Arizona returns blocked kick for touchdown for first time in 20 years
Arizona found itself in a tight matchup with Northern Arizona early Saturday night.
The Wildcats held a 14-3 lead going into the locker room at the halftime break, but the Lumberjacks opened the third quarter with a drive. They began at their own 25 and drove all the way to the Arizona 4-yard-line. An incompletion on third-and-goal brought up a fourth and, to help its angle, NAU took a delay to set up a 26-yard field goal attempt.
Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei and Tacario Davis then combined to keep NAU off the scoreboard.
Uiagalelei got a hand on the football. Davis returned it 85 yards for six points the other way.
TACARIO DAVIS TO THE HOUSEEEEE‼️‼️‼️
First blocked field goal returned for a TD since 2002.
📺: Pac-12 Network pic.twitter.com/oeelBUdvIS
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 3, 2023
The return is Arizona’s first such play since the 2002 season.
And it also completely flipped the game.
NAU went three-and-out and then four-and-out on its next two possessions. After the turnover on downs, Arizona covered 37 yards in four plays to score and go up 28-3.
NAU responded with another three-and-out, and then Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura capped a three-play Arizona possession with a 53-yard run down the right sideline to push Arizona’s lead to 35-3 at the end of the third quarter.