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SAN ANTONIO — In their first bowl appearance in six years, the 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats had just as many takeaways to knock off No. 12 Oklahoma 38-24 in Valero Alamo Bowl Thursday at the Alamodome.
Arizona’s triumph is the first postseason win for the Wildcats since 2015. The Wildcats finish 10-3 and are the fourth team in program history to win at least 10 games in a season. Arizona ended the season on a seven-game winning streak.
The Wildcats’ six takeaways is the most by the program in bowl history.
Arizona forced three turnovers in the first half and jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but Oklahoma scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to give the bowl-seasoned Sooners — OU is playing in a bowl game for the 25th consecutive season — the tight lead at the intermission.
Following a batted down pass on the first play from scrimmage, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita — who completed 34 of 48 passes for two touchdowns and an interception — quickly regrouped to connect with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan on a slant route for a 40-yard gain into Oklahoma territory; the Wildcats’ opening drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Loop, who also nailed a 38-yarder in the early minutes of the second quarter.
Arizona scored just 22 seconds later on a 35-yard pass over the middle to senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing to give the Wildcats that near-two-touchdown lead.
Making his first-ever collegiate start, Oklahoma freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold, who replaced Dillon Gabriel after the two-year starter transferred to Oregon earlier this month, threw an interception to Arizona freshman safety Genesis Smith three plays after Loop’s first field goal. It was Smith’s first interception as a Wildcat. That pick resulted in Cowing’s program-record 12th touchdown reception of the season on Arizona’s next offensive…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/arizonas-six-takeaways-lifts-wildcats-062837132.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2023-12-29 06:28:37
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