Pregame notes - If you haven't already checked out the podcast for the game against Houston, it's on the front page, give it a listen and give us some feedback. We'd love to hear it and make adjustments as we go to improve GOAZCATS coverage in anyway we can.
-I know the game hasn't started but Ed Oliver is THAT guy and knows it. The loosest player on the field by far, dancing and embracing the atmosphere.. there looks to be no jitters as Houston hasn't yet played a game in the 2017-2018 season but that can easily change when the ball is kicked off.
-Arizona has won the toss and elected to defer, Houston will start their season on offense.
FIRST QUARTER:
-Surprise, Surprise, another kick off another touchback... Lucas Havrisik puts another one in the endzone. He's starting the season hot off the T.
-Freshman Kylan Wilborn with a tackle in the backfield for a loss of 3. Houston starts the game 3 and out. Here's our first look at the Arizona offense against FBS competition.
-A quick 3 and out by Arizona and a shanked punt gives Houston the ball at their own 37 yard line. 23-yard punt on the play.
-Carrington Vaughn (title holder of first sack of last season / new scholarship player) injured on the punt coverage.
-33-yard run by Houston running back Dillon Birden into the Wildcats ten yard line sets up what can be the first points of the game.
-#9 Dane Cruikshank down on the play, seems to have gotten sick on the field thumbs up if you can see what he ate. Ball on the Arizona 1-yard line.
-BIG play for the Wildcats as Cruikshank bounces back from the sickness and forces a fumble for a 7-yard loss on the Arizona 1-yard line. Cougars recover. Houston settles for a field goal. SCORE UPDATE: 3-0 Houston 9:33 left in the first quarter.
-Three offensive series thus far for the Wildcats, three 3 & outs. Wildcats seem to be straying away from the run game which brought them success against NAU, and has been a hot topic in our conversation heading into the week.
-Both offenses struggling at this point, FR LB Nate Schooler with the stop on third-down, Houston to punt. Good sign for the Wildcats, the inexperience on defense looks good so far.
-Big hit delivered by #23 Terell Williams on Wildcat Tony Ellison, no worries... Wildcats bounce back with a first down and a nice carry by #21 J.J. Taylor, Taylor is running hard and single handedly gets Arizona a first down.
-On fourth down and 4 at the Houston 29 the Wildcats settle for a 45-yard field goal and tie the game at 3 a piece. SCORE UPDATE: 3-3. 1:08 left in the first quarter.
-First quarter ends with Houston at the Arizona 45-yard line on 2nd and 3. Score 3-3.
SECOND QUARTER:
-Houston WR #88 Steven Dunbar trucks two Arizona defenders on a vital third down right outside the Wildcat red-zone. Followed up by an offensive pass interference it's Houston 1st and 25 at the Cougar 38 yard line. Let's see if Arizona can hold.
-Houston WR #21 Ellis Jefferson down on the sideline, needs medical attention and is walked off the field by Cougar trainers.
-Gain of 19 on 3rd and 25 for Houston, Cougars will settle for a 38-yard field goal. It's NO GOOD. Score remains 3-3, big stop for the Cats.
-Wildcats bailed out by #23 Terrell Williams on a third and ten, Wildcats offense not looking great. Dawkins struggling at this point. He's 5 of 10 for 47 yards, just at I typed that #6 Shun Brown catches a nice ball from Dawkins for a gain of 35 yards. First and 10 for the Wildcats inside Houston territory.
-Josh Pollack a victim of a bad snap and Arizona misses out on a layup for three points. Shanked kick, no block credited but either way that mishap originated on the snap. Tie game at 3 a side with 8:26 left in the second quarter, Houston ball on their own 20.
-Wildcat CB #2 Lorenzo Burns burned for a gain of 49-yards. You can tack on another 15-yards for defensive pass interference on Burns, Cougars on the Wildcat 12-yard line, first & ten.
-Houston Touchdown, QB Kyle Allen connects on a bubble screen that stumbles into the end zone by #15 Linell Bonner, 5-yard touchdown from the Cougars. Score Update: 10-3 Houston Cougars.
-Houston lining up phenom Ed Oliver on the outside, shifting him all around the d-line trying to create opportunities to make a play. Wildcat o-line has consistently double teamed him and have done a great job containing him thus far.
-Arizona RB #21 J.J. Taylor continuing to perform under the lights, he takes a broken play and switches back across the field for a 27-yard gain, follows that up with a 17-yard gain. 1st & 10 Cats on the Houston 22 yard line.
-1-yard rush for a touchdown by Wildcat RB #34 Zach Green, after a defensive pass interference on Houston makes it a tie game at 10 a piece. SCORE UPDATE: 10-10.
-Touchdown saving tackle by DB #15 Kwesi Mashack on an 81-yard kick return by Cougar #85 John Leday. Huge play by Mashack, we'll see if it pays off for the cats.
-Three yard touchdown rush by #25 Dillon Birden, he's averaging 7.3 yards a carry in the first half. SCORE UPDATE: 17-10 Houston, 45 seconds left in the first half.
-Rich Rod elects to run the ball going into halftime, Houston up 17-10. Stat updates will be up momentarily.
HALFTIME:
Arizona:
Brandon Dawkins: 8-14 93 yards, 0 TD's. 6 carries for 9 yards.
J.J. Taylor 10 rushes, 67 yards.
Zach Green 4 rushes, 14 yards. 1 TD.
Shawn Poindexter 2 catches 23 yards.
Shun Brown 1 catch 35 yards.
Scottie Young Jr. 5 tackles, 1 TFL.
Dane Cruikshank 4 tackles, 1 TFL.
Houston:
Kyle Allen 15-20, 185 yards. 1 TD. 3 carries for -3 yards.
Dillon Birden 8 carries, 58 yards. 1 TD.
Duke Catalon 8 carries, 14 yards.
Steven Dunbar 4 catches, 60 yards.
Linell Bonner 6 catches, 37 yards. 1 TD.
Keith Corbin 1 catch, 49 yards.
Ed Oliver 6 tackles, 1 TFL.
D'Juan Hines 5 tackles.
THIRD QUARTER:
-Arizona opens the half on their own 40, helped by a face mask on the return the Wildcats start the half in good field position.
-Ed Oliver sighting, although he led Houston with a quiet team leading 6 tackles in the first half. Oliver chases Dawkins down and forces a fumble, not the way the Wildcats wanted to start the second half. Houston ball at their own 29-yard line.
-Tonight's attendance announced at 43,334, a minor decrease in attendance compared to the NAU game last week which featured 43,620 Wildcat fans.
-12:22 left in the third quarter and DL Dereck Boles looks to be shaken up on the play, walks off under his own power but that's not good for a driving Houston offense. A score on this drive could really suck the wind out of the Wildcat sails.
-Arizona holds on third down with a tackle by Jace Whittaker, Houston elects to go for it on 4th and 5. Big mistake. Another interception by guess who? Demetrius Flanigan-Fowles. HUGE stop for Arizona.
-Bobbled snap by Dawkins inside their own 5 yard line, Houston recovers. 2 points for the Cougars, ball recovered by RT Gerhard de Beer for a safety. Arizona on to punt. SCORE UPDATE: 19-10 Houston, 10:46 remaining in the third quarter.
-Houston staff doing their best in keeping Arizona in this game, calling plays to the flats and check downs when a clear strength has been drawing Arizona DB's into defensive PI's on balls downfield. Arizona doing a nice job of setting the edge on option runs to the outside and quick hitters to the flats. This game will continue to be close if Houston doesn't play to their strengths and take shots at the vulnerable Arizona db's. Make no mistake, Flannigan-Fowles continues to be a bright spot within the Wilcat defensive back core.
-Wildcat WR #6 Shun Brown is on to something, 4 catches for 79 yards averaging 19.8 yards a catch. Dawkins takes a nice shot downfield to Poindexter on a 30-yard toss, caught by Poindexter in the end zone. Play is under review.
-What looked like a nice catch for six was ruled incomplete on the play. Note: the call on the field was no catch before the review.
-LT Layth Freikh with a boss like pancake, while Dawkins connects again with Poindexter for a ten yard gain. Arizona with a chance inside the Houston red zone.
-Dawkins with a prime chance on 3rd and 4 on Houston's 4 yard line on a pick play. Ellison wide open in the end zone, ball overthrown. 4th & 4 at the Houston 4 yard line.
-Arizona settles for 3, 16 play drive for 82 yards and a field goal. Dawkins is going to want that throw to Ellison back. 21-yard field goal good for Josh Pollack. SCORE UPDATE: 19-13 Houston leads with 1:48 left in the third quarter.
-The third quarter ends with a 19-13 Houston lead, game still close but can't help but wonder what it would look like if Houston's play callers would get more aggressive. It seems they are content with a slight lead. Arizona needs a stop and a little momentum and it's anyones game.
FOURTH QUARTER:
-Houston starts at their own 42 yard line, TFL by freshman DT Kurtis Brown to set up 3rd and 9, nice read by the true freshman. Wildcats hold to force a 4th and 2. Houston special teams on to punt. Wildcats have a chance to take the lead or at least put a dent in the Houston 6-point lead.
-A couple misfires by QB Brandon Dawkins and the Wildcats are forced to punt with 12:45 left in the fourth quarter. Houston ball on their own 44 yard line, not a bad place to start a drive if your a Cougar fan with a six point lead. I expect them to sit on it and keep the ball on the ground judging by the playcalling thus far. We'll see. Arizona desperately needs momentum on the offensive side of the ball. Cat fans cross your fingers for a stop here, this could be the most important drive of the game with quite some time on the board.
-I know the game hasn't started but Ed Oliver is THAT guy and knows it. The loosest player on the field by far, dancing and embracing the atmosphere.. there looks to be no jitters as Houston hasn't yet played a game in the 2017-2018 season but that can easily change when the ball is kicked off.
-Arizona has won the toss and elected to defer, Houston will start their season on offense.
FIRST QUARTER:
-Surprise, Surprise, another kick off another touchback... Lucas Havrisik puts another one in the endzone. He's starting the season hot off the T.
-Freshman Kylan Wilborn with a tackle in the backfield for a loss of 3. Houston starts the game 3 and out. Here's our first look at the Arizona offense against FBS competition.
-A quick 3 and out by Arizona and a shanked punt gives Houston the ball at their own 37 yard line. 23-yard punt on the play.
-Carrington Vaughn (title holder of first sack of last season / new scholarship player) injured on the punt coverage.
-33-yard run by Houston running back Dillon Birden into the Wildcats ten yard line sets up what can be the first points of the game.
-#9 Dane Cruikshank down on the play, seems to have gotten sick on the field thumbs up if you can see what he ate. Ball on the Arizona 1-yard line.
-BIG play for the Wildcats as Cruikshank bounces back from the sickness and forces a fumble for a 7-yard loss on the Arizona 1-yard line. Cougars recover. Houston settles for a field goal. SCORE UPDATE: 3-0 Houston 9:33 left in the first quarter.
-Three offensive series thus far for the Wildcats, three 3 & outs. Wildcats seem to be straying away from the run game which brought them success against NAU, and has been a hot topic in our conversation heading into the week.
-Both offenses struggling at this point, FR LB Nate Schooler with the stop on third-down, Houston to punt. Good sign for the Wildcats, the inexperience on defense looks good so far.
-Big hit delivered by #23 Terell Williams on Wildcat Tony Ellison, no worries... Wildcats bounce back with a first down and a nice carry by #21 J.J. Taylor, Taylor is running hard and single handedly gets Arizona a first down.
-On fourth down and 4 at the Houston 29 the Wildcats settle for a 45-yard field goal and tie the game at 3 a piece. SCORE UPDATE: 3-3. 1:08 left in the first quarter.
-First quarter ends with Houston at the Arizona 45-yard line on 2nd and 3. Score 3-3.
SECOND QUARTER:
-Houston WR #88 Steven Dunbar trucks two Arizona defenders on a vital third down right outside the Wildcat red-zone. Followed up by an offensive pass interference it's Houston 1st and 25 at the Cougar 38 yard line. Let's see if Arizona can hold.
-Houston WR #21 Ellis Jefferson down on the sideline, needs medical attention and is walked off the field by Cougar trainers.
-Gain of 19 on 3rd and 25 for Houston, Cougars will settle for a 38-yard field goal. It's NO GOOD. Score remains 3-3, big stop for the Cats.
-Wildcats bailed out by #23 Terrell Williams on a third and ten, Wildcats offense not looking great. Dawkins struggling at this point. He's 5 of 10 for 47 yards, just at I typed that #6 Shun Brown catches a nice ball from Dawkins for a gain of 35 yards. First and 10 for the Wildcats inside Houston territory.
-Josh Pollack a victim of a bad snap and Arizona misses out on a layup for three points. Shanked kick, no block credited but either way that mishap originated on the snap. Tie game at 3 a side with 8:26 left in the second quarter, Houston ball on their own 20.
-Wildcat CB #2 Lorenzo Burns burned for a gain of 49-yards. You can tack on another 15-yards for defensive pass interference on Burns, Cougars on the Wildcat 12-yard line, first & ten.
-Houston Touchdown, QB Kyle Allen connects on a bubble screen that stumbles into the end zone by #15 Linell Bonner, 5-yard touchdown from the Cougars. Score Update: 10-3 Houston Cougars.
-Houston lining up phenom Ed Oliver on the outside, shifting him all around the d-line trying to create opportunities to make a play. Wildcat o-line has consistently double teamed him and have done a great job containing him thus far.
-Arizona RB #21 J.J. Taylor continuing to perform under the lights, he takes a broken play and switches back across the field for a 27-yard gain, follows that up with a 17-yard gain. 1st & 10 Cats on the Houston 22 yard line.
-1-yard rush for a touchdown by Wildcat RB #34 Zach Green, after a defensive pass interference on Houston makes it a tie game at 10 a piece. SCORE UPDATE: 10-10.
-Touchdown saving tackle by DB #15 Kwesi Mashack on an 81-yard kick return by Cougar #85 John Leday. Huge play by Mashack, we'll see if it pays off for the cats.
-Three yard touchdown rush by #25 Dillon Birden, he's averaging 7.3 yards a carry in the first half. SCORE UPDATE: 17-10 Houston, 45 seconds left in the first half.
-Rich Rod elects to run the ball going into halftime, Houston up 17-10. Stat updates will be up momentarily.
HALFTIME:
Arizona:
Brandon Dawkins: 8-14 93 yards, 0 TD's. 6 carries for 9 yards.
J.J. Taylor 10 rushes, 67 yards.
Zach Green 4 rushes, 14 yards. 1 TD.
Shawn Poindexter 2 catches 23 yards.
Shun Brown 1 catch 35 yards.
Scottie Young Jr. 5 tackles, 1 TFL.
Dane Cruikshank 4 tackles, 1 TFL.
Houston:
Kyle Allen 15-20, 185 yards. 1 TD. 3 carries for -3 yards.
Dillon Birden 8 carries, 58 yards. 1 TD.
Duke Catalon 8 carries, 14 yards.
Steven Dunbar 4 catches, 60 yards.
Linell Bonner 6 catches, 37 yards. 1 TD.
Keith Corbin 1 catch, 49 yards.
Ed Oliver 6 tackles, 1 TFL.
D'Juan Hines 5 tackles.
THIRD QUARTER:
-Arizona opens the half on their own 40, helped by a face mask on the return the Wildcats start the half in good field position.
-Ed Oliver sighting, although he led Houston with a quiet team leading 6 tackles in the first half. Oliver chases Dawkins down and forces a fumble, not the way the Wildcats wanted to start the second half. Houston ball at their own 29-yard line.
-Tonight's attendance announced at 43,334, a minor decrease in attendance compared to the NAU game last week which featured 43,620 Wildcat fans.
-12:22 left in the third quarter and DL Dereck Boles looks to be shaken up on the play, walks off under his own power but that's not good for a driving Houston offense. A score on this drive could really suck the wind out of the Wildcat sails.
-Arizona holds on third down with a tackle by Jace Whittaker, Houston elects to go for it on 4th and 5. Big mistake. Another interception by guess who? Demetrius Flanigan-Fowles. HUGE stop for Arizona.
-Bobbled snap by Dawkins inside their own 5 yard line, Houston recovers. 2 points for the Cougars, ball recovered by RT Gerhard de Beer for a safety. Arizona on to punt. SCORE UPDATE: 19-10 Houston, 10:46 remaining in the third quarter.
-Houston staff doing their best in keeping Arizona in this game, calling plays to the flats and check downs when a clear strength has been drawing Arizona DB's into defensive PI's on balls downfield. Arizona doing a nice job of setting the edge on option runs to the outside and quick hitters to the flats. This game will continue to be close if Houston doesn't play to their strengths and take shots at the vulnerable Arizona db's. Make no mistake, Flannigan-Fowles continues to be a bright spot within the Wilcat defensive back core.
-Wildcat WR #6 Shun Brown is on to something, 4 catches for 79 yards averaging 19.8 yards a catch. Dawkins takes a nice shot downfield to Poindexter on a 30-yard toss, caught by Poindexter in the end zone. Play is under review.
-What looked like a nice catch for six was ruled incomplete on the play. Note: the call on the field was no catch before the review.
-LT Layth Freikh with a boss like pancake, while Dawkins connects again with Poindexter for a ten yard gain. Arizona with a chance inside the Houston red zone.
-Dawkins with a prime chance on 3rd and 4 on Houston's 4 yard line on a pick play. Ellison wide open in the end zone, ball overthrown. 4th & 4 at the Houston 4 yard line.
-Arizona settles for 3, 16 play drive for 82 yards and a field goal. Dawkins is going to want that throw to Ellison back. 21-yard field goal good for Josh Pollack. SCORE UPDATE: 19-13 Houston leads with 1:48 left in the third quarter.
-The third quarter ends with a 19-13 Houston lead, game still close but can't help but wonder what it would look like if Houston's play callers would get more aggressive. It seems they are content with a slight lead. Arizona needs a stop and a little momentum and it's anyones game.
FOURTH QUARTER:
-Houston starts at their own 42 yard line, TFL by freshman DT Kurtis Brown to set up 3rd and 9, nice read by the true freshman. Wildcats hold to force a 4th and 2. Houston special teams on to punt. Wildcats have a chance to take the lead or at least put a dent in the Houston 6-point lead.
-A couple misfires by QB Brandon Dawkins and the Wildcats are forced to punt with 12:45 left in the fourth quarter. Houston ball on their own 44 yard line, not a bad place to start a drive if your a Cougar fan with a six point lead. I expect them to sit on it and keep the ball on the ground judging by the playcalling thus far. We'll see. Arizona desperately needs momentum on the offensive side of the ball. Cat fans cross your fingers for a stop here, this could be the most important drive of the game with quite some time on the board.
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