By
Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona loses another game in the final minute
For the third straight week, the Arizona football team had an opportunity to win going into the fourth quarter.
However, like the previous two weeks, the Wildcats blew their chance in the final minutes of the game in a 35-32 loss to No. 7 Washington in Seattle.
"Just like every other game in the last couple weeks we had every opportunity to win," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "We are only 10 points away from being undefeated in the conference."
The game against the Huskies was a tale of two halves for UA.
Other than a late fourth-quarter touchdown by running back Leo Mills, the Wildcat offense stalled for the majority of the second half.
Led by junior running back Willie Hurst - who carried the ball seven times for 109 yards in the fourth quarter - the Huskies outscored Arizona 22-7 in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously the team that wins the fourth quarter usually wins the game, and we did not," Tomey said.
After a 38-yard John Anderson field goal near the end of the third quarter, Hurst scored two straight touchdowns - scores of 65 yards and 23 yards - to give the Huskies a three point lead.
The Huskies (8-1 overall, 5-1 Pacific 10 Conference) could not seem to get the passing attack going all game and turned to the option which UA (5-4, 3-3) could not seem to stop.
"The option was devastating because nothing else was really going," Tomey said "They found a way to get the option going and our discipline broke down."
The Wildcats were able to regain the lead with 4:48 left in the game on a 51-yard run by Leo Mills.
However, the run was not enough to put the Huskies away.
UW drove 67-yards on 11 plays in only 3:38 to score the game's final touchdown.
Washington senior quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo scored with a 1:10 left in the game on a two-yard quarterback sneak.
"There is not a player in the conference like him," Tomey said. "Although he did not have a great day throwing, he found a way to win and that is what a great quarterback does."
Tuiasosopo finished the game completing 17-34 for 196 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Arizona kicker Sean Keel had a last second 51-yard field goal blocked by junior cornerback Anthony Vontoure that would have put the game into overtime.
After an emotional start during a pre-game ceremony to honor injured teammate Curtis Williams, the Huskies had trouble moving the football in the first half.
UA dominated the first half in all aspects of the game.
Arizona outrushed (194 yards to 71 yards), outscored (16-10) and outplayed (301 total yards to 128 total yards) the Huskies in the game's first 30 minutes.
"In the first half we moved the ball better against them then anyone has against them all year," UA head coach Dick Tomey said.
Sophomore running back Mills - who started due to an ankle injury to freshman running back Clarence Farmer - gained 119 yards on 19 carries in the first half.
Mills finished the game with 185 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns.
"He did a great job," Tomey said. "In fact with kickoff returns, receptions and rushing offense I am not sure running backs have had a day like that all year. It was incredible."
Tomey felt the return of senior center Bruce Wiggins - who missed the previous five games due to a high ankle sprain - helped ignite the UA offense in the first half.
The Wildcats took a commanding 22-10 lead after a 60-yard punt return by sophomore wide receiver Bobby Wade with 13:01 left in the third quarter.
UA increased it's led after a 38-yard field goal by Sean Keel which was set-up by a 34 yard pass play from quarterback Ortege Jenkins to Mills.
Jenkins completed 13-of-33 passes for 208 yards.
With its second half collapse, the Wildcats still remain one game away from becoming bowl eligible.
