Grading Arizona football’s performance in win over Kansas State

For the first time since 2015, Arizona has started off the season 3-0. After the 23-17 win over Kansas State, they have shown that this is a team to not take lightly.

The bye week comes at a perfect time, it gives the Wildcats a chance to rest and plenty of time to prepare for a very tough Iowa State team.
Here are the grades for the offense, defense, special teams, and coaching:

On the first drive, Arizona was able to get inside Kansas State territory but settled for a field goal. To start the second drive, Ismail Mahdi ripped off a 60 yard run.

A couple plays later, Noah Fifita ran it into the endzone to start the scoring for Arizona.

Luke Wysong would have a 27 yard catch and run on the third drive of the game, putting the offense into the redzone. The drive would stall out after that, forcing another field goal attempt.

On a solid march down the field, Fifita would find the endzone on the ground for the second time from one yard out.

In the first half, the offense would finish with 257 total yards. The second half would start off with a three and out.

After a 34-yard run by Mahdi, Javin Whatley would throw an interception on a trick play to end the drive quickly.

After Mahdi continued his strong night with a 15 yard run, more holding penalties would kill the drive, and the offense settled for another field goal.

Starting the fourth quarter, the offense would not do anything and punted.

On third and 15, Mahdi would take a dump down pass from Fifita and turn it into a 27 yard gain. Even with the conversion, the drive would stall and yet again it would settle for a field goal.

The bright side to that drive was that it took seven minutes and 30 seconds off the game clock.

With 412 total yards on the night, the offense definitely showed that it can move down the field in different ways. Now it needs to improve on finishing those drives in the end zone.

Arizona’s defense started off hot, forcing a three and out. However, after a special teams blunder, it was right back onto the field for Danny Gonzales’ crew.

It ended up holding Kansas State to a field goal after Treydan Stukes and Deshawn McKnight got to Avery Johnson for a third down sack.

Despite Kansas State getting into Arizona territory, the defense would force a fourth down attempt and would end up getting the stop.

On the fourth Kansas State drive of the game, the defense would force its second three and out of the game.

Continuing the first half dominance, the defense would force another punt by Kansas State. In the first half, the defense would only allow 44 total yards of offense.

The second half would not be the most ideal start for the defense. Kansas State would score on the first play, and it would be the first touchdown Arizona’s defense had let up on the season.

Off another special teams blunder, Arizona would have to defend a short field. Kansas State would score and tie the game.

Just when it would seem that Kansas State could take control of the game, Arizona’s defense came up with a three and out to stop the bleeding that started quickly in the second half.

Late in the third quarter, when Kansas State went for it on fourth down at the Arizona 40 yard line, Jay’vion Cole came up with a huge pass breakup to force the turnover on downs.

Forcing Kansas State to punt for the fourth time, the fourth quarter would start off strong for the defense. Then, for the third time, Gonzales’ crew would stop Kansas State on fourth down to seal the victory.

Overall, the defense held Kansas State to 193 total yards of offense. They had a near perfect game, outside of the long touchdown run. The other touchdown was set up by a mistake on special teams.

Genesis Smith led the team in tackles for the game with eight and also had three crucial pass breakups.

After marching down the field on the opening drive, the offense could not find the endzone, which brought out Michael Salgado-Medina. He would miss from 47 yards out.

When the defense forced a three and out, Kansas State would end up punting. Unfortunately, Jeremiah Patterson would get bumped by a Kansas State and in doing so it would touch Patterson.

This resulted in what would be called a fumble and Kansas State would recover.

In the second quarter, Salgado-Medina would be called upon again and redeemed himself from 31 yards out.

Right before halftime, Arizona would end up punting but Kansas State would muff the punt and Dalton Johnson would recover for UA.

On his third field goal attempt of the night, Salgado-Medina would miss from 62 yards out to end the first half.

The night for Salgado-Medina started to get worse as the first punt of the second half would be dropped and blocked, setting Kansas State up at the UA 13 yard line.

Late in the third, Salgado-Medina would hit from 31 yards again. He would also hit again from 41 yards late in the fourth quarter.

With an opportunity to put the game away, Salgado-Medina was called on for the sixth time of the night. His 46 yard attempt would be no good, and he finished the night going three for six on field goal attempts.

Safe to say that the special teams unit will need to improve in a lot of ways.

Brent Brennan could not have thought of a better start to this season. His players have bought into what he’s doing and it is showing on the field.

The ability to respond when things don’t go as planned is a big point of emphasis and it showed against Kansas State.

“We responded in all three phases there, and that’s what good teams do,” said Brennan.

There is now a belief and confidence in what they are trying to execute. It shows when Brennan sticks with a guy like Salgado-Medina, despite having a rough night. His trust in his player never wavered.

Gonzales has shown that this defense can be similar to the “Desert Swarm” of the retro days. Add this along with Seth Doege’s exciting and balanced offensive scheme, and this is now a team that can go toe to toe with any Big 12 opponent.