Photos: Arizona Wildcats vs. NAU football
The Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks at University of Arizona Wildcats football at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, on Sept. 2, 2017. UA sports information notes the Wildcats have won 16 consecutive home openers at Arizona Stadium and have outscored the Lumberjacks 321-82 in the last eight meetings.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown but managed only 89 yards through the air in Week 1.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate (14) jukes his way through the Northern Arizona defense in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Then-freshman Nathan Tilford broke off a big run vs. NAU in the 2017 opener but didn't see much action at running back for Arizona the rest of the way.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks receiver Wallace Gonzalez (23) leaps but can't haul in a one-handed grab during the third quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats running back Zach Green (34) has a clear path to the house for a 37-yard touchdown during the third quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Rhett Rodriguez (4) signals his own touchdown score during the fourth quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks quarterback Case Cookus (15) uncorks a pass during the first quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Parker Zellers (93) lunges for Northern Arizona Lumberjacks running back Joe Logan (22) during the first quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) rocks to fire a pass during the second quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks quarterback Case Cookus (15) takes the ball himself as he's flushed from the pocket during the second quarter.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks linebacker Byron Evans (7) wraps up Arizona Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) during the second quarter.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona wide receiver Shun Brown (6) directs his blockers including cornerback Dane Cruikshank (9) as he rips off a punt return for a touchdown against Northern Arizona in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona tight end Jonathan Baldwin (89) out jumps Arizona safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) for a catch in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona defensive end Justin Belknap (86) sacks Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus (15) in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus (15) has his helmet jolted off his head after being stopped on an end run by the Arizona defense in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona defensive lineman Luca Bruno (60) comes diving over the line to help cornerback Dane Cruikshank (9) stop Northern Arizona running back Joe Logan (22) on his run in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona wide receiver Tyrell Johnson (2) gestures to the crowd as teammate Shawn Poindexter comes up to celebrate after his touchdown run on reverse against Northern Arizona in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona cornerback Jace Whittaker (17) picks up an unsportsmanlike penalty after helping stop a Northern Arizona drive near the goal line in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona safety Elijah Orr (10) manages to make a sprawling attempt and deny Arizona wide receiver Devaughn Cooper (7) a catch deep in the Lumberjack territory in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate (14) loses his grip on the ball after being rocked by Northern Arizona linebacker Jake Casteel (11), bottom, and linebacker Byron Evans (7) in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz. Tate fell on the ball to maintain possession.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona wide receiver Tyrell Johnson (2) tries to fend off Northern Arizona defensive end Clarence Smith (45) after ripping off big yards in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona running back Branden Leon (38) eyes a huge hole in the line as he makes a break into the secondary on a run against Northern Arizona in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona running back Nathan Tilford (33) struggles but can't quite break the plane against Northern Arizona in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, right, is coming off a 3-9 season with the Wildcats. The program has a sense of urgency to improve, and the coaching staff is turning to Texas to pull in more athletic recruits.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) gets swarmed by his teammates after snaring an interception against Northern Arizona in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona receiver Tony Ellison impressed in multiple ways in the Wildcats' season opener.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) flies in for an interception during the second quarter of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.Â
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona president Bobby Robbins, left, and athletic director Dave Heeke get photo bombed by Wilma as they watch the start of the game from the Zona Zoo student section as the Wildcats go against Northern Arizona at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) celebrates a second-quarter score during the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.Â
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats linebacker Tony Fields II (1) lunges to drag on Northern Arizona Lumberjacks quarterback Case Cookus (15) during the first quarter of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.Â
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Shun Brown (6) and Arizona Wildcats offensive lineman Layth Friekh (58) celebrate Shun's kick return touchdown during the first quarter of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks quarterback Case Cookus (15) throws under pressure from Arizona Wildcats defensive end Kylan Wilborn (14) during the first quarter of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.Â
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Shun Brown (6) celebrates a kick return touchdown during the first quarter of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Arizona Wildcats receiver Shun Brown (6) gets a spring from teammate Gary Brightwell (23) on Northern Arizona Lumberjacks place kicker Luis Aguilar (41) en route to a first-quarter score at the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.Â
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
University of Arizona president Bobby Robbins, left, and athletic director Dave Heeke on the field prior to kick-off of the game against Northern Arizona at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Fans in the Zone Zoo student section give a slow clap as the team take the field for the Arizona vs Northern Arizona game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona safety Wes Sutton (28) gets a hand on Arizona wide receiver Tyrell Johnson (2) but can't keep him out of the end zone on a catch and run touchdown in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona defensive end Kylan Wilborn (14) crashes into Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus (15) and causes a fumble to be recovered by the Wildcats in the second quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona running back Nick Wilson (28) leaves a pair of Northern Arizona defenders tangled up in his wake as he charges down the field for a touchdown in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona vs. NAU football
Arizona running back Nick Wilson (28) carries for a touchdown against Northern Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona vs. NAU football
Arizona running back Nick Wilson celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Northern Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona vs. NAU football
Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) runs the ball against Northern Arizona in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona vs. NAU football
Northern Arizona cornerback Nate Perkins (26) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona wide receiver Donovan Walker during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona vs. NAU football
Northern Arizona wide receiver Elijah Marks (3) breaks a tackle by Arizona safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, lower right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona vs. NAU football
Arizona running back Nick Wilson (28) before an NCAA college football game against Northern Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Kate Scott checks her headset communications and notes before the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Scott is set to become the Pac-12 Networks' first female play-by-play college football announcer.
Northern Arizona University vs. University of Arizona college football
Kate Scott prepares by looking over her player notes before the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks vs. University of Arizona Wildcats college football game on Sept. 2, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Scott is set to become the Pac-12 Networks' first female play-by-play college football announcer.
University of Arizona vs Northern Arizona
Arizona defensive end Justin Belknap (86) uses the north goalpost as a tackling dummy as he and the Wildcats warm-up to face Northern Arizona at Arizona Stadium, Saturday, September 2, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
The Arizona Wildcats defeated NAU 62-24 Saturday night in the season opener at Arizona Stadium. Here are some pertinent notes, quotes and statistics:
Three former Wildcats were enshrined into the Ring of Honor at Arizona Stadium, one courageous soul guarded 10,000 bobbleheads, and a familiar…
Three former Wildcats were enshrined into the Ring of Honor at Arizona Stadium, one courageous soul guarded 10,000 bobbleheads, and a familiar…
A bear charged a hiker in the Santa Rita Mountains Sunday.