It’s been over a month since Arizona last lost a game, and that was in a heart-stopping triple overtime match. Had USC not horrifically botched a chip-shot field goal attempt, they would have clinched a win in regulation.
But the Wildcats were determined not to fall victim to a similar fate.
Tyler Loop’s 24-yard field goal as time expired secured the UA’s 34-31 victory at Colorado on Saturday afternoon. This marked the fourth consecutive win for the 23rd-ranked Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12), ensuring their first winning record in conference play since 2017 and their first winning conference road record since 2014.
Arizona orchestrated a near-perfect game-winning drive, covering 67 yards in 11 plays to consume the final 4:57 after Colorado (4-6, 1-6) missed a 44-yard field goal. The Wildcats relied on big runs by Jonah Coleman, who rushed for a career-high 179 yards on just 11 carries, and then managed the clock with safe runs and short passes.
The game-winning drive culminated in a 5-yard reception by Montana Lemonious-Craig, the former Colorado receiver who shone with a five-catch, 67-yard performance as a Wildcat. Following the crucial conversion, Noah Fifita took a couple of knees to set up the winning kick.
Fifita completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, with the second half seeing a significant improvement as he went 13 of 17 for 113 yards and a TD. Despite this, it was his most incomplete performance of his career after going 8 of 18 in the first half.
The Wildcats’ two touchdown catches were made by Tetairoa McMillan, who had nine catches for 107 yards, and Jacob Cowing. Meanwhile, DJ Williams had his first career two-TD game and ran for 33 yards on nine carries.
Arizona dominated Colorado with 421 total yards to the Buffaloes’ 352, including a 234-102 advantage in the second half. The UA also sacked Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders three times, though he still threw for 265 yards and two TDs and had several key scrambles, including a 16-yard TD run for Colorado’s first score.
Despite being at a significant disadvantage in the field position game, with drives starting at their own 2 (twice), 8, and 13, the Wildcats managed to secure a win. The Buffaloes started four possessions in UA territory, scoring touchdowns on the first three.
Down 24-17 at halftime, Arizona needed just six plays to level the scores, with a crucial 54-yard run by Coleman and a 2-yard one-handed TD catch by Montana Lemonious-Craig leading to the tying score.
Following a series of back-and-forth plays, Arizona emerged victorious with a walkoff win after a thrilling game that saw numerous twists and turns.
Looking ahead, Arizona is set to host No. 13 Utah in its final home game next weekend in Tucson.
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