Football

Arizona exposes WVU’s defense again, 52-31, for 3rd-straight loss of season

MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football's offense was doing everything it could to make it a game, scoring to make it 38-31 in the fourth quarter. The defense just needed a stop. Arizona's offense went with a double reverse flea flicker, which, like last week against Iowa State, completely confused the defense. Wildcat quarterback Noah Fifita hit Brandon Phelps for a 42-yard score, 45-31. All the work from the offense down the drain.

With all the pressure on them, the Mountaineers’ defense allowed the Wildcats’ offense to average 9.5 yards per play for 482 yards total and win 52-31 at Milan Puskar Stadium Saturday afternoon. This was the third-straight week the defense couldn't get a stop for WVU's offense, which scored 30-plus points. 

WVU lost its third-straight game of the season (3-3), and still hasn't won a Big 12 game (0-3) after starting non-conference play perfect. Arizona moved to 5-1 (2-1) on the year. 

"It’s really frustrating," Rich Rodriguez said. "I thought it was a great crowd. They tried to lift our defense up. That great crowd noise, and we just didn’t reward them enough. Very frustrating because we can’t get a stop on defense."

Defensive coordinator Zac Alley had everyone calling for his job, and he was looking for anything to shake it up. He even moved to call plays up in the box for the first time this season, which was his decision, according to Rodriguez.

"The result wasn’t any different," Rodriguez said. 

In the first half, there was slight improvement. WVU held Arizona's offense to 24 points, 203 yards, and it only averaged over seven yards a play. The defense held the Wildcats to a punt, had a pick and a field goal. But, in the second half, the defense completely fell apart.

Arizona had one punt out of the first five drives. The rest of the drives? All touchdowns. Arizona averaged over 20 yards per play at one point late in the second half and scored 28 points. 

The Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 341 yards on 16-for-23 passing and three touchdowns. He didn't even have his top weapons, being ruled out with injury. Sophomore receiver Isaiah Mizell was this week's opposing player to reap the rewards of the poor WVU defense. He had 183 yards on six catches and two touchdowns. 

WVU sacked Fifita once.

"I think Fifita is one of the best quarterbacks in the country," Rodriguez said. "I got a tremendous amount of respect for him. He’s tough. He’s competitive. He doesn’t take sacks. He gets rid of the ball so quick."

Rodriguez was asked if there would be a change at defensive playcalling, and he answered: “No, fair question, not at this time.”

Like last week, the Mountaineers’ offense tried to make it a game. Plenty of times, WVU scored to make it a one-score game.

Hawkins went 11-for-28 and threw for 219 yards. He ran for another 98 on the ground and another score. He was far from perfect, and early in the game botched a pitch, which Arizona scooped up for a touchdown.

"I just kind of get it out in front of him a little more," Hawkins said. "I’ll take that one. It just happens. It’s football. Just got to put it in front of them."

Cook carried the ball 34 times for 141 yards as the leading rusher and had two touchdowns. True freshman Amari Latimer had a score as well. The Mountaineers ran for 303 yards on six rushers.

The Mountaineers’ offense left plenty of points on the board and didn't have its best showing, either. Before the second half, Hawkins hit receiver Prince Strachan for a 40-yard gain. Cook caught a pass inside the 10. He fumbled the ball the next play, stopping an attempt to tie it. Arizona opened the second with a quick touchdown.

Earlier, the Mountaineers settled for a field goal deep in Arizona territory and turned it over on downs. WVU had three empty trips inside the 10 when it was still competitive.

WVU's top receiver D.J. Epps didn't have a catch. Instead, a majority of the receptions came from USC and Boise State transfer Strachan. He missed the first two games, dealing with an injury. Strachan was one of the bright spots on the day, hauling in a season-high five catches on eight targets for 121 yards.

There’s a lot of work to do, with plenty of the season left. But the road doesn’t get easier, especially with how the defense looked. WVU hosts Cincinnati on Oct. 17 at noon.

"We got to be a better team in the second half of the season, which we will be," Rodriguez said. "We’ll be a better team. We’ll get it fixed."