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Arizona Torches Colorado 52-17, Ends Skid with Homecoming Heist
The Arizona Wildcats turned Folsom Field into a house of horrors rout on Saturday night, steamrolling Colorado 52-17 at Folsom Field to improve to 5-3 overall (2-3 Big 12) and end a three-game slide with their most explosive performance of the season. Quarterback Noah Fifita needed just three-plus quarters to dissect Colorado's secondary, going 25-of-32 for 312 yards and four touchdowns—tying a career high—while adding 38 rushing yards on designed keepers that kept the defense honest. The Wildcats scored on six of their first seven drives, amassing 489 total yards (285 passing, 204 rushing) against a Buffs defense that has now bled 105 points over its last two outings, including a 53-7 drubbing at Utah last week. Wide receiver Tre Spivey set the tone with a 57-yard screen-pass touchdown on Arizona's third offensive snap—breaking multiple tackles en route to the end zone—and finished with six catches for 112 yards and two scores. Freshman Gio Richardson flashed star potential with a 60-yard touchdown reception on a deep crosser, his first career score, while running back Kedrick Reescano capped the ground attack with 98 yards on 16 carries, including a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter. Arizona's defense contributed three takeaways and three sacks, forcing turnovers that fueled a 35-10 halftime lead in front of a deflated crowd of 48,322. Colorado (3-6, 1-5 Big 12), cycling through three quarterbacks in a desperate bid for rhythm, managed 265 total yards but converted just 4-of-13 third downs; starter Kaidon Salter struggled in 142 yards on 14-of-26 passing with two interceptions, yielding to freshman Julian Lewis, who tossed a 59-yard touchdown strike to Omarion Miller for the Buffs' lone second-half points.
For head coach Brent Brennan, the blowout was a timely reminder of his team's upside entering November. "This team showed up with an edge—they were pissed about the losses and attacked every snap like it was personal," Brennan said postgame, highlighting the road grit in a venue where Arizona had lost five straight since 2019. "Noah was locked in from the jump, Tre's playmaking reminded everyone what he's capable of, and our defense bent but never broke; this is the blueprint for finishing strong in the Big 12." Fifita, now 3-0 lifetime against Colorado, credited the preparation: "We knew Boulder would be rowdy, but we executed our plan and fed off the energy from our guys up front—Gio's run after the catch was huge." On the Colorado sideline, Deion Sanders' frustration was palpable after another defensive collapse, his shades doing little to mask the sting. "We got outexecuted in every phase—hats off to Arizona, but we've got to own these self-inflicted wounds like the turnovers and sacks, and flush it during the bye," Sanders said, alluding to the Buffs' ongoing woes protecting the pocket (three sacks allowed) and containing chunk plays (Arizona averaged 12.3 yards per completion). With bowl eligibility one win away, Arizona heads home to host Utah next Saturday, buoyed by a signature victory that recements their Big 12 relevance, while Colorado stares down a steep rebuild amid back-to-back humiliations.
It would have been nice to possess the ball longer but Colorado continually gave up the big plays to our offense
The Buffs are completely undisciplined and poorly coached, which led to penalties, turnovers and excessive substitutions.
The Cats still played well, with the exception of one Fifita pass (which was negated by a "roughing the passer") and a couple instances where our DB's were beat long.
On to Kansas, which should make us bowl eligible!