BYU Recap 2022

ARIZONA SHOWS FIGHT BUT FALLS ON THE ROAD
R
#6 byu 55
#14 Arizona 19

Jack McCrossin and the Wildcats now look ahead to Utah to close out the regular season strong. (Photo credits: Catherine Regan)

Mar 20- Arizona hit the road for the first of two key contests that will have a significant impact on their postseason aspirations, traveling to #6 BYU on Saturday for a showdown against the Rocky Mountain Conference champions.

Starting well is a point of emphasis for the Wildcats' coaching staff, and unfortunately for the visitors it was the hosts who accomplished that, taking advantage of a critical error on the opening kickoff to touch down early and make it 7-0. The Wildcats worked their way in to the BYU 22 in quick response, but failed to capitalize. After sustaining a BYU attack and winning a penalty, this time a missed kick for touch led to another BYU opportunity that made it 14-0 and put the Wildcats in an early hole. The theme continued with the Cougars pouncing on Arizona mistakes, a testament to the importance of being clinical, especially on the road in a tough environment. A 24th-minute Jon Rogers try off of a well-worked backline move is all the visitors could muster and the halftime break served as a reset that saw adjustments and improved effort.

The Wildcats quickly worked their way down into the BYU half, getting their maul going and putting Flanker Cameron Blair in for his second try and cutting in to the deficit. Despite the improved effort, BYU punished Arizona mistakes and converted opportunities that the Wildcats could not. A late Mattox King try cut the deficit to 48-19 but it was too little too late for the visitors as they will return to Tucson with lessons learned and progress shown against a quality side. "First off BYU is a quality side, they taught our guys, especially our many youngsters some key lessons today that will benefit us. But I'm overall proud of the effort in the last 60. We can't make the mistakes we made in the first 20 and be able to dig out of the hole every time. We didn't have to take this game. It's non-conference and we had offers to play much easier opponents, boost our ranking, boost our confidence, and learn less. I'll take the tougher test and the improvement that comes from it every time" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.

The Wildcats have a bye this week before a crucial contest against Utah on April 2 to close out the regular season, with a win needed to put the side in the best position for a postseason berth.

SCORING vs BYU

Tries- Rogers, Blair, King

Conversions- Cathala- 0/2, Figley- 1/1

ROSTER vs BYU

1- Seamus McCarthy

2- Zach Barker

3- Dalton Slaughter

4- Jack Brown

5- James Rivers (VC)

6- Cameron Blair

7- EJ Freeman

8- Jack McCrossin