GAME THREAD: Arizona vs BYU (Vegas Kickoff Classic)

Matt Moreno · Sep 4, 2021

It's finally arrived! Arizona's season opener is here and that means the debut for head coach Jedd Fisch. Today's matchup against BYU will take place at Allegiant Stadium. As always I will be bringing you updates throughout the game and giving my input on how things are going. Feel free to jump in on the game thread and give your opinions as well.

I also be posting any updates once the team begins to warm up.

PREGAME

• As expected, starting left tackle Jordan Morgan is not suited up and won't play today for the Wildcats. He has not practiced lately as he deals with an injury. Donovan Laie will slide to left tackle while Josh Baker will move to guard.

1st QTR

Drive #1 (BYU/own 25)

Tyler Allgeier picks up 4 on the ground after an incompletion; A 10-yard pass from Jaren Hall to Masen Wake moves the chains; three incomplete passes later and BYU is forced to punt after the UA defense is stout to finish the drive

Drive #2 (Arizona/own 26)

Michael Wiley gets the ball out of an I-formation look to open the first drive; Gunner Cruz hits Wiley for a 7-yard completion; Cruz finds Stanley Berryhill for a yard; Jedd Fisch goes for the 4th and 1 and gets it with a 2-yard rush on a sneak from Cruz; Wiley picks up 5 yards with two runs; Cruz misses Wiley in the flat but play is halted as BYU CB Keenan Ellis injures himself and has to be carted off; Kyle Ostendorp with a strong punt of 53 yards to pin the Cougars back

Drive #3 (BYU/own 16)

Hall incomplete on his first pass of the drive; Allgeier picks up 8 on the next two plays but the Wildcats are able to force a punt on a 3-and-out

Drive #4 (Arizona/own 40)

Cruz misses Tayvian Cunningham to open the drive; Wiley picks up 2 yards on the next play; Cruz looks for Wolma and the pass is incomplete; Ostendorp with another strong punt as this one goes 49 yards to push BYU inside its own 10

Drive #5 (BYU/own 9)

Lopini Katoa picks up 4 yards on the first play and 16 on the next one with a big run; Katoa goes for 4 yards on the ensuing play; Allgeier picks up a 1st down with a 13-yard run; Allgeier picks up 9 on the next play; Lopini picks up a yard but the Cougars can’t get anything else going and have to punt again

Drive #6 (Arizona/own 9)

Will Plummer into the game at QB; Wiley picks up 6 yards on two carries to open the drive; Plummer finds Wiley for 6 yards and a 1st down; Wiley picks up 5 more on the ground; Plummer can’t find Berryhill on an incomplete pass; Wiley picks up a yard to end the 1st quarter

2nd QTR

Drive #6 (cont.)

Cruz comes back in and picks up the first down on a 4th-and-short play; Wiley picks up 5 more yards; Plummer is back in and runs for a yard; Plummer can’t find BJ Casteel as the pass is behind him and broken up forcing another Ostendorp punt that is not good and only goes 36 yards

Drive #7 (BYU/own 27)

Hall hits big with a 22-yard pass to Neil Pau’u for a 1st down’ on 3rd down BYU is called for a holding; Hall hits Pau’u for 12 yards before hitting Chris Jackson for 11 and giving the Cougars a 1st down; Hall finds his rhythm as he hits Keanu Hill for 11 yards before Allgeier runs it in from 15 yards out as the Wildcats get to the ball late letting him walk in the end zone but BYU misses the PAT

SCORE UPDATE: BYU - 6 Arizona - 0

Drive #8 (Arizona/own 25)

Cruz back in and he hits Casteel for 6 yards to open the drive; Arizona gets an explosive play as Cruz finds Cunningham for 26 yards; Cruz hits Casteel for 9 yards on 1st down; UA going with a heavy dose of Drake Anderson on this drive; Anderson catches a pass on 3rd down but comes up short of the marker leading to a 32-yard field goal try from Lucas Havrisik that sails wide right

Drive #9 (BYU/own 20)

Hall is complete to Hill for 6 yards; Hall to Pau’u for 4 yards; Hall hits Katoa for 4 yards; after a Katoa loss Hall hits Pau’u for 67 yards on a big play down the field with Malik Hausman getting beat in coverage; The Cougars add a 2-point conversion to make it a two-touchdown game

SCORE UPDATE: BYU - 14 Arizona - 0

Drive #10 (Arizona/own 25)

Cruz hits Anderson for 9 yards to open the drive; Cruz keeps the drive alive with a 9-yard run on 3rd and 8; Cruz hits Cunningham for a 15-yard pickup; Out of a timeout Cruz hits Berryhill for 19 yards and another 1st down; Cruz is sacked before finding Berryhill for a 10-yard gain; Havrisik redeems himself with a 28-yard field goal

SCORE UPDATE: BYU - 14 Arizona - 3

HALFTIME