Brennan Praises Arizona's Response After 34-24 Comeback Win at Washington State
The short version
- Arizona beat Washington State 34-24 in Pullman after trailing 14-0 in the first quarter.
- The Wildcats rushed for 93 yards in the fourth quarter and forced a turnover on defense.
- Kicker Mike Salgado-Medina missed two field goals but hit a 50-yarder to make it a two-possession game.
- Brennan cited Noah Fifita, Tre Spivey, Ismail Mahdi and freshman Caleb Smith as key offensive contributors.
- Arizona hosts a major Big 12 conference game this week.
Arizona trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before rallying past Washington State in Pullman, and head coach Brent Brennan pointed to his team's poise, second-half rhythm and resiliency.
Arizona erased an early double-digit deficit to beat Washington State 34-24 on Saturday in Pullman, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter before taking control. Head coach Brent Brennan addressed reporters after the game, crediting his players for how they handled the hostile road environment.
Brennan called it a good win and acknowledged that Washington State played tough and made its share of plays. He said Arizona discussed at halftime that the game would feature multiple battles, including one of discipline, after two late-hit penalties helped the Cougars to three points. He emphasized the need to stay poised in those moments.
The coach saw growth from his offense in the second half, when he felt the Wildcats found a rhythm. Arizona ran for 93 yards in the fourth quarter, with several running backs contributing, and Brennan praised the play-calling. He noted the defense also settled in, producing multiple stops and a turnover.
Brennan tied the finish to lessons from the BYU game, when Arizona did not close out the fourth quarter. This time, the Wildcats sustained a drive and Mike Salgado-Medina hit a field goal to push the lead to two possessions. Brennan also highlighted big plays from freshman Caleb Smith, a big night from Tre Spivey, and Noah Fifita's toughness on key fourth-quarter run conversions.
Salgado-Medina missed two field goals before connecting on the clinching kick. Brennan explained that a low snap affected the first attempt and low trajectory hurt the second, and that special teams coaches worked with him before he made a 50-yarder to seal the game. Brennan said the staff has full confidence in the kicker.
The fourth-quarter ground success was the product of work by the offensive line and its coach, Brennan said, as Arizona began moving the line of scrimmage against a Washington State defense he respected highly. He noted the Cougars were well coached and had faced two tough power-conference opponents on the road earlier in the season.
On the slow start, Brennan said nobody flinched after falling behind 14-0, and he praised the team's resiliency with Big 12 play underway. He pointed to a couple of dropped passes that put Arizona behind the chains early and said the team wants to start faster and will address it.
Defensively, Brennan said bringing pressure is part of Arizona's identity, though it puts the cornerbacks in solo man coverage. He complimented the secondary coaches and acknowledged the Cougars hit a big touchdown against a late blitz.
Arizona now turns to a big home conference game this week. Brennan said the team would enjoy the win for the day before getting back to work.
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