Arizona QB Noah Fifita takes blame for turnovers after loss to BYU: ‘I gotta fix a lot of things’

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita held himself accountable after the Wildcats’ 41-19 loss to BYU on Saturday. Fifita had four turnovers on the day and now has nine interceptions compared to eight touchdowns this season.

“I gotta fix a lot of things,” Fifita told reporters after Saturday’s loss. “I gotta get better individually. Just not even close to where I want to be individually, not close to where we need to be offensively and it’s because of me.”

Fifita’s first interception on Saturday came in the second quarter with the score knotted at 7. The sophomore quarterback was looking to connect with receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig in the end zone but was hit on the throw and BYU’s Tanner Wall leaped to make the interception.

INTERCEPTED AT THE GOAL LINE

What a play by the @BYUfootball defense 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZzSTen9MnM

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024

The Cougars made the Wildcats pay and scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

After Arizona trailed 14-7 at the half, two of Fifita’s four turnovers came in the opening minute of the second half which helped BYU quickly build a 24-7 lead.

On the opening play from scrimmage in the second half, Fifita looked to tight end Sam Olson but saw his pass tipped and then corralled by BYU’s Jakob Robinson for the pick.

OH MY WHAT AN INTERCEPTION 😱@BYUfootball with another big-time play on defense 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GlmMI7F1Zi

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024

After BYU’s Jake Retzlaff found Chase Roberts for a touchdown on the next play, Fifita was later sacked and lost the football for his third turnover of the game.

FUMBLE AND BYU HAS IT 🔒@BYUfootball‘s defense has been unreal today 💪 pic.twitter.com/EyalrfdmuS

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024

BYU’s Isaiah Glasker 21-yard pick-six with 1:02 remaining sealed the game and helped the Cougars to a 41-19 lead.

PICK SIX TO SEAL THE W @BYUfootball with the exclamation point to close this one out 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WX7ke5wfQN

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024

“Coming in here, we knew that the turnover thing was going to be the big deal,” Arizona head coach Brent Brennan told reporters after the loss. “And that was something that we didn’t handle great. … So, the turnover thing was a big deal. Especially coming out of halftime to go back-to-back possessions with turnovers.

“I think there were spurts where we played good football, but just not enough, and you’re not gonna come in here and beat a time like that when you don’t play clean and you don’t protect the football.”

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