Photos: Arizona slugs out a 35-7 win over Northern Arizona
The Wildcats ground down the Lumberjacks to open their season with a 35-7 win, September 5, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) makes a fingertip snare deep in the corner of the end zone in front of Northern Arizona cornerback Jahaad Fort (3) for a touchdown in the first quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington (6) goes down in the arms of Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) for a sack during the second quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona running back Kedrick Reescano gets a hat pat after bulling his way into the end zone in the second quarter against NAU on Sept. 5, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona running back Kedrick Reescano (3) goes for the high route, diving over Northern Arizona safety Shoes Brinkley (1), bottom, and linebacker Jaiden Letua (8) in the first quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) gives an emphatic first down gesture after plowing his way through Northern Arizona linebacker Jaiden Letua (8) in the first quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan greets former Wildcat and current Raider Treydan Stukes at the head of the Wildcat Walk before the season opener against Northern Arizona, Sept. 5, 2026, in Tucson.
Northern Arizona safety Aundre Gibson latches onto the leg of Arizona running back Quincy Craig in their season-opening game on Sept 5, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Giovanni Richardson (5) loses his grip on the ball after getting hit by Northern Arizona cornerback Michael Beresford, left, and cornerback Jahaad Fort for a turnover in the red zone on his catch-and-run on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) can’t quite get his hands on Northern Arizona running back Quran Gossett (10) on his end run in the first quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona defensive lineman Leroy Palu does his happy dance after helping stuff a Northern Arizona run attempt up the middle on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell draws a crowd of Northern Arizona defenders trying to stop his run after a second-quarter catch on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita picks out his target in the corner, throwing for a score against Northern Arizona in the second quarter on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy gestures to the crowd behind the end zone after registering a sack in the second quarter of the game against Northern Arizona on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona defensive lineman Leroy Palu (95) wraps up Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington (6) stopping his attempt to flee the pocket in the second quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Dash Fifita wrestles with Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington after arriving first on a sack in the second quarter of their game on Sept 5, 2026, in Tucson.
Northern Arizona tight end Jeter Purdy (89) manages to haul in a throw despite the defensive pressure from Arizona safety Cam Chapa (13) in the second quarter, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Northern Arizona wide receiver Darius Haskin (1) hops clear of Arizona safety Cam Chapa (13) after his catch in the second quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Taye Brown (6) hangs on to keep Northern Arizona running back Quran Gossett (10) from keeping ahold of the ball on pass attempt in the second quarter their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona safety Cam Chapa (13), left, and cornerback Jay'vion Cole (8) keep Northern Arizona tight end Jeter Purdy (89) from making a touchdown catch in their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) goes down for a sack in the arms of Northern Arizona defensive lineman Braeden Kaczmarek (98) during their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Northern Arizona tight end Jeter Purdy (89) can’t make a grab on a throw under pressure from Arizona safety Lee Molette III (17) in the third quarter, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) flushes Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington (6) from a collapsing pocket in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona defensive lineman Kevin Moorer Jr., left, linebacker Taye Brown (6) and cornerback Jay'vion Cole (8) converge on Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington (6) in the third quarter, Sept. 5, 2026, in Tucson.
Arizona wide receiver Giovanni Richardson tries to step free of the arms of Northern Arizona safety Deliyon Freeman on a catch-and-run, Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona running back Antwan Roberts (44) manages to make the stretch and break the plane for a score after getting hit by Northern Arizona safety Shoes Brinkley (1) in the third quarter,, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona defensive lineman Tre Smith storms in to pressure Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington into a bad throw in the third quarter on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita breaks containment and outraces Northern Arizona defensive lineman Jayden Baer to the outside on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Taye Brown, left, comes out to celebrate with safety Quinn Olson on Olson’s pick late in the third quarter against NAU on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona safety Quinn Olson holds the turnover sword aloft for the crowd after snagging an interception against NAU in Tucson on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona running back Kedrick Reescano reaches out for the goal line to score despite being in the arms of two Northern Arizona defenders on Sept. 5, 2026 in Tucson.
Arizona defensive lineman Kaisi Lafitaga (51) engulfs Northern Arizona running back Jon Wilson (32) stopping him for a loss in the third quarter, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Northern Arizona defensive lineman Devin Murphy (35) snares Arizona running back Wesley Yarbrough (0) by the neck as he breaks through the line in the fourth quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Sawyer Anderson gets off a throw from a solid pocket against Northern Arizona late in the fourth quarter, Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona running back Antwan Roberts (44) tries to hop out of the hands of Northern Arizona safety Shahid Wilson (6) on a run up the middle in the fourth quarter, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell makes his way off the field after running route as and his teammates go through pre-game drills prior to kickoff against NAU on Sept. 5, 2026.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and former Wildcat, current Raider, Treydan Stukes greet the fans gathered along the Wildcat Walk before the season opener versus Northern Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., September 5, 2026.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and the Wildcats line up to congratulate running back Antwan Roberts on his lunging score in the third quarter against Northern Arizona on Sept. 5, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and running back Kedrick Reescano scored a combined four touchdowns and the Wildcats’ defense didn’t allow any points in a season-opening win over NAU.