Defensive battle ends in Arizona's favor

By Maxx Wolfson

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Wildcat defense delivers in 17-3 victory over San Diego State

In what would prove to be a defensive battle, the Arizona football team pulled out a 17-3 victory over non-conference opponent San Diego State Saturday night.

The Wildcat defense shone throughout the game, holding the Aztecs to just 196 yards of total offense.

"They had an outstanding defense," SDSU head coach Ted Tollner said. "We knew it would be tough to get yards."

Sophomore linebacker Lance Briggs and the University of Arizona defense shut down the SDSU running attack, holding their top running back Larry Ned to just 85 yards on 29 carries.

"We really put a spanking to them," Briggs said. "The (defensive) line played really good and they put a shut down on Larry Ned, who ran pretty crazy against us two years ago."

Briggs recorded six tackles - three of them for a loss - and managed an interception and one sack on Aztec quarterback Lon Sheriff. Sheriff played for the injured starter Jack Hawley who was unable to play due to cracked vertebrae.

"I didn't find out until Thursday that I would be the guy," Sherfiff said. "I was put in a different situation, one that I was never put in before. We just have to drop back and throw balls down the field."

Both teams seemingly struggled on offense in the game's first half. The Wildcats struggled on offense early. Unable to put the ball in the end zone, UA found themselves down by a field goal late in the second quarter following a 45-yard field goal by SDSU's Nate Tandberg.

The Wildcats finally got the offense going late in the second quarter. Jenkins connected with freshman wide receiver Andrae Thurman three times on the drive for 52 yards.

But a pass to another receiver, junior Malosi Leonard, seemingly awoke a dormant UA offense. Jenkins, facing a second-and-goal situation, connected with Leonard on a 14-yard floater to put the Wildcats up for good with 12 seconds left in the half.