Arizona takes down Washington State: Wildcats get best of old Pac-12 foe for nonconference win

FINAL: Arizona 34, Washington State 24

The Cougars gave Arizona all they could handle on Saturday night in Pullman, but ultimately the Wildcats pulled out a 10-point win to improve to 3-1 on the season as they get set to shift their focus to the Big 12 conference slate. 

Washington State jumped on top 14-0 after a touchdown drive and a pick-six, but the offense stalled out in the second half and the Cougars watched as Arizona pulled ahead. Noah Fifita threw four touchdowns in the come from behind effort, with two of those going to star receiver Tre Spivey as the Wildcats offense took some time to get going but eventually rolled to a victory. 

Arizona avoided a trap game scenario in a tough environment and will head into Big 12 play brimming with confidence. Washington State, meanwhile, will feel better about its offense and quarterback Caden Pinnick after a solid showing against a quality opponent as it gets set for Pac-12 conference play. 

4Q: Arizona 34, Washington State 24

On a night where field goals have been hard to come by, Michael Salgado-Medina stepped up for the Wildcats and drilled a 51-yarder that may just put the game on ice in Pullman. Arizona now has a 10-point lead with under two minutes to play, and it'll take a miracle for the Cougars to pull off the upset. 

4Q: Arizona 31, Washington State 24

There's life yet in the Washington State Cougars after Caden Pinnick found Branden Ganashamoorthy over the top of the defense on fourth-and-10 to pull back within seven of Arizona with just over seven minutes to play. 

Now the Cougars need to get a stop, which has been hard to come by recently against Noah Fifita and the Wildcats' offense, but if they can get off the field they can give Pinnick a chance for a game-tying (or go-ahead with a two-point conversion) score. 

4Q: Arizona 31, Washington State 17

The Wildcats have started to pull away from the Cougars in the fourth quarter. Noah Fifita found Isaiah Mizell for his fourth touchdown pass of the game to push Arizona to a 14-point lead with 9 minutes left to play. The Cougars now face an uphill battle to get back in this game, as they've had no answers on offense in the second half. 

4Q: Arizona 24, Washington State 17

The Wildcats marched into Wazzu territory once again but settled for a third field goal attempt of this half. The good news for Arizona is they finally got a kick through the uprights, extending their lead to seven as they will ask the question of the Cougars' offense to produce their first real drive of the second half to tie things up. 

4Q: Arizona 21, Washington State 17

After trailing for the first 40 minutes of the game, the Wildcats grabbed their first lead late in the third quarter with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Noah Fifita to Caleb Smith. 

The Wildcats would get a stop on the ensuing Cougars drive and will begin the fourth quarter with the ball just across midfield at the Washington State 48. The Cougars' offense stalled out in the third quarter with just 39 total yards in four drives, ending in three punts and a fumble. If Washington State is going to pull off the upset, they'll have to find their footing again, while the Wildcats try to keep the positive momentum on their side to get some cushion for the first time all night. 

3Q: Washington State 17, Arizona 14

A wild game continues with the second blocked kick of the night, this time it's Washington State getting a paw up and blocking a game-tying attempt by Arizona. It's the second consecutive stand by the Cougars defense after Arizona took over in field goal range, as they forced a missed field goal the drive before in a similar situation. At some point in the second half the Cougars are going to need to get something going offensively to alleviate the pressure on the defense, but that's two consecutive incredible stands to preserve the lead for Wazzu. 

3Q: Washington State 17, Arizona 14

The Wildcats are back in business again in Cougars territory after a strip-sack on Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick. Arizona recovered the fumble on the Wazzu 32, and the Cougars defense will need another stand with their backs against the wall after a hold in a similar position last drive. 

3Q: Washington State 17, Arizona 14

The Wildcats were set up with great field position after a terrific punt return, but couldn't do much with it, failing to pick up a first down. Arizona trotted out the field goal unit to try and tie the game but saw a 42-yard attempt get pushed wide right to preserve the Cougars' three-point advantage. 

HT: Washington State 17, Arizona 14

The Cougars have looked much improved on both sides of the ball through the first 30 minutes of action and after coming into the game as double-digit home underdogs, hold a three-point lead on the Wildcats. 

The Washington State offense has moved the ball much better than they did against either Washington or Kansas State in their first two games of the season, and Caden Pinnick looks to be in a much better rhythm throwing the ball. On the other side, the Cougars stymied Noah Fifita and the Arizona offense for the first three drives of the game, but Fifita has woken up and found his favorite target Tre Spivey for a pair of touchdowns that suggest the Wildcats might've found something in the passing game. 

The second half figures to be an exciting one, as Arizona has its hands full with a very game Washington State squad, but Fifita and the offense have woken from their early slumber and seem ready to trade scores. 

2Q: Washington State 17, Arizona 14

That's not usually exciting news, but given the Cougars were 1-of-6 on field goals attempts this season before that kick (including having one blocked earlier tonight), it's a pretty big deal in Pullman. The 33-yarder squeezed inside the right upright to give Washington State the lead just before halftime as they are giving Arizona all they can handle in the first 30 minutes of play. 

2Q: Arizona 14, Washington State 14

The Washington State field goal unit leaves something to be desired as Arizona was able to run a defender straight through the middle of the formation to block a 39-yard field goal attempt by the Cougars to keep the game tied at 14-14. It's not the first issue Wazzu has had on field goal attempts this season, and it appears they were not able to clean up their process ahead of this week. 

2Q: Arizona 14, Washington State 14

It's all tied up in Pullman after a second Fifita to Spivey connection in the end zone, and the Wildcats are right back into a tie game with the Cougars. Arizona took some time to get its footing offensively and watched as Wazzu jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Fifita and the Wildcats offense remained calm and have figured things out in the second quarter to steady the ship and get back into the game. 

2Q: Washington State 14, Arizona 7

After a slow start the Wildcats finally got on the board as Noah Fifita found his favorite target Tre Spivey for a 28-yard touchdown to pull back within seven of the Cougars. Fifita was shaky on the first few Arizona drives, but finally established a rhythm on their fourth drive, connecting for two big pass plays to Spivey, including the touchdown that gets Arizona right back into the game. 

1Q: Washington State 14, Arizona 0

We've got a stunner on our hands in Pullman, as the Arizona offense can't get anything going after coming in as one of the most efficient passing attacks in the country. After getting a gift from Wazzu QB Caden Pinnick, Noah Fifita returned the favor with a pick-six to Jackquintin Bal, who jumped a route on third down and took it to the house to double Washington State's first quarter lead. 

1Q: Washington State 7, Arizona 0

Washington State was able to get another stop against the Arizona offense and the Cougars were thinking they might be able to go up two scores on the Wildcats. That was until Caden Pinnick tried to do far too much on a broken play and fired a ball downfield to no one in particular, with Arizona defensive back Cam Chapa waiting to pick it off at the 8 yard line to give Noah Fifita the ball back down just 7-0. 

1Q: Washington State 7, Arizona 0

After forcing a three-and-out on Arizona's opening drive, the Cougars put together an impressive march down the field on their first offensive series, finishing it off with a rushing touchdown by quarterback Caden Pinnick. 

Wazzu came into the game as 10.5-point underdogs at home, but looked awfully spry on their first series to let the Wildcats know they're going to be in for a fight tonight in Pullman. Pinnick, who hasn't had the best start to the season as a passer, was 3-for-4 for 51 yards through the air and capped off the drive with an 11-yard scamper to the end zone. 

There's not been a more accurate quarterback in college football than Arizona's Noah Fifita through three games, as he's completing an incredible 81.1% of his passes while throwing for 834 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception through the first three games. The fifth-year senior will be up against a Wazzu defense that's been much worse against the run than the pass this season -- although some of that is due to the opponents they've faced. Washington and Kansas State's offense didn't pose as much of an aerial attack, and tonight the Cougars will have their hands full trying to slow down Fifita and the Wildcats.