Report card: Wildcats earn mostly As in win over Oregon State

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks: B. Anu Solomon was stellar in his first game back from a concussion, completing 17 of 30 passes for 276 yards. The only knock? Arizona scored touchdowns on just 5 of its 10 red-zone trips, and had to settle for three Casey Skowron field goals. 

Running backs: A. Arizona rushed the ball an eye-popping 58 times for 368 yards and five touchdowns against an overwhelmed Oregon State front. Jared Baker led the way with 123 yards on 10 carries. Orlando Bradford added 83 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Wilson rushed 12 times for 78 yards and two scores, but was limited after suffering an upper-body injury in the first half.

Receivers: B. The Wildcats’ receivers were thrilled to have Solomon back, and it showed. Though no receiver had more than four catches, and only one — Johnny Jackson — had more than 62 yards receiving, the UA's pass-catchers looked like their old selves. Cayleb Jones loses points for his ill-advised pitch to Solomon in the first half; that's a good way to get a just-back-from-a-concussion quarterback hurt.

Offensive line: A. Coaches shuffled the line, starting Layth Friekh at left tackle and moving Freddie Tagaloa to left guard. It worked: The UA put up 644 yards of total offense, scored five touchdowns and allowed just one sack.

DEFENSE

Front six: A. Raise your hand if you thought Arizona would hold Oregon State to just seven points. Nobody? The UA’s defense was a revelation following two straight blowout losses. Paul Magloire made his first career start and linebacker, and finished with a game-high nine tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Linebacker Jake Matthews hand five tackles and Wildcats’ only sack, and defensive tackle Anthony Fotu had an intercepted that was nearly returned for a touchdown. Oregon State averaged nearly 5 yards per rush, however.

Back five: A-. Oreogn State’s quarterbacks completed just 12 of 35 passes for 98 yards, and Arizona’s corners and safeties played well. Will Parks had five tackles; one was a knockout blow of star receiver Jordan Villamin that swung the momentum in Arizona’s direction.

Special teams: B. Skowron connected on field goals from 37, 27 and 20 yards and Drew Riggleman averaged 47 net yards per punt. Arizona return game was nonexistent, but it didn’t really matter.