Arizona Wins a Wild One Against Washington 27-26

By Francisco Romero. – As time expired, Arizona’s kicker Casey Skowron kicked a 47-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 27-26

Picture Courtesy of Arizona Athletics

win over Washington.

With 1:23 to go and a 24-26 lead, the Huskies had possession of the ball, but instead of kneeling to let time expire they decided to run the ball.  Tra’Mayne Bondurant knocked the ball out of running back Deontae Cooper and Derrik Turituri recovered the fumble for Arizona.

Six plays later Skowron kicked the game-winning field goal; he also ran a fake field goal for a touchdown.

” I am just proud of our guys for playing 60 minutes. We talk a lot about not being average because we want our guys to feel special and elite. As a football player or football program, your status is based on wins. No matter how you win, you’re considered better than average when you do. I’m proud of our guys and this team. Coming out of high school, they may not have been the special recruits, but I think they’re pretty special,” said Rich Rodriguez during a postgame press conference.

Earlier in the season Skowron had missed a 36-yard field goal that would have given Arizona the win against USC.  

“It felt fantastic. Any time we get a chance to hit a field goal and we make it is a great win. Anytime we win a game, I’m happy whether it’s off of a field goal, whether it’s a blowout or whether it’s off of a last‐minute touchdown. It doesn’t matter how we get the win as long as we get it,” said Skowron after the game.

Arizona’s quarterback Anu Solomon finished the game with 242 passing yards, completing 17 of 39 passes.

Nick Wilson ran for 104 yards on 30 carries for the Wildcats.

Washington had 504 total yards on offense; Arizona finished the game with 375 total yards.

“We played how the game is supposed to be played. You go out there and play hard. You play every snap and that’s what they did. When you do that and give yourself the chance to win that doesn’t mean you’re always going to win, but you give yourself the chance; they did all of that. If you make too many errors, too many penalties, and too many fumbles that will catch up with you. Eventually, it will slip away. But I am proud of how hard they fought,” said Washington’s head coach Chris Peterson after the game.

Washington’s quarterback Cyler Miles finished with 223 passing yards, completing 20 of 29 passes.

Dwayne Washington was the Huskies’ leading rusher with 148 yards on 19 carries.

The win gives the wildcat a record of 8-2, 5-2 in Pac 12, while the Huskies stand now at 6-5, 2-5 in Pac 12.

Arizona is still in the hunt for the Pac 12 Title.

Arizona will face Utah on Saturday, November 22 in Salt Lake.