PULLMAN, Wash. — The Arizona Wildcats are turning into the Arizona Road Warriors.
The Wildcats scored a 59-37 win over Washington State this evening and ran their road record to 3-0 on the season.
The 59 points by the Wildcats match the most the UA has ever scored under Rodriguez.
The Wildcats (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) also put up 59 against Oklahoma State in Rodriguez’s first season.
Rodriguez’s squad scored a bunch of different ways.
DaVonte’ Neal opened the scoring with an 81-yard punt return after Washington State went three-and-out on its first possession.
The UA led 24-0 after the first quarter thanks to two touchdown passes from Anu Solomon and a 31-yard field goal from Casey Skowron on top of Neal’s punt return.
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The lead went to 31-0 after Cayleb Jones caught a 3-yard touchdown from Solomon.
Washington State (2-6, 1-4) closed it to 31-16 at halftime on a late surge.
But the UA quickly got back in control, scoring the first 21 points of the second half to take a 52-16 lead.
Solomon was eventually replaced by Jesse Scroggins in the fourth quarter. Solomon finished 26 for 38 for 294 yards, five touchdowns and no picks.
Terris Jones-Grigsby led the way on the ground, rushing for 107 yards on 13 carries.
Jones had seven grabs for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Jared Tevis had 13 tackles and a sack.
Scooby Wright had tree sacks and forced three fumbles to go with eight solo tackles.
The Wildcats will travel to UCLA next.
Third quarter: The Arizona Wildcats are back in control.
After a brief scare from Washington State near the end of the first half, the UA’s offense began clicking again, and the Wildcats have a 52-16 lead over the Cougars through three quarters.
Leading 31-16 at half, the UA got the ball to open the second and went right to work.
The UA marched 61 yards on just six plays and Nick Wilson finished the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle.
After a stop of the Cougars, quarterback Anu Solomon and the Wildcats turned it up again.
This time, Solomon found Austin Hill for a 14-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 45-16.
The Wildcats still weren’t down.
After Will Parks intercepted Connor Halliday, the Wildcats marched 54 yards over six plays and Solomon found Trey Griffey for a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 52-16.
Solomon has thrown five touchdown passes in the game to five different receivers. Hill, Griffey, Nate Phillips, Cayleb Jones and DaVonte’ Neal all have one.
Solomon is 25 for 37 for 282 yards, five touchdowns and no picks.
Terris Jones-Grigsby has 103 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Arizona’s defense — besides a four-minute stretch in the second quarter has held down Halliday and the Cougars high-powered offense.
Parks and freshman Cam Denson both have picks and the UA has four sacks of Halliday. Scooby Wright has three.
The linebacker has also forced three fumbles, but the UA hasn’t been able to recover any.
Wazzu will open the fourth quarter with the ball.
Second quarter: The Arizona Wildcats have been notoriously slow starters so far this season.
That no longer seems to be an issue. Though finishing a half strongly now appears to be one.
The UA jumped out to a 31-point lead this afternoon over Washington State, but holds just a 31-16 lead over the Cougars at halftime.
The Wildcats’ momentum stalled a bit at the end of the half with the Cougars scoring the final 16 points of the half.
Arizona opened the game, forcing Wazzu to put on its opening drive after a three-and-out. DaVonte’ Neal returned the punt 81 yards for a touchdown to give the UA a quick 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats defense again stepped up, and Casey Skowron hit a 31-yard field goal.
Again, Arizona’s defense forced a punt and quarterback Anu Solomon found Neal for a 2-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-0.
Solomon added two more touchdown passes a 21-yarder to Nate Phillips and a 3-yarder to Cayleb Jones — to extend it 31-0.
But when it looked like the game was about to get out of hand, the Cougars turned it on.
Quarterback Connor Halliday found Isiah Myers for a 37-yard touchdown, and after Arizona’s first punt of the game, the Cougars offense went right back to work.
Halliday again found Myers for a 18-yard touchdown to close it to 31-13 after the Cougars missed the extra-point.
On Wazzu’s kickoff, Jared Baker fumbled and Wazzu recovered inside the 20-yard line.
The Cougars added a 40-yard field goal to cut it 31-16.
Solomon is 19 for 28 for 193 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the first half.
Jones has five catches for 60 yards.
After a slow start, Halliday turned it on and is 25 for 37 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Salpointe Catholic High School product Cam Denson picked him off for his first career interception.
Arizona will open the second half with the ball.
First quarter: The Arizona Wildcats found a creative way to start fast this afternoon against Washington State.
The result? The Wildcats have a 24-0 lead over the Cougars after the first quarter.
The UA, a team that has labored early in games so far this season saw DaVonte’ Neal return a punt 81 yards for a touchdown after forcing Washington State to punt on its opening drive.
The Cougars went three-and-out on their second drive as well, and the Wildcats drove 84 yards on 13 plays and finished it with a 31-yard field goal from Casey Skowron.
After another punt by Wazzu, Arizona’s offense again went to work.
This time, the UA drove 80 yards on 10 plays, but reached pay dirt.
Quarterback Anu Solomon found Neal for a 2-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-0.
Just when it looked like the Cougars could settle the game down a bit, things blew up in their face.
Faced with a 4th and short in their own territory, the Cougars went for it, but didn’t get it.
Arizona quickly went 34 yards on five plays, with Solomon capping the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Nate Phillips to give the UA a 24-0 lead.
Solomon finished the first quarter 15 for 19 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Cayleb Jones led the way for the receivers with three catches for 44 yards.
Arizona gained 183 yards in the first quarter and gained 11 first downs.
Wazzu quarterback Connor Halliday was quiet in the first, completing 9 of 17 passes for 63 yards.
