A tale of two field goals: Arizona’s first loss By the Numbers
Oct 12, 2014, 1:24 AM | Updated: 8:08 pm
There are now only six undefeated college football teams in the country.
The Arizona Wildcats are not one of them.
The USC Trojans suffered a wild finish last week at the hands of the No. 10 Wildcats’ neighbor to the north, Arizona State. Saturday, they had a wild finish of their own, defeating Arizona 28-26 after a missed go-ahead field goal attempt with 12 seconds left in the game.
Two crucial kicks decided the Wildcats’ fate Saturday night: A field goal attempt by kicker Casey Skowron hooked wide left on the Wildcats’ opening drive. Three quarters later, at the peak of an Arizona comeback, the Wildcats’ perfect record fell as Skowron’s kick sailed to the right of the uprights during Arizona’s final drive.
Here’s a look behind the numbers of another crazy night in Tucson:
2
Arizona kicker Skowron missed two field goals to seal the Wildcats’ fate. The first came on the opening drive of the game and hooked left; the second on the Wildcats’ final drive and hooked wide right. Another kick of Skowron’s was blocked by USC as well.
3
Wildcats running back Jared Baker, a native of Los Angeles, scored three of Arizona’s touchdowns on the night. Two were rushing TDs (he had 12 carries for 43 yards), and one was a 41-yard reception from quarterback Anu Solomon.
1
Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler hadn’t thrown an interception on the season until Saturday, when he was picked off by corner Jonathan McKnight in the second quarter.
56,000+
The Wildcats sold out Arizona Stadium and hosted over 56,000 fans who had hoped to see their team remain undefeated on the season. It was the first sellout in two years.
56,000+ tears were also presumably shed after the final drive.
395
Despite the loss, freshman phenom quarterback Solomon continues to perform well, throwing for 395 yards and a touchdown against the Trojans.
0-3
The Wildcats now personify the phrase “pride cometh before a fall” as they have lost the very next game after beating a ranked opponent for three years in a row.
4
Completing drives was Arizona’s main problem tonight. They got withing USC’s 20-yard line four times in the first half, yet only converted those drives into six total points (both from field goals).
77-239
USC was able to hold Arizona to only 77 net rushing yards, while putting up 239 rushing yards of their own.
5-1, 2-1
Arizona’s record stands as such, and evens things out for other Pac-12 South teams.
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