PULLMAN, Wash. — Quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 342 yards, Jonah Coleman had 168 total yards and three rushing touchdowns and Arizona's defense forced three turnovers in a 44-6 upset of No. 19 Washington State on Saturday.
The Wildcats (4-3, 2-2 Pac-12) scored 44 straight points to break through in a big way after nearly upsetting two top-10 teams the last two weeks.
Fifita started his third straight game in place of the injured Jayden de Laura, a former Washington State QB. He was masterful from the start against the Cougars, who dropped their second consecutive game after starting 4-0 and reaching No. 13 in the AP Top 25.
Fifita was 34 of 43 passing, but didn't throw any touchdowns. All of Arizona's scores came on the ground. Coleman scored on runs of 1, 1 and 23 yards. Rayshon Luke rushed for 70 yards, including a 40-yard TD, and DJ Williams scored from 15 yards.
Coleman also had four catches for 98 yards.
The Cougars (4-2, 1-2) scored on Nakia Watson's 1-yard run on their first drive but looked lifeless on offense after that. They were stopped on fourth down deep in their own territory, threw an interception on a double-pass and punted on their next three possessions before halftime.
After a sizzling first month of the season, the Cougars’ offense sputtered for the second straight week. Cameron Ward was 22 of 30 for 192 yards and two turnovers. Watson led Washington State with 88 yards receiving.
When the Cougars tried to get tricky, it backfired. Backup quarterback John Mateer was intercepted on a double-pass in the second quarter, and the Wildcats answered with Luke's 40-yard TD run. Arizona led 20-6 at halftime and was never threatened in the second half.
WSU faces No. 8 Oregon in Eugene next week.
