KELLY PRESNELL / arizona daily star

More Photos (5):

Related articles:

Final: Arizona 41, Toledo 16Vandals vanquishedFinal score - New Mexico 36; Arizona 28Cats 2-0 but there are buts about it Ground game a gold mine Final: Wildcats defeat UCLA 31-10

Other articles by Ryan Finley:

Cats clearly know what's at stake as clock ticks down Victory by Ducks ruffles bowl slots Results elsewhere will help clarify Arizona Wildcats' bowl destination Players ditch pigskin to cozy up alongside turkey, cheesecake Mom says OK, giving linebacker from Texas blessing to attend UA Being a good sport, UA's Bondzio plays the game, eats it up Arizona Wildcats Football: Texas linebacker verbally commits to UA Cats would land raise if Pac-10 earns 2 BCS bids OSU's 20-minute drill a painful end for CatsCats bit at the end

General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer

Nicolas Grigsby walked out of the Arizona Wildcats' locker room late Saturday night to find that hundreds of flying grasshoppers — drawn in by the stadium lights — were dive bombing him from above.

With a congratulatory game ball under his arm, Grigsby stepped around the bugs, ducked his head and dodged the swarm.

The imagery wasn't lost on anybody.

The Arizona Wildcats swatted Toledo 41-16 Saturday night, dispatching the Midwestern pests with cruel efficiency not seen at Arizona Stadium in years. Grigsby led the way, posting a team-high 135 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

Arizona's sophomore tailback has put up 325 yards of total offense in the Wildcats' first two games this season, both wins. He had 190 yards in the Cats' Week 1 rout of Idaho.

"I want the ball in my hands every play, but unfortunately we can't do that," Grigsby said. "So I just do as much I can do when I do get it."

Saturday's win marked a milestone of sorts for a UA program seeking its first bowl appearance since 1998.

Arizona hasn't started 2-0 since 2002; the last time it scored 100-plus points in a two-game span was in 1954.

Blowout or not, the Wildcats needed Grigsby on Saturday.

Starting wide receiver Terrell Reese missed the game — and has been suspended indefinitely — for both legal and academic reasons. Coach Mike Stoops confirmed after the game that Reese was arrested Friday night on suspicion of driving under the influence. Reese, 22, had already been suspended for Saturday's game for missing too many classes.

"The incident with Terrell Reese is very disturbing and very unfortunate," Stoops said. "It was a careless and selfish act."

Stoops said he will have more comment Monday.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski missed his second consecutive game because of strep throat and possible mononucleosis, but could be back as soon as next week, Stoops said.

Luckily for the Wildcats, Grigsby — and his happy feet — were ready to shoulder the load against Toledo (0-1).

The 5-foot-10-inch, 178-pound tailback gave the Wildcats a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter with a 7-yard run up the middle on a counter play. Grigsby gave Arizona a 17-3 lead — and electrified the crowd of 50,939 — with a cutback move that led to a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Grigsby's final scoring run came just before halftime.

Arizona was driving deep in Toledo territory when quarterback Willie Tuitama checked from a passing play into a run, and handed Grigsby the ball on a lead draw. The tailback slashed through a duped defense for 11 yards and a touchdown.

"Nic has really stepped up," Tuitama said. "He's helping us move the ball."

Grigsby played just two snaps in the third quarter, returning in the final period shortly after Toledo had scored a touchdown to cut the Cats' lead to 34-16. He helped the Wildcats drive to score their final touchdown.

Tuitama completed 25 of 33 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns, an efficient, workmanlike performance. Senior wide receiver Mike Thomas led the Cats with nine catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, and Delashaun Dean had an impressive, 7-yard scoring grab.

But Grigsby, oddly, has become the most important part of the Air Zona passing attack. As the only running back on an otherwise pass-happy team, Grigsby gets frequent opportunities to burn teams while using the element of surprise.

His penchant for "cutting back" — going against the grain to find holes — has made the small tailback a fan favorite. Grigsby's jersey number — 5 — has prompted comparisons to another electric Western back.

"He's got that Reggie Bush in him," Stoops said. "He's got the instinct to cut back and make people miss. Nic has run really well — I am really glad with the way he's been playing."

Grigsby downplayed the Bush comparisons — "I hated USC, but he was definitely a good runner," he said — but must do even more to reach the former USC star's stratosphere.

The Wildcats will be tested next week, when they travel to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico. They begin Pac-10 Conference play Sept. 20 with a game against UCLA in Pasadena, Calif.

Arizona's light nonconference season is nearly over; thanks to Grigsby, the Wildcats are eyeing a soft landing.

"We're happy and confident as a group," safety Nate Ness said. "This is the start of a new era."