Arizona
How Arizona Can Limit Kansas’ Rushing Attack
Arizona and Kansas are both vying for the sixth win of the season on Saturday, qualifying for a bowl game and showing improvement after missing out on the postseason in 2024.
The Wildcats would like to keep some momentum going after throttling Colorado last weekend. Earning bowl eligibility in front of a sold-out crowd for homecoming in Tucson is a perfect way to do so.
The Jayhawks took down Oklahoma State in their last outing, 38-21. Jalon Daniels has led the way for the Kansas offense all season long, throwing for 1,991 yards and a career-high 20 touchdowns. He’s also had just three interceptions this season.
While Daniels has plenty of big-play ability, he didn’t throw for at least 150 yards in each of the past two games. The Jayhawks instead have been finding more chunks on the ground.
The Arizona front seven hasn’t been pushed around this season, but they have run into issues against running quarterbacks and talented backfields, which Kansas has.
Kansas ran for 232 yards against the Cowboys, which isn’t all that impressive given what other teams have done to that defense this season. However, they leaned on the ground even while the game was close, possibly to try to develop that identity.
Devin Neal carried the running game for the Jayhawks last season, rushing for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns on 219 carries. With Neal off to the NFL, the ground attack has not been as explosive.
Daniel Hishaw Jr., who ran behind Neal last season, and Leshon Williams, an Iowa transfer, have combined for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams has cracked the 100-yard mark once this season, but that’s all for the backfield.
Despite the lack of overwhelming success, they still lean on it often. Kansas averages 4.5 yards per carry this season and continues to grind runs between the tackles and on outside zone. Both backs are a big part of that, but so is their quarterback.
Daniels has run for 271 yards and two scores this season. He’s very athletic and has decent speed and enough toughness to lean into a few hits.
Arizona’s struggles with dual-threat quarterbacks have been well-documented this season. Houston and BYU both gave them fits on the ground, allowing 490 rushing yards between the two games. Last week, they had success stopping Kaidon Salter outside the pocket, but Colorado also fell into an early hole and had to throw for the whole day.
The Wildcats allow 138.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 55th nationally. It really has been a case of just a few games blowing that number up, but the Jayhawks can slow the game down and win on the edge if they find some running lanes early on.
An X-factor in this game for the Wildcats is Taye Brown. The inside linebacker has been great this season at reading and flowing instinctually into run fits against zone-schemed runs. Kansas does a lot of that, making him and fellow inside linebacker Max Harris crucial to the team’s success.
Brown is second on the team with 54 tackles this season, but is one of Arizona’s best run defenders. Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales has also turned outside linebackers Chase Kennedy and Riley Wilson into more of an edge rushing duo, which will still be important this week, but they are the edge pieces that will have to stop the quick motion runs Kansas works on.
On the inside, Deshawn McKnight has been fantastic, and Leroy Palu has really stepped up in recent weeks. This game will be all about fits against a zone scheme, so they don’t necessarily need to be the ones in space making plays, but with all of the pre-snap motion the Jayhawks run, getting a good initial push to change the route of the play can be a big help.
Overall, this game could develop into a shootout with Noah Fifita and Daniels taking chances downfield and connecting, but there’s a way Kansas could control this game on the ground. Either way, it’s a big week for the Arizona defense to make a stand.
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Arizona
These are Arizona’s coziest towns. Why they are perfect for a getaway
Stunning places every Arizonan should visit at least once
From the Grand Canyon to Sedona’s red rocks to dramatic views of Havasupai Falls, here are some must-see places every Arizonan should check out.
Arizona is known for popular tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon and the state’s capital, Phoenix, but there is still so much going on in the shadows of small towns in Arizona.
Geography website World Atlas ranked the six coziest towns in the Grand Canyon State. These towns have a lot of unique elements to offer, like beautiful red rock formations, outdoor activities and unique things to do. All of these combine to give quintessential small-town vibes.
Here are six cozy Arizona towns to visit and what to do there, as recommended by World Atlas.
Sedona
Sedona is one of Arizona’s most popular tourist towns and for good reason.
It’s known for beautiful red rocks and powerful energy vortexes, which are said to bring peace and tranquility to those in the area.
There are also numerous stunning hikes to take in Sedona. One of the most popular is Devils Bridge, which is a 4.6-mile trail featuring the area’s largest sandstone arch, giving you amazing views of the surrounding area.
Sedona also has a unique shopping experience at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. It features art galleries with local artists, along with clothing and souvenir shops that allow you to bring a little piece of Sedona home with you.
Bisbee
Bisbee is one of Arizona’s oldest towns that’s still brimming with culture.
The small mining town has been around since the 1800s and is said to be home to many ghosts. The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour takes you through town and explores the sites of many paranormal experiences and stories.
Bisbee also has a thriving arts district with galleries and museums like the Artemizia Foundation museum and Bisbee’s iconic art wall.
There are several historic hotels with architectural charm, like the Bisbee Grand Hotel, but don’t be surprised if you’re visited by a ghost.
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Wickenburg
Wickenburg is the perfect small town experience if you’re looking to get out of the city.
The Flying E Ranch allows for a relaxing stay while being stimulated with outdoor activities like archery, horse penning and corn hole.
Get a taste of the town’s history and visit Wickenburg’s Jail Tree, a 200-year-old mangled mesquite tree that is believed to be a makeshift jail during the town’s Wild West days.
Need more of the Wild West? Visit Vulture City, the town’s earliest settlements, discovered by Henry Wickenburg. The town was discovered in 1863 and is now a look into life in Arizona’s early days.
Williams
Williams is one of the stops on the iconic Route 66 and a close destination to the Grand Canyon.
Williams celebrates its place in car culture. Each summer, it hosts a historic car show that showcases unique and exclusive historic automobiles.
While visiting, it’s also essential to visit Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum. The cute little gas station is a perfect photo-op and is filled with Route 66 memorabilia.
Stay at or visit Raptor Ranch for a chance to have an up close a personal interaction with a raptor. The ranch is conveniently located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon with camping, glamping and RV spots available for overnight stays.
Prescott
Prescott is the perfect little town to get away from the Phoenix heat, while still having so much to offer. It stays about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix and has hiking trails and historic bars to explore.
Prescott is known for Whiskey Row, a stretch that boasts bars, shops and hotels that speak to the town’s Wild West character. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is Arizona’s oldest frontier saloon, established in 1877, where infamous outlaws and lawmen were said to have visited.
Bashford Courts is a three-story antique mall filled with fine jewelry, boutiques and crafts. All the stores are small businesses. Bashford Courts is also a three-minute walk from Whiskey Row.
Watson Lake Park also has so many outdoor activities to offer, from hiking, fishing, paddleboarding and more.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood is the perfect destination for a chill weekend getaway.
The little town is right in the Verde Valley, giving close access to the Verde River with water activities like fishing and kayaking.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park has many walking and hiking trails right by the river for a relaxing walk.
Cottonwood is also in the heart of Arizona’s wine country and home to many wineries and tasting rooms.
March is when Cottonwood starts its farmers market back up, every Friday from 4-11 p.m. The market sells local and organic snacks and produce, accompanied by live music. It is located in Cottonwood’s Main Street plaza and is surrounded by restaurants and shops, making it the perfect Friday outing.
Arizona
A guide to Spring Breaking in Arizona’s High Country
FLAGSTAFF (AZFamily) — Spring break is here in Arizona for public universities and lots of high schools. Students and families are taking advantage of the week off and the nice but unseasonably warm temperatures across the state.
The High Country offers slightly cooler temperatures than in the valley and access to hiking, skiing, and national parks.
Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft, tucked into the pine trees with expansive mountain views.
The weather this time of year is usually a gamble for spring breakers, but Ryan Randazzo with Discover Flagstaff said recent storms have left some snow on the peaks and great temperatures in town.
“It hasn’t been the snowiest winter, but we still have more than 40 inches of a base at Arizona Snow Bowl,” Randazzo said. “So it’s a great time to get up there and enjoy some sunny days on the slopes, and the weather here is just perfect. It’s still about 20 degrees cooler than Metro Phoenix and Tucson.”
He said the above-average temperatures make it perfect for outdoor adventure junkies.
“A little unusual for this time of year, but our trails are mostly open and snow-free at the lower elevation,” Randazzo said.
For those who want a more relaxing retreat there is plenty of shopping and local spots to eat at.
“In addition to our 200 restaurants, we’ve got 8 award-winning craft breweries,” Randazzo said. “And this time of year, with our unseasonably warm weather, is actually a pretty nice time to be out on the patio here in Flagstaff.”
Flagstaff is also a two hour drive or less from 9 national parks and monuments. The Grand Canyon is the most popular one, but for those looking to skip the lines, national monuments like Walnut Canyon are the way to go.
Alex Stork was visiting from Michigan and said you don’t get views like this in the Midwest.
“There’s nothing as high as this,” Stork said. “It’s beautiful out here. Easy, simple, I actually got a lifetime pass today.”
Outside of Flagstaff, people can hike in Sedona and then visit a spa. You could walk down classic Route 66 in Williams before stopping at Bearizona. Plus, for those don’t mind an easy two hour drive, they can hit Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Horseshoe Bend all in one day up in Page.
“You can’t beat Northern Arizona,” Stork said.
More information on actives to do in and around Flagstaff can be found at Discover Flagstaff’s website.
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Arizona
Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game
TEMPE – The Phoenix metro has not been kind to Arizona baseball through the first month of the season.
Arizona fell to rival ASU 10-4 on Tuesday night in front of a packed crowd at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats clawed back after falling behind 6-1, but the Sun Devils closed the door in the late innings.
The nonconference game was the first of five matchups between the rivals, with the UA hosting a 3-game Big 12 Conference series in early April followed by one more non-league game in Tempe.
Arizona (6-10) is now 0-4 in the Phoenix area, with three losses coming in the opening weekend College Baseball Series in Surprise. Arizona dropped to 0-3 in midweek games.
Collin McKinney got the start for the Wildcats, allowing four earned runs on five hits and six strikeouts. McKinney conceded one run in the first inning but escaped out of a bases loaded jam. He looked sharp until giving up a 2-run homer to ASU’s Dean Toigo in the fourth inning.
“We saw the velocity at times. We saw the breaking stuff,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “It was very encouraging from us on our side for him.“
The Sun Devils tacked on three more runs in the fourth, including a 2-run blast from Landon Hairston off reliever Matthew Martinez.
Arizona answered in the sixth inning when sophomore catcher Roman Meyers drilled a 450-feet 3-run homer to bring the score to 6-4. It was Meyers’ third homer of the season.
“He always has a chance. He’s got massive power,” Hale said. “So if he hits it he has a chance for a home run.”
Arizona’s five through nine hitters combined for six of the team’s eight hits, led by 2-hit games from Caleb Danzeisen and Cash Brennan.
Arizona’s offense, however, couldn’t keep up with the Sun Devils, who added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull away. Wildcats pitchers gave up eight free bases on the night.
Arizona is back in action Friday when it begins Big 12 play at Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.
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