Tech fall: Arizona slips to 3-2 with home loss to Red Raiders; road test at BYU next

Arizona coach Brent Brennan knows his team faces an even tougher challenge against undefeated BYU after Saturday’s loss to Texas Tech. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

TUCSON – Just when it appeared Arizona was ready to live up to preseason expectations after they upset top-10 ranked Utah on the road, the Wildcats wasted a strong defensive effort and lost at home to Texas Tech.

The Wildcats dominated in almost every area against the Red Raiders, except the one that counts most – the score.

Arizona beat Tech handily in time of possession, total yards and first downs. However, the Wildcats were unable to finish off drives, settling instead for five Tyler Loop field goals in a 28-22 loss at Arizona Stadium. The offensive woes wasted a solid Wildcats defensive performance against a good Red Raiders offense that came in averaging 41.6 points a game.

And the road ahead doesn’t get easier. Now 3-2 overall with a 1-1 conference record, the Wildcats face arguably their toughest test so far this season when they travel back to the Beehive State to face undefeated BYU, ranked 14th in the latest Associated Press college football poll.

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“I think our defense has actually been playing a lot of good football,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan. “They played great in the NAU game, they played last weekend (against Utah), they played great tonight.”

Arizona held Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton without a touchdown pass or run for the first time this season. Morton threw for 214 yards, completing 17 of 29 passes without an interception. By comparison, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita completed 28 of 49 for 301 yards. He didn’t throw a scoring pass and was intercepted twice.

The 28 points the Wildcats yielded was the second-fewest Tech has scored in a game this season. Their only loss came at Washington State, 37-16.

Brennan’s defense forced two second-half fumbles, but the offense could not convert with a touchdown either time.

“We need to score touchdowns in the red zone and not field goals in those situations,” Brennan said. “I thought our defense really responded (by) forcing some turnovers.”

Meanwhile, Fifita continues to struggle. After throwing for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a redshirt freshman last season, Fifita already has been intercepted six times this season against just seven touchdown passes. He has thrown at least one pick in every game.

“I think I’m just trying to do too much at times, trying to force things when I don’t need to,” Fifita said. “I take full responsibility, I just got to make better decisions, and it’s my job to get this offense going.”

Fifita, well aware of his offense’s struggles, says he’s grateful that Arizona’s defense is keeping the team in games.

“We got so much confidence in our defense, they’re the sole reason we were in the game in the first place,” Fifita said.

The defense did allow senior Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks to pile up 128 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. However, Brooks is one of the most talented running backs in the nation and has yet to be held under 100 rushing yards in a single game this season.

Defensive back Dalton Johnson led the Wildcats with eight total tackles and forced one of two Brooks fumbles in the second half that kept Arizona’s hopes alive.

“It (forcing turnovers) creates that spark, (which) was an emphasis from coach B this week,” Johnson said. “We were trying to hunt the ball, get takeaways.”

The second forced fumble on Brooks was caused by freshman defensive back Owen Goss.

Both gave Arizona possession in Texas Tech territory, but the Wildcats were unable to put the ball into the end zone either time.

Loop converted on five of his six field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder that cut the lead down to one score in the final minute.

“I’m grateful that Tyler Loop is on our team and he definitely kept us alive tonight and gave us a chance to stay within striking distance and eventually take the lead,” Brennan said. “He’s an awesome player.”

Loop was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the performance. Arizona has now won Big 12 Player of the Week honors in three categories this season. Tetairoa McMillan won offensive honors after his historic season-opening receiving performance against New Mexico and Tacario Davis won Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the upset of Utah.

Arizona’s upset in Utah came with an asterisk: Utes quarterback Cameron Rising was injured and true freshman Isaac Wilson got the start.

Now facing a healthy, nationally ranked team, the Wildcats face a difficult test.

“It’s an away game, it’s going to be a hostile environment,” Johnson said of the game against the Cougars. “We just got to have each other’s back – go to work, clean up details, and just have fun.

“It’s a game, at the end of the day.”