The Kalani Sitake era is off to a flying start.
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He threw for 31 yards and ran for 5 on the final drive that got the Cougars into field goal range, and the coaching staff was wise enough to save its last timeout – needed when BYU committed a false start with eight seconds left.
“We were calm the whole time”, Hill said of the final drive. “We knew we had a great opportunity”. Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez joined Hemmila’s family with athletic director Greg Byrne and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik for a pre-game ceremony that include a highlight video.
Sitake was presented the game ball in the locker room, but he said it should have gone to the more than 30,000 BYU fans who took over University of Phoenix Stadium just two hours away from Arizona’s campus.
Yeah, there’s a new sheriff in town, one who hasn’t been afraid to express gratitude to his former employer and boss, Kyle Whittingham, and to call the rivalry what it is – the biggest game on independent BYU’s schedule.
The Cougars, 1-0, outgained Arizona 415-328 in total offense and BYU had the ball for more than 37 of the game’s 60 minutes.
“I’m looking forward to being able to play”, Wildcats receiver Trey Griffey said.
Wilson rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, and Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon passed for 212 yards and was intercepted twice.
BYU claimed a 9-0 first-half advantage after a 24-yard field goal by Rhett Almond and a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Brayden El-Bakri in the second quarter. “Ask the same question four times, you’re going to get the same I answer, I think”.
More than half of the third quarter went by without either team scoring before Arizona kicker Josh Pollack hit a 46-yard field goal. Arizona entered the season with plenty of questions and didn’t get many answers.
Arizona suffered a big blow in the second quarter when spur linebacker Tellas Jones went down with an injury and did not return. Dual-threat senior Taysom Hill was once considered a Heisman Trophy contender after combining for over 4,200 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2013.
“I was joking around afterward (Oldroyd’s kick) that there was so much conversation about my age and I’m 26, I told the team I’m too old for this, I’m stressed”, said Hill, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility after his injury last season.
The Cougars next face rival Utah Saturday at 5:30 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Arizona also will hold a pre-game ceremony before Saturday’s game and possibly another before its home opener against Grambling State on September 10.
