Arizona dominates Colorado 52-17 behind Fifita’s 4 TDs

BOULDER, Colo. – The Arizona Wildcats continued their remarkable late-season surge on Saturday, November 11, 2023, dismantling the Colorado Buffaloes 52-17 at Folsom Field. Quarterback Noah Fifita delivered a dazzling performance, particularly in the first half, as Arizona extended its winning streak and further solidified its turnaround season under head coach Jedd Fisch.

Fifita was nothing short of brilliant, throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers before halftime, setting an emphatic tone for the Wildcats. His targets included tight end Tanner McLachlan, wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Jacob Cowing, and running back Michael Wiley, showcasing the versatility of Arizona’s offensive attack. The sophomore signal-caller finished the game an efficient 21-of-29 for 313 yards and the four scores, without an interception.

Arizona’s offense was virtually unstoppable from the opening whistle, scoring touchdowns on its first seven possessions. Beyond Fifita’s aerial assault, the Wildcats also flexed a formidable ground game, totaling 201 rushing yards. Key contributions came from Michael Wiley, who added a rushing touchdown to his receiving score, and Jonah Coleman, who also found the end zone on the ground. This balanced attack kept Colorado’s defense on its heels throughout the entire afternoon.

The victory marked Arizona’s fifth consecutive win, improving their record to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Pac-12. The Wildcats, who started the season 3-3, are now firmly in contention for a high-tier bowl game and have emerged as one of the conference’s most surprising success stories.

“I’m incredibly proud of our guys for how they prepared and executed today,” Coach Fisch said after the game. “Noah was fantastic, and our offense was clicking on all cylinders. But it’s not just the offense; our defense made critical stops, and special teams were solid. This team continues to show resilience and determination, and we’re building something special here.”

For Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, the loss was another tough outing in what has become a challenging second half of the season. After an electrifying 3-0 start that captured national attention, the Buffaloes have now lost six of their last seven games, dropping their record to 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

Colorado’s offense, led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, struggled to find consistency against an aggressive Arizona defense. While Sanders completed 30 of 50 passes for 262 yards, he was unable to throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted once, leading to an Arizona score. The Buffaloes’ ground game managed only 96 yards, failing to provide the necessary balance to move the chains consistently.

“We just didn’t get it done today,” Coach Sanders stated. “We have to be better in all three phases of the game. Arizona played an outstanding game, and they earned that victory. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to finish strong. The early season hype is long gone; now it’s about finding character and consistency.”

The Wildcats’ dominant performance further underscores their dramatic improvement from last season’s 5-7 finish. With two games remaining on their schedule, Arizona has already surpassed last year’s win total and looks poised to make a significant impact in the Pac-12 standings. Meanwhile, Colorado faces an uphill battle to achieve bowl eligibility, needing to win both of their remaining games.

Arizona will look to continue its impressive run when they return home next week to face No. 8 Utah. Colorado will travel to Washington State, hoping to snap their losing streak and keep their postseason hopes alive.

[Link to Arizona Wildcats Football official site]
[Link to Colorado Buffaloes Football official site]
[Link to Pac-12 Conference Standings]