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The Wildcats strive to open the season 2-0 for the second time in as many seasons.

By Arizona Athletics
September 10, 2009

The University of Arizona Wildcats, led by head coach Mike Stoops, look to open the season 2-0 for the second time in as many seasons when they face off against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks on Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

The two teams will revisit a 78-year-old in-state rivalry.

The Cats test their evolving offense and high-flying defense against their FCS Division opponent who it handled 45-24 two years ago in Tucson.

The state university system's most tenured coach, Jerome Souers, brings his 12th NAU squad to Tucson to work for the Jacks' first victory over Arizona since their lone win, 7-6, in 1932.

Arizona's offensive resurgence in the past several years might be traced back to its 2007 victory over NAU. It's averaged just under 34 points per game since then in 23 games, against an average of 19 points per game in the preceding 23 contests.

Arizona showed that its program could handle a bowl-savvy squad by powering past Central Michigan, 19-6, in silencing the NCAA's active career total offense leader.

The season opener, delayed by lightning for the second consecutive season, showcased a new Wildcat quarterback (Matt Scott), a new placekicker (Alex Zendejas) and a stifling defense that made CMU signal caller Dan LeFevour struggle for each of his 108 passing yards.

Sophomore Scott's debut as the starter was sharp enough to help generate 448 total team offensive yards – 202 off his passing and 83 from his nine rushing attempts. Junior running back Nic Grigsby added his ninth 100-yard game in 21 career starts (118 yards) and a score.

Meantime, UA got to LeFevour twice (Donald Horton and Ricky Elmore sacks) but kept the pressure on without blitzing thanks to defensive speed across the board. Zendejas became the fifth Wildcat in history to connect on four field goals, including three such games by his uncle, Max Zendejas, from 1983-85.

The effort to hold the noted Chippewas offense to 182 net yards (74 of those rushing) was clearly an encouraging performance to open the year, helping Mike Stoops stay unbeaten in all of his home openers during his tenure.

Senior linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka led all Cats with 10 tackles, plus recorded his first career interception to snuff the Chips' first drive.

On its first seven possessions CMU had six three-and-outs and screeched to a halt on another with a fumbled punt return. In its first 10 possessions the Chippewas averaged 3.8 plays and 10 yards per drive. It helped Arizona amass a 15-minute edge in time of possession.

The Wildcats are seeking more than just another victory this week against the Lumberjacks; they are shooting for a fourth-consecutive win dating back to the final two games of the 2008 season.

The four-game winning streak would be the first for the Arizona program since the 2000 season when the Wildcats jumped out to a 5-1 record to open the season in Dick Tomey's final year.

Junior running back Nic Grigsby is nearing some career rushing milestones, which he could reach against Northern Arizona. With his three-yard touchdown against Central Michigan, Grigsby pushed his career total to 16 scores, leaving him one shy of Mike Bell's tally of 17, which is 10th-best in UA history.

Grigsby also stands just 25 rushing yards shy of hitting 2,000 markers for his career and 85 yards away from the career Top-10 chart. Interestingly, 85 yards is exactly Grigsby's per-game average since he became the starting running back against Washington State on Sept. 29, 2007.

In his last 22 games, Grigsby has rushed for 1,877 yards (4.99 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns. Additionally, he has posted nine 100-yard games and has scored at least one touchdown in 11 of the last 14 games.

The Wildcats' defense has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, particularly when it comes to moving the football. In its last 14 games, the UA defense has held four opponents under 200 total yards in a game.

The stat is even more impressive when compared to previous UA clubs, as the Wildcats have accomplished the feat just six other times in the last 12 seasons.

Arizona defensive players welcome the "No Name Defense" nickname that they have earned since the start of the 2008 season. A young, talented and motivated group, the 2008 unit didn't listen to pundits who dismissed the group and put UA's post-season aspirations firmly in the hands of a more proven offensive squad.

Interestingly, as the offense continued to rank highly in scoring, the defense became the backbone of the team, emerging in the Top-25 and third in the Pac-10 in total defense following the Las Vegas Bowl Victory.

The "No Names" have taken a particular liking to playing in Arizona Stadium, shutting down some of the nation's best offensive teams. In the last eight games in Arizona Stadium, UA's defense has held opponents to a paltry 109 total points (13.6 points per game). The Wildcats have allowed just 49 points in the second half of those games (7.0 ppg), and only California (27) has broken the 20-point barrier for points in a game.

If you're a Wildcat football fan, you better be in Arizona Stadium this Saturday. If not, you won't see Arizona play at home for another month. Due to a quirky schedule, Arizona not only plays three-consecutive road games, but a bye week is mixed in as well, keeping the Cats away from home for four straight weeks.

Fans will have to endure 35 grueling days without UA football in Tucson, the second longest stretch away from home in the nation.

Next Up
Arizona hits the road for the first time in 2009 as it travels to Big Ten country to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. The game, set for a 12:30 p.m. (PDT) kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 19, airs on ABC/ESPN2.