By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Koch and Briggs lead strong defense
SALT LAKE CITY - The 2000 Arizona football team looked nothing like last year's squad Saturday night, as the Wildcats used defense and special teams to outlast Utah, 17-3, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
For Arizona, the game was an opportunity to silence critics and improve on a defense that finished 1999 in the bottom half of the Pacific 10 Conference.
The new uniforms weren't the only change for Arizona - the Wildcats' defeated Utah behind a stingy defense and consistent special teams play.
"We worked so hard," senior linebacker Adrian Koch said. "There's not one quitter on this team."
UA and the Utes traded punts and managed little offensive progress throughout the first half. A 46-yard field goal by Utah place kicker Golden Whetman with five seconds left in the second quarter was the only scoring in the game's first 30 minutes.
The Wildcats had reason to be worried entering the second half down, 3-0 - Arizona's offense managed just four first downs in the first half and senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins was just 2-for-11 from the field.
While the offense struggled going into halftime, the defense used the break to come closer together.
"Coming in after the half, we realized that if we didn't get the job done (Utah) had a chance to win the game" UA senior defensive lineman Joe Tafoya said. "We had to reach deep and make a stand."
The Wildcats stood, all right - on the third play of the second half, Tafoya sacked Ute senior quarterback T.D. Croshaw, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Koch, who ran it in for a 10-yard touchdown.
The touchdown, UA's first of the season, gave the Wildcats a 7-3 lead with 13:22 left in the third quarter.
Arizona would score again four minutes later, as sophomore Larry Croom's 13-yard run gave UA a 14-3 advantage.
Sophomore place kicker Shawn Keel added a field goal with 4:07 left in the third quarter to put the Wildcats up by two touchdowns. Neither team would score again, as Arizona held on to win, 17-3.
Following the game UA players were quick to credit the defense with the victory.
While the offense finished the game with just 146 yards of total offense, Jenkins was never forced to produce against adversity.
"If you can go 4-for-20 passing and still win the game, it's a credit to your defense," Jenkins said following the game. "It was a rough one, but it was a W."
Koch, who managed four tackles with a slightly torn anterior crucient ligament in his knee, agreed.
"Defensively, there's a lot of pride, a lot of family," Koch said. "The offense is going to pick it up. (The defense) 'Beared Down' tonight."
On special teams, Keel was 3-for-3 from the field, hitting two extra points and a field goal without difficulty.
"I was a little nervous," Keel said of his field goal. "The snap was good, the hold was good and the coaches have a lot of confidence in me."
All told, the Wildcats were happy with a win on the road.
"We came in as underdogs," Tomey said. "To play a game on the road and do this...? "
Although his words trailed off, one could only assume what Tomey was thinking: that the UA football team is on its way back.
