University of Arizona
1-0 , 0-0
Northern Arizona
1-1 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Arizona | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
Noah Fifita throws for 2 TDs, Arizona opens season with 35-7 blowout of Northern Arizona
09/05/2026 | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Noah Fifita threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, Kedrick Reescano ran for two scores and Arizona opened the season with a 35-7 blowout over Northern Arizona on Saturday night.
Coming off a nine-win season, the Wildcats (1-0) kicked off their third year under coach Brent Brennan with a dominating performance.
Fifita, the rare quarterback to play all five seasons with the same school, finished 22 for 29 before sitting out most of the fourth quarter. Arizona's defense held Northern Arizona to 193 total yards - minus-seven rushing - and sacked Ty Pennington five times, including 2 1/2 by Chase Kennedy.
"We showed up ready to play," Brennan said. "There's a lot to be excited about."
The Wildcats jumped on the Lumberjacks (1-1) early.
Fifita hit Tré Spivey on a 20-yard touchdown on Arizona's opening drive and found Brandon Phelps on a 21-yard score in the second quarter. Fifita also had an 11-yard run, setting up Reescano's 1-yard dive that put the Wildcats up 21-0.
Arizona's only first-half offensive slipup: Giovanni Richardson lost a fumble at NAU's 18 after a 31-yard gain.
"We were really moving the ball great in the first half," Brennan said. "Noah was really on, we were running the ball effectively, the physicality of the football team was showing up."
Pennington completed his first six passes and was 12 of 18 for 142 yards in the first half, but was sacked three times and the Lumberjacks had minus-15 yards rushing.
Northern Arizona also turned the ball over on downs near midfield and Francisco Orduno Jr. missed a 34-yard field goal wide right just before halftime.
Antwan Roberts Jr. turned his first carry at Arizona into a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Reescano added another 1-yard TD run to put Arizona up 35-0.
Arizona safety Quinn Olson had quite a weekend.
A quarterback in high school and a walk-on at Arizona, Olson learned he was awarded a scholarship in front of the entire team on Thursday.
The third-year player had a huge impact in his first career start, intercepting a pass by Pennington in the third quarter to set up a touchdown.
"Obviously, getting put on scholarship was a big moment for me, but also just trying to lock in on tonight's game," Olson said.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
NAU 0, ARI 7
ARI - Spivey,Tre 20 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Salgado-Medina,Michael kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:28
NAU 0, ARI 14
ARI - Phelps,Brandon 21 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Salgado-Medina,Michael kick) 6 plays, 57 yards, TOP 02:45
NAU 0, ARI 21
ARI - Reescano,Kedrick 1 yd run (Salgado-Medina,Michael kick), 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:41
NAU 0, ARI 28
ARI - Roberts,Antwan 14 yd run (Salgado-Medina,Michael kick), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:38
NAU 0, ARI 35
ARI - Reescano,Kedrick 1 yd run (Salgado-Medina,Michael kick), 6 plays, 32 yards, TOP 02:18
NAU 7, ARI 35
NAU - Young-Blackgoat,Noble 36 yd interception (Orduno Jr.,Francisco kick)
