuracy and big plays. Fifita was 0 for 5 on passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield, per Pro Football Focus. And he averaged just 5.9 yards per attempt (as opposed to de Laura’s season mark of 8.6). Most of Fifita’s decision-making was sound. The interception is a play he’d undoubtedly like to have back. But factoring in his lack of experience, the quality of competition and the flow of the game – playing from behind almost all night – Fifita passed his first real test with room to spare.
Jonah Coleman and DJ Williams share most of the backfield work with Michael Wiley (ankle) out of the lineup. The two combined for 87 yards on 22 attempts. Coleman made an impact in the passing game, catching three passes for 51 yards, including a 33-yard gain on a sideline screen. Williams proved effective in short-yardage situations and accounted for five first downs. Rayshon Luke had just 4 yards on three carries, finding little if any room to run between the tackles. Arizona was unable to spring him on the perimeter.
Jacob Cowing and Tetairoa McMillan continued to dominate targets, accounting for more than half of Arizona’s total share (21 of 39). Both showed off their skill with nifty sideline catches for touchdowns. But both also averaged less than 10 yards per reception in an offense that, as mentioned, couldn’t get much going down the field. TE Tanner McLachlan (six catches, 51 yards) provided a critical outlet for Fifita and blamed himself for not breaking up the one pass that Washington intercepted. WR Montana Lemonious Craig (3-14) has yet to carve out a role beyond blocking.
The line performed adequately but below the standard it had set in the first four games. PFF charged UA offensive linemen with only seven QB pressures allowed. But five came against tackles Jordan Morgan and Jonah Savaiinaea, who’d been nearly flawless entering Saturday. The Huskies’ lone sack came against Morgan, and it was a big one, forcing the Wildcats into a punting situation near midfield early in the third quarter. Morgan was Arizona’s highest-graded run blocker, per PFF. Run blocking in general continues to be an area in need of improvement; UA running backs collectively averaged less than 4 yards per carry.
The front pressured Michael Penix Jr. eight times and sacked him twice. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but remember: Penix was the least-sacked quarterback in the nation entering Saturday. LB Jacob Manu had nine tackles, second most on the team, but didn’t make any of the impact plays we’re used to seeing. On one of the handful of snaps Manu missed, Washington victimized freshman Taye Brown for a 57-yard completion. Former Husky Daniel Heimuli had a team-best 1.5 TFLs. DE Taylor Upshaw had a sack, giving him a team-high 4.5 for the season, but also was flagged for a personal foul, the fifth accepted penalty against him in as many games. All four of Washington’s touchdowns came via running plays.
Penix passed for 363 yards – excellent for most but below his season average of 409 entering Saturday. He averaged 9.1 yards per pass attempt – well below his season mark of 11.9. And Penix didn’t throw a TD pass for the first time this season. Arizona did allow a high completion percentage (30 of 40, 75%), and Washington’s receivers did major damage after the catch (232 yards). Safety Dalton Johnson was Arizona’s most productive defensive player, tallying a team-high 10 tackles and forcing a pair of fumbles. Aside from the aforementioned 57-yard play vs. a linebacker, the Wildcats didn’t surrender a single pass play longer than 24 yards against the country’s most explosive offense.
The Wildcats came oh-so-close to recovering an onside kick that would have given them a chance to tie or win the game with a TD and 2-point conversion. Arizona executed it well, but Rome Odunze did a better job of covering up the ball. Tyler Loop notched a touchback on all three of his deep kickoffs, and he made his lone field goal attempt. Kyle Ostendorp had a season-long 69-yard punt but followed it up with a 33-yard shank. He finished with a 46.7-yard average with two of three punts dropped inside the 20-yard line.
Arizona played a more competitive game against Washington than any previous UW opponent but couldn’t quite seal the deal. The Wildcats again got off to sluggish start, trailing 14-0 at the end of the first quarter; that’s an area Jedd Fisch needs to address ASAP. Arizona had a relatively low-risk opportunity to steal a possession with a kickoff from the 50 in the second quarter but elected for a squib instead of an onside attempt. Fisch was aggressive on fourth down, and it paid off (three conversions in four attempts). Johnny Nansen’s defensive plan achieved its No. 1 objective of limiting big plays. Adjustments were needed, and made, after the Huskies dinked and dunked their way to a 21-10 halftime lead.
