Arizona survives Kansas State rally in 23-17 win for first 3-0 start since 2015

TUCSON – For the second time in as many weeks, the Arizona Wildcats faced off against a visiting Wildcats team. After dominating wins against Hawaii and FCS Weber State, the first real test for Brent Brennan’s squad came on Friday night, when Arizona hosted Big 12 foe Kansas State in a non-conference game, due to scheduling arrangements prior to Arizona’s transition to the league. It was all Arizona in the first half, but Kansas State rallied in the second half, as the hometown Wildcats escaped with a 23-17 victory for their first 3-0 start since 2015.

Arizona’s first drive started out hot, but stalled out after a holding call on right tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai, who continues working back from a season-ending knee injury in 2024, and pressure in the pocket nearly forced a Noah Fifita fumble. Arizona settled for a 47-yard Michael Salgado-Medina field goal, but the try was wide left. Arizona’s defense held up on its first possession, forcing a three-and-out, but a muffed punt from Jeremiah Patterson gave the ball right back to Kansas State just outside of the red zone. The visiting Wildcats were unable to do much with the opportunity, settling for a 51-yard touchdown to take a 3-0 lead with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter.

On the following Arizona possession, Ismail Mahdi gashed Kansas State’s defense for a 60-yard gain, getting tripped up by former Arizona Wildcat Gunner Maldonado, who prevented the Mahdi touchdown. Tapa’atoutai was called for another hold, but Noah Fifita capped off the drive scrambling for a 15-yard rushing touchdown, his first of the night and second of the season.

The ensuing drive was all about Arizona’s defense, which turned Kansas State over on downs. Pressure from Chase Kennedy and Deshawn McKnight forced Avery Johnson to throw it away, giving Arizona the ball back in plus territory. Arizona capitalized on the short field with a 31-yard field goal, giving the hometown Wildcats a 10-3 lead with 10:28 remaining in Q2.

Things started to roll for Arizona offensively in the second quarter. Between a late hit on Noah Fifita and a targeting call on Kansas State safety Logan Bartley against former K-State Wildcat Tre Spivey, the Tucson Wildcats quickly got down the field and into scoring territory. Noah Fifita capped off the drive with a gutsy two-yard run, extending the football through a sea of bodies to give Arizona a 17-3 edge. Things went from good to great after Dalton Johnson recovered a muffed punt by Kansas State, giving Arizona its opportunity at some instant field position. The UA was unable to take advantage, with Michael Salgado-Medina’s 62-yard field goal attempt missing, keeping the halftime score at 17-3 in favor of Arizona.

The second half started nowhere near as hot as the first for Arizona. Out of the Wildcat formation, Kansas State wide receiver Jayce Brown snuck through the defense for a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the third quarter. It was the first touchdown Arizona’s defense has allowed this season. On the following possession, Arizona went three-and-out, but Michael Salgado-Medina dropped the punt, leading to a turnover on downs, giving Kansas State the ball at the Arizona 13 yard line. K-State took advantage of the short field, with the Avery Johnson 1-yard equalizer coming with 10:36 remaining in the third quarter, knotting the score at 17. The UA appeared to be getting back on track after a 34-yard run by Ismail Mahdi, before wide receiver Javin “Nunu” Whatley threw an interception on a trick play deep in Kansas State territory.

Both teams traded empty possessions before Michael Salgado-Medina was finally able to put Arizona back on top with a 31-yard field goal at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter.

With time expiring in the third, former Texas cornerback Jay’Vion Cole made one of the biggest defensive stops of the game, forcing a turnover on downs after Kansas State went for it on 4th and six in Arizona territory. With Arizona’s stagnant third quarter offense bleeding into the fourth quarter, it was Danny Gonzales’ defense that came up big again, after Chase Kennedy and Gavin Hunter combined for a critical three-and-out three minutes into the fourth quarter. The hometown Wildcats then used a 14-play drive to chew up seven and a half minutes and take a 23-17 lead with 4:25 remaining in the game, following a 41-yard field goal by Michael Salgado-Medina.

With the game still in reach for Kansas State, the final four minutes of the game were once again came down to the play of Arizona’s defense. An 11-yard tackle for loss by linebacker Jabari Mann and defensive back Genesis Smith on first down led to the first crucial turnover on downs, giving the UA the ball back with 2:31 to play. With a chance to extend the lead to nine and effectively end the game, Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 46-yard goal wide left, keeping the door open for a Kansas State comeback. But with 60 seconds remaining on the clock, Genesis Smith made his biggest play of the night, breaking up a pass intended for Jayce Brown and sealing the victory for Arizona.

Arizona finished with 412 yards of total offense, led by Ismail Mahdi’s 221 all-purpose yards. Mahdi’s 189 yards on the ground are the most by a running back against a Power 4 team this season. Danny Gonzales’ defense finished the night holding Kansas State to 193 yards and 3-17 on 3rd and 4th down combined, limiting quarterback Avery Johnson to just 88 yards through the air.

It was a marquee win for Arizona in its second year under Brent Brennan. Arizona weathered a tough second half response from Kansas State, something unimaginable a year ago. The hometown Wildcats head into the bye-week with a 3-0 record, halfway to bowl eligibility, with a chance to regroup and rest. The next test for Arizona is on Saturday, September 27, when the Wildcats hit the road for the first time this season to take on the reigning Big 12 runner-up Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa.