Pac 12 Football: Week 2 Power Rankings

The Arizona Wildcats wanted to get back to .500 after losing their first game to BYU on the road at the last seconds of play (18-17). Now at home and playing an inferior team as the Grambling State Tigers are, gave them that chance. Especially looking at the Las Vegas line of being a 45 point favorite.

It wasn’t an easy victory. By the end of the first half, the Tigers had a 21-3 lead and facing their first ever loss to a school from the FCS. With Anu Solomon out with an injury and Grambling State quarterback, DeVante Kincade also hurt at the half the game changed in a large way. Kincade completed 15 of 19 passes for 193 yards and two scores before leaving with a leg injury with 2:38 to play in the second quarter.

The turnaround for Arizona must have started in the locker room. “At halftime, we just challenged them to see what they were made of a little bit,” head coach Rich Rodriguez said.

It also helped that Tigers backup signal-caller Trevon Cherry became a turnover machine. The sophomore ended up giving the ball up to Arizona four times. Three came by way of interception and one on a fumble.

The Wildcats were able to score on the first drive of the second half when Brandon Dawkins ran for a two-yard touchdown. Cherry then threw his first interception, but it was his second that  Arizona converted for a touchdown to close the lead to 21-17.

Running back, Jestin Kelly would turn the ball over on a fumble on their next series. Arizona was able to capitalize on the mistake to take their first lead of the game 24-21. When the fourth quarter began, Cherry was sacked by Parker Zellers and fumbled. Four plays later Brandon Dawkins scored on a run for 21 yards. Arizona would go on to win 31-21.

Next: 8. Colorado