Wildcats score another blowout victory

TUCSON—The Arizona Wildcats had one mission last night: prove that the 70-0 dismantling of Idaho wasn’t a fluke.

Mission accomplished.

Arizona rode the efforts of its three most explosive offensive weapons to a 41-16 victory over a dangerous Toledo team last night.

With the win the Wildcats open a season 2-0 for the first time during the Mike Stoops era, last accomplishing that feat in 2002.

Sophomore tailback Nic Grigsby stole the show, rushing for 135 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown hat trick. Willie Tuitama finished 25-33 for 292 yards and two scores, bringing his season’s completion percentage to 77.8.

Most of Tuitama’s passes went to Mike Thomas, who collected nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, the Wildcats held the Rockets to 244 yards of total offense. Standout wide receiver Shawn Williams did haul in 12 receptions, but the Wildcats held him to slightly more than five yards per catch.

While this might not have been the most formidable way to start the season (2007 records: Idaho, 1-11; Toledo 5-7), the Wildcats have still executed almost flawlessly on both sides of the ball to start the season. Arizona owns a 111-16 scoring advantage over its first two opponents, including a 973-356 yardage discrepancy.

On this night, the Wildcat offense got off to an inauspicious start, with Toledo forcing the high-powered spread offense into a harmless three-and-out.

The Rockets managed to get adequate pressure with a three- or four-man front, forcing Tuitama into some awkward throws. Tuitama was also sacked for the first time this season.

Arizona’s second drive was much smoother, with Tuitama and Grigsby falling into a rhythm. The drive stalled at the 3-yard line, leading to a Jason Bondzio field goal and the first points of the game.

After another go-nowhere Toledo drive, the Wildcats really started to roll. Tuitama completed five passes to three different wideouts, setting up Grigsby for a hard-nosed seven-yard touchdown plunge.

Toledo finally made its move at the start of the second quarter. Quaterback Aaron Opelt honed in on his favorite target, hitting Williams four times. However, Opelt missed a wide-open Williams near the goal line, forcing the Rockets to settle for a 20-yard field goal, breaking the Wildcat defense’s 80:40 scoreless streak to start the season.

Arizona quickly answered. Nick Booth broke off a 37-yard kick return, setting up a 23-yard Tuitama-to-Thomas pass play over the middle.

On the next play, Grigsby took the ball off left tackle, stopped on a dime on the left hash mark and accelerated down the right sideline for his second touchdown of the half and a 17-3 UA lead.

Toledo added yet another field goal to cut the Wildcat lead to 17-6, but three-point chip shots wouldn’t be enough to keep up with Arizona’s offensive firepower.

Keola Antolin advanced the ball 37 yards on the kickoff return. Tuitama found Thomas twice and Dean once, with Grigsby picking up the hard yards between the tackles. Grigsby capped the drive with an 11-yard run up the gut into the Toledo end zone for his third touchdown of the half and a 24-6 halftime lead.

Arizona started the second half with a strong 11-play drive after yet another big Antolin return. Bondzio drilled his second field goal of the game to pad the Wildcat advantage, 27-6.

On Toledo’s next possession, the Rockets marched 75 yards on 13 plays, but the drive stalled, once again, inside the UA 5-yard line. After settling for another field goal, Toledo still trailed 27-9.

With Grigsby well over the 100-yard barrier for the second consecutive game, Antolin took over in the backfield for a couple of drives, and the Tuitama-to-Thomas connection went to work.

Thomas hauled in receptions of 27, 12 and 17 yards, setting the table for a Delashaun Dean touchdown reception in the back of the end zone.

Thomas’ first reception was the standout play on that drive. Tuitama’s pump fake froze the defense, allowing the strong-armed senior to thread the needle through double coverage.

Arizona’s defense stone-walled another Toledo drive, but the ensuing punt pinned the Wildcats deep in their own territory.

Tuitama completed a seven-yard slant to Terrell Turner, but the lanky wideout promptly fumbled the ball into the welcoming arms of Damien McIntosh, who took the ball down to the Arizona 3-yard line.

On the next play, Opelt threw a fade pass to the 6-foot-5 Williams. The play was initially called out of bounds, but after review, the officials concluded that the tips of Williams’ toes were in bounds, giving an Arizona opponent its first touchdown in 2008.

Arizona’s final score came on a 12-yard out route for Thomas, finding the end zone for the first time this season to put the finishing touches on yet another impressive win.

Next week, the Wildcats take their first road trip of the season, taking on the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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