AMES, IA – Fresh off a 3-0 start to the season and a bye-week to get re-focused and healthy, the Arizona Wildcats arrived in Ames, Iowa ready for their first matchup against Iowa State since 1968. Things didn’t go as planned for Brent Brennan and Co. though. Between sloppy penalties, turnovers, and a lack of rhythm or continuity on offense, Arizona struggled from start to finish, while Iowa State was able to move the ball effectively between chunk plays through the air and a a stout run-game near the goal-line, as the Wildcats fell 39-14 in Ames.
A “Cat-astrophic” first half
Things were almost catastrophic from the jump for Arizona, after returner Ismail Mahdi nearly coughed the ball up on the opening kickoff, before officials ruled he was initially down. The Wildcats did move the ball well on the opening drive, which included a 23-yard pickup by Mahdi to get Arizona across midfield. The Wildcats would wind up empty though, after kicker Michael Salgado-Medina’s 46-yard field goal try was wide right. Salgado-Medina is now just 2-6 on field goals of 40 yards or more this season, as Arizona’s special teams continues to struggle.
Iowa State’s opening drive can only be described as methodical. The Cyclones marched down the field to get the drive rolling, before quarterback Rocco Becht connected with wide receiver Chase Sowell on a 43-yard reception, setting up an easy one-yard rushing touchdown for Becht on the issuing play. Iowa State also converted a two-point attempt after tight end Gabe Burkle scored on a swinging gate play, giving the Cyclones an 8-0 lead with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter. It also marked the first time Arizona has trailed in a game this season.
The rest of the first quarter was flat for the offense. The Wildcats went three-and-out on their second drive, with Australian punter Isaac Lovison taking over punting duties for Michael Salgado-Medina, who was originally the starter out of fall camp, but has struggled through the first three weeks of the season. Defense came up with a big stand on its second drive, after Jay’Vion Cole and Genesis Smith, and Max Harris nearly forced a fumble, which was later overturned by video replay. The defensive stand did force an Iowa State punt, keeping the Cyclones within reach for the Wildcats.
Seconds before the first quarter ended, Dalton Johnson and Arizona suffered a crucial mistake, while simultaneously avoiding a fatal one on special teams. The veteran Johnson was called for a kick-catch interference penalty that very well could have been ruled a targeting penalty, giving Iowa State a free 15 yards and starting field position at the Arizona 38 yard line. Between that and a pass interference call on cornerback Michael Dansby, Cyclone running back Carson Hansen easily punched it in for a one-yard touchdown run, extending Iowa State’s lead to 15 with 12:41 remaining in the first half.
As the offense continued to struggle, the defense did it’s best to try and keep Arizona around in the game. Midway through the second quarter, linebacker Riley Wilson, whose lone appearance this season came in the second half of the Weber State game, sacked Rocco Becht for a nine-yard loss on third down. With the ball back in Arizona’s possession, running back Ismail Mahdi then opened the drive with a 19-yard carry up the middle.
But Mahdi’s run was all for nothing. Six plays later, quarterback Noah Fifita threw his first interception of the season on a play-action pass that was snagged by Iowa State defensive back Jontez Williams.
The interception, returned 43 yards, proved to be costly. 6-foot-7 tight end Benjamin Brahmer hauled in a 27-yard reception, setting up Iowa State at the Arizona four yard line, before Carson Hansen pushed his way into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown, his second of the night.
A glimmer of hope
Arizona’s one bright spot on offense came in the final two minutes and 46 seconds of the first half. Noah Fifita and Kris Hutson executed a nearly flawless two-minute drill, marching down 69 yards down the field in 12 plays. Hutson hauled in three catches for 24 yards, including a nine-yard reception for a touchdown, to help Arizona cut into Iowa State’s lead with a score 22-7 heading into halftime.
Second half sorrows
On the opening drive of the second half, the Cyclones marched down for an efficient, seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Chase Sowell’s third reception of the night went for 52 yards, including 45 yards-after-catch, to give ISU the ball in the red zone. With defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales presumably frothing at the mouth, Arizona’s defense did its best to hold Iowa State out of the end zone, but on fourth and goal, Rocco Becht punched it in for his second rushing touchdown of the night, giving the Cyclones a 29-7 lead with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter.
On the following possession, Arizona was on the wrong side of another momentum changing play. The Wildcats continued to struggle finding any rhythm on offense coming out of the locker room, and wound up turning the ball over on downs after failing to convert on a fourth and two at their own 44 yard line.
The Cyclones needed just three plays to score on the following drive, with Iowa State finding continued success using the passing game to set up short red zone opportunities on the ground. ISU dialed up a trick play with tight end Benjamin Bahmer, who found wide receiver Brett Eskildsen for a 45-yard gain, paving the way for Rocco Becht’s third rushing touchdown of the game and giving the Cyclones a 36-7 lead with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter.
“Spivey-man” does whatever a Wildcat can
The Wildcats showed one more glimpse of light on offense, before the Cyclones finally snuffed Seth Doege and Co.’s flame. Kris Hutson made a gutsy 31-yard reception, holding onto the ball through severe contact by Iowa State defensive back Marcus Neal Jr., which was reviewed for potential targeting. Hutson, who left the game after the hit, returned to haul in a six-yard reception and set Arizona up with a third and goal at the one yard line later in the driver. From there, it was Kansas State transfer Tre Spivey who found pay dirt, after hauling in a one-yard touchdown reception on fourth and goal. The Wildcats then trailed 36-14 with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter.
Arizona’s defense came up with a massive stop on the following possession. Iowa State converted on a fourth and one near midfield, but Riley Wilson’s second nine-yard sack of the game stalled the drive shortly after that, giving the offense the ball back with 12:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. After an empty possession for the offense, the Wildcats’ defense once again did its job. Iowa State marched down the field 46 yards in six plays, but veteran defensive back Treydan Stukes came up an interception in the red zone, keeping the score at 36-14 with 7:29 remaining. It’s the first interception for Stukes since his return from last season’s knee injury, and his first interception since Arizona’s 2024 victory over New Mexico.
Last chance effort
The offense tried to capitalize on the opportunity from the defense, but was unable to will Arizona back into the game. Chris Hunter and Luke Wysong each hualed in two receptions to help advance Arizona down near the red zone, before Noah Fifita threw his second interception of the night to Iowa State defensive back Jamison Patton, ending the Wildcats’ comeback chances.
The remainder of the game was largely uneventful for both sides. Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht exited the game ahead of the Cyclones’ final drive, finishing with 243 yards on 14-20 completions to go along with his three rushing scores. Backup quarterback Connor Moberly carried the ball four times for 29 yards, setting up a final Iowa State 34-yard field goal by Chase Smith to give the Cyclones a 39-14 lead.
Noah Fifita finished the game completing 32-48 passing attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns, along with the two interceptions. It is the first multi-interception game for Fifita since Arizona’s 2024 loss on the road at BYU. Running back Ismail Mahdi had a lion’s share of the carries, finishing with a team-high 13 rushes for 85 yards. Kris Hutson, who has been in and out of the lineup this season due to injury, had his best game as an Arizona Wildcat, finishing with six receptions for 67 yards and a score, while the offensive line had one of its better games, allowing just one sack late in the fourth quarter.
Arizona returns to Tucson for its Big 12 home-opener, when the Wildcats host Oklahoma State, who will be without long-time head coach Mike Gundy following his termination this week, on Saturday, October 4, at 12:00 PM MST on TNT.
[…] first game against the Cyclones since 1968, Brent Brennan and Co. were thumped from start to finish, suffering a 39-14 defeat. Here is everything Arizona head coach, as well as quarterback Noah Fifita and defensive back […]
[…] In the days leading up to Saturday’s game between Arizona and Iowa State, there was growing optimism that the Wildcats could hang with the reigning Big 12 runners-up. Defensive back Jeremiah Cooper, one of the Cyclones best players, was ruled out with a knee, helping the Arizona betting line move from +7.5 to +3.5 ahead of kickoff. But it was nothing more than fools gold, as the UA was handed its first loss of the season, falling in a game that was never close. Here are our five takeaways and reactions from the Arizona Wildcats’ 39-14 loss at No. 14 Iowa State. […]