Mon, Dec 01, 2008

UA Sports

Final: Arizona 48, Washington 14

By Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.04.2008
The Arizona Wildcats showed no mercy.
They spread the ball. They ran the ball. And, just when a blowout seemed secure, they twisted the knife a little more.
Arizona's 48-14 win over Washington tonight in front of 55,624 fans at Arizona Stadium was unique in its one-sidedness. The Wildcats dominated on both sides of the ball and dispatched the Huskies by 34 points, the most lopsided UA win in the teams' 30-year rivalry.
Fact it, the game was never really close. Arizona (4-1 overall, 2-0 Pac-10) scored 17 first-quarter points and never looked back.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 105 yards in three quarters of play. His three touchdown passes are the most of any tight end in Arizona history. Gronkowski's first score of the night, a 37-yard catch and run from quarterback Willie Tuitama, may be the most impressive play in his short career.
Facing second-and-7 from Washington's 37, Arizona called a little-used play: the middle screen. Quarterback Willie Tuitama took the snap and backpedaled, sucking in the Huskies' defensive line and linebackers. Gronkowski ran a short slant and waited for the pass. Tuitama hit him, and Gronkowski — running down the middle of the field — took it all the way for a touchdown.
Gronkowski caught his second touchdown of the day on the Wildcats' final drive of the half. He ran a short slant, caught Tuitama's pass at the 5-yard line, and bowled over a few Washington defenders on his way to a touchdown.
He added an 8-yard touchdown catch on the Wildcats' first drive of the second half before being mothballed for the night. Arizona will need him to stay fresh: The Wildcats will take on Stanford next week in Palo Alto, Calif., before returning home for against Cal and USC.
Tuitama was efficient, if not spectacular, in the blowout win. Arizona's senior quarterback connected 17 of 21 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns before being lifted midway through the third quarter. Backup Matt Scott took over, and led a scoring drive that gave Arizona a 48-7 lead. Arizona's quarterbacks spread the ball to eight different receivers, including the little-used Brandon Lopez, A.J. Simmons and Keola Antolin.
Defensively, the Wildcats proved to be a rude greeting for Ronnie Fouch. The Huskies' freshman was battered in his first career start, completing one-third of his pass attempts. His lone touchdown pass, a 20-yard lob to Michael Gottlieb, came in the fourth quarter against Arizona's second-and-third-string defense.
Fouch's struggles will only compound the problems for hapless Washington (0-5, 0-3). The Huskies have the nation's toughest schedule.