Second on the list, 567 yards from first
Noah Fifita went 22 of 29 for 262 yards and two touchdowns in Tucson on Saturday night, and the number that matters is not on that line. It is 567: the yardage he still needs to pass Nick Foles and own Arizona’s career passing record outright. He climbed into second place in school history during a 35-7 win over Northern Arizona and was pulled in the fourth quarter with the outcome long settled.
Fifita is also the active FBS leader in career touchdown passes with 75, a total built across four seasons in the same programme at a time when quarterbacks rarely stay put. He spread the ball to nine different receivers, hitting Tre Spivey for a 20-yard score on the opening drive and Brandon Phelps for 21 yards early in the second quarter.
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A defence that erased the run entirely
The more startling number came from the other side. Northern Arizona finished with minus-7 rushing yards. Arizona had not held an opponent to negative rushing yardage since 2006, two decades of football without a performance like it.
Ty Pennington completed 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards for the Lumberjacks, took five sacks and threw an interception. NAU’s best chance before half-time ended with a missed 34-yard field goal, and by then Arizona led 21-0 having outgained them 304-125.
Kedrick Reescano scored twice from a yard out, and Marshall transfer Antwan Roberts Jr. added a 14-yard run for 28-0 with 5:01 left in the third. The Wildcats finished with 206 rushing yards and 520 in total.
Fifth straight opening win, and Big 12 play next
Northern Arizona avoided the shutout when Noble Young-Blackgoat picked off Arizona backup Sawyer Anderson and returned it 36 yards with 10:55 remaining. That interception return was the only score NAU managed against a defence that conceded nothing to their offence.
Arizona improve to 1-0 and have now won five consecutive season openers. The schedule turns serious on Sept. 12 with a trip to BYU to open Big 12 play, where Fifita will have his first real shot at chipping into the 567 yards standing between him and Foles. NAU drop to 1-1 and host Incarnate Word the same day.
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