Oklahoma was by several measures the superior team at the Alamo Bowl. Except for one critical category.
The 12th-ranked Sooners turned the ball over six times Thursday night, allowing 14th-ranked Arizona to rally from an 11-point third quarter deficit for a 38-24 win.
A tip drill on a third-quarter Jackson Arnold pass turned into a fumble recovery for Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado, who returned the ball 87 yards for touchdown that shifted the course of the game. Originally ruled an interception, officials changed the call to a catch and fumble by wide receiver Jalil Farooq forced by a Dalton Johnson hit.
Whatever it was, it was the fourth forced turnover of the day for Arizona and the third involving Maldonado, who recorded two fumble recoveries and an interception.
It also allowed the Wildcats to add another football to the turnover sword. Which is a real thing. Arizona used it to stab footballs with Oklahoma logos for each of its forced turnovers. It eventually ran out of room for more footballs.
Oklahoma held a 24-13 lead while driving inside the Arizona at the time of the turnover. Instead of extending a double-digit lead, the Sooners allowed the Wildcats to close within 24-21 after a two-point conversion.
Two plays later, Arnold threw his third interception of the night, this one to defensive back Martell Irby. This turnover set up Arizona to tie the game at 24-24 with a field goal. After a forced Oklahoma punt, Arizona's offense drove 95 yards on eight plays capped by a 57-yard go-ahead touchdown from Noah Fifita to Jacob Cowing.
Oklahoma's next drive ended with — you guessed it — another turnover. Isaiah Ward sacked Arnold, forcing Oklahoma's sixth turnover of the day.
This inspired yet another appearance by the turnover sword.
The Wildcats converted the turnover into another touchdown for a 38-24 lead with 2:56 remaining, and the game was all but over.
Arizona overcomes otherwise big offensive night by Oklahoma
Oklahoma held a 562-to-383 edge in total offense. It outrushed Arizona 201 yards to 29. But Arizona claimed a 6-to-1 edge in forced turnovers, an advantage that was too much for Oklahoma to overcome.
Arnold completed 26 of 45 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns. He accounted for two-thirds of Oklahoma's turnovers with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Farooq fumbled twice.
Arizona was efficient when it had the ball. Quarterback Noah Fifita completed 24 of 38 passes for 354 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Tetairoa McMillan caught 10 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Cowing tallied seven receptions for 152 yards and a score. The Wildcats averaged 9.3 yards per play.
Arizona caps its season with a seven-game winning streak to finish 10-3. Oklahoma fell to 10-3 with the loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment