Defense leads Arizona to 24-17 win over Cal

On a night when the Arizona Wildcats’ offense struggled to move the ball, the defense came up big, generating four turnovers and two touchdowns to lead UA to a 24-17 victory over the California Golden Bears.

Scottie Young Jr. had two interceptions, including a pick-six that put UA up by 10 with 3:13 left.

It came not too long after the Wildcats took the lead late in the third on an even crazier defensive TD. Cal was up 14-10 — and driving — when Colin Schooler intercepted Cal quarterback Brandon McIlwain and returned it 34 yards before having the ball popped loose from behind.

Luckily, UA cornerback Azizi Hearn collected a fortuitous bounce and went the additional 39 yards for the go-ahead score.

Just how you draw it up!

Colin Schooler picks it off and then fumbles, but Azizi Hearn picks it up and runs it for a defensive TD!

Cats lead it 17-14. #BearDown | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Mnc3Jsg8Ay

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 7, 2018

The Bears had several chances to tie or take the lead, but the Wildcats’ D perfected the bend-but-don’t-break approach.

Cal drove to the UA 3 after Hearn’s touchdown, but Dereck Boles stopped McIlwain short on a 4th-and-1 draw.

Then, after UA’s J.J. Taylor lost a fumble near midfield with 8:27 left, Young picked off a deflected ball and returned it to the Cal 28.

Josh Pollack came on to attempt a 40-yard field goal, but it clanked off the left upright. Cal drove into UA territory again, but JB Brown strip-sacked McIlwain for UA’s third turnover.

Arizona’s offense went 3-and-out to give the Bears yet another opportunity, but Young intercepted McIlwain on the first play of the drive to seal the game. Cal would add a short field goal to cut it 24-17 with 16 seconds left but couldn’t recover the onside kick.

It’s a massive victory for Arizona, which improves to 3-3 (2-1 Pac-12) and greatly boosted its chances of reaching a bowl game.

Khalil Tate had a rough night, going 15-for-25 for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Wildcats’ running game wasn’t much better. Taylor had 15 carries for 73 yards and Arizona had 125 yards on 33 carries as a whole (3.8 ypc).

The Wildcats were outgained 476-265 and only accumulated 112 yards in the second half.

Arizona’s 265 yards are its fewest in a win since gaining 265 yards in a 20-17 win at Arizona State in 2009.

— Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) October 7, 2018

Arizona trailed 14-10 at the break, despite holding an early 10-0 lead. Tate was sharp early, throwing a 31-yard TD pass down the middle to Tony Ellison on the first drive of the game.

Then Pollack, who took over kicking duties for Lucas Havrisik, drilled a 46-yard field goal on the second drive.

But Cal responded with a 25-yard rushing TD by McIlwain, then UA brought in Jamarye Joiner at quarterback on its next drive and immediately went 3-and-out. It was questionable timing for the substitution considering how UA had been moving the ball.

The Arizona O never recaptured its early success.

Tate completed five of his first seven passes for 69 yards, but finished the first half 7-for-15 for 92 yards. Arizona only had 38 yards in the second quarter.

McIlwain scampered for a 23-yard TD on a QB draw to give Cal the lead heading into the third quarter.

But those were Cal’s last points until the late field goal. Arizona outscored the Bears 14-3 in the second half and have outscored their opponents 124-66 this season after halftime.

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