Arizona celebrates homecoming with 48-7 win

TUCSON -- The Arizona Wildcats scored their first touchdown in 13 seconds and didn’t let up in their 48-7 thrashing of Washington State yesterday.

Truth be told, the final score made the game appear closer than it actually was. Arizona (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10) dominated every facet of the game, running up a 24-point lead before the first quarter wrapped up.s

Quarterback Nick Foles didn’t play much after the first quarter, completing 12 of his 19 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown before giving way to fellow sophomore Matt Scott.

Foles made a quick cameo in the third quarter, but Scott carried the Cats’ offense during the second half, with third-stringer Bryson Bernie coming in for the final series.

Washington State (1-8, 0-6) came into the game ranked last in the Pac-10 in nearly every significant statistical category and near the bottom of all of college football in total offense (No. 114 out of 120 teams) and total defense (No. 119).

Arizona held the Cougars to 185 yards of total offense -- nearly 100 yards below its season average. The Cougars lost two fumbles, committed eight penalties and picked up only eight first downs.

The Wildcats tallied 471 yards of offense, with 294 of it coming on the ground, as the squad’s main concerns throughout the final three quarters were simply to milk the clock and keep everyone healthy.

Scott led all rushers with 91 yards on 10 carries. Nick Booth added 88 yards on 18 carries. Starter Keola Antolin (filling in for the injured Nic Grigsby and Greg Nwoko) gained 63 yards on 12 carries, with freshman Taimi Tutogi contributing 50 yards on 11 carries. Antolin, Booth and Tutogi each had one-yard touchdown runs, as well.

Kick returner Travis Cobb got things started right away with a 95-yard touchdown return on the game’s opening kickoff. The Wildcats had struggled on special teams all year, but Cobb’s return set the tone for that unit’s breakout game.

Early in the third quarter, punt returner William “Bug” Wright took back a booming Reid Forrest punt 86 yards for the team’s first punt return for a touchdown since the Mike Thomas era. Coming into today’s game, the Wildcats ranked last in college football in punt return yardage (minus-1 yards), but Wright tallied 115 yards on three returns.

Foles’ best moment of the afternoon came on his 28-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Turner, who made a remarkable play on the ball near the right pylon.

Arizona’s defense welcomed back pass rusher Brooks Reed, who had a sack and a forced fumble in his first game since injuring his ankle against Iowa. Fellow defensive end Ricky Elmore tallied two early sacks on quarterback Jeff Tuel, who left the game in the second quarter after spraining his knee on a Xavier Kelley sack.

Washington State’s lone highlight came at the 6:23 mark of the fourth quarter, when wideout Jared Karstetter made an impressive one-handed catch and took the ball 64 yards for the Cougars’ lone score to spoil the shutout.

Things get tougher for the Wildcats next week, as they start their brutal four-game stretch to close out the season with a trip to Berkeley to take on the California Golden Bears.

Quick hits

* The 41-point margin of victory is the largest for Arizona this season.

* Arizona held possession for 41:19.

* Attendance was announced at 50,242, but only a few hundred remained in the stands for the final whistle.

* Big names involved in the homecoming festivities included former baseball star J.T. Snow, golfer Lorena Ochoa, and, of course, Lute Olson.

* Former Sahuarita star Kyle Day got into the game at wide receiver in the fourth quarter.

* Go to www.gvnews.com to read Nick Prevenas’ homecoming blog from Arizona Stadium.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747