TUCSON, Ariz. — In a decisive performance, Noah Fifita threw for two touchdowns and Quali Conley scored twice, leading Arizona to a 27-3 victory over Houston on Friday night, thus snapping a five-game losing streak.
Fifita opened the scoring by connecting with Tetairoa McMillan for a touchdown pass in the first quarter, and later found Conley for another score to kick off the third quarter. Conley also added a remarkable 50-yard touchdown run, contributing to the Wildcats’ (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) strong rebound after suffering a heavy defeat to UCF two weeks earlier.
On the other hand, Houston (4-6, 3-4) was unable to build on the momentum of their recent wins against Utah and No. 20 Kansas State. Despite moving the ball well in the first half, they struggled with turnovers, losing two fumbles, throwing an interception, and failing on four fourth-down attempts.
The Cougars’ troubles began immediately as J’Marion Burnette lost a fumble during the opening drive, and Zeon Chriss later threw an interception. Houston also turned the ball over on downs twice in the first half while trying to score, including a failed fourth-and-goal attempt from the two-yard line. Their only points of the evening came from Jack Martin’s successful 49-yard field goal.
Arizona, although slightly more effective, faced some struggles of its own. They had four three-and-outs throughout the first half and were unable to capitalize on a potential field goal when holder Michael Salgado-Medina mishandled the snap. They managed to score the only touchdown of the first half on a free play when Houston jumped offsides. Fifita tossed the ball into the end zone, where McMillan outmaneuvered the defensive back to secure a 33-yard touchdown. Tyler Loop then nailed a school-record 62-yard field goal as time expired in the half, giving Arizona a 10-3 lead.
The second half saw Arizona take control of the game. They efficiently moved down the field on their first drive of the third quarter, extending their lead to 17-3 with Conley’s 13-yard touchdown reception. Houston’s attempts to seize momentum faltered again at the start of the third quarter when a fake punt failed, and Arizona capitalized with a 51-yard field goal from Loop.
The game was effectively sealed when Conley dashed 50 yards for a touchdown up the middle, putting Arizona ahead by a substantial 27-3 margin.
Reflecting on the overall performance, Arizona demonstrated resilience and a renewed focus that was critical in breaking their losing streak. Fifita completed 20 of 35 passes for 224 yards, while the defense showed marked improvement in tackling compared to their recent outings. Houston, though they displayed moments of offensive potential, ultimately could not convert and was outscored 17-0 in the pivotal third quarter.
Looking ahead, Houston will host Baylor next Saturday, while Arizona anticipates a matchup against TCU on the same day.