WILDCATS RUN BY AZTECS IN OPENER
#11 Arizona 42
San Diego State 7

Garrett Walker and the Wildcats moved to 1-0 on the season after a strong performance in San Diego. (Photo credit: Alex Ho)
January 27- Arizona officially kicked off their 50th anniversary season yesterday in San Diego, taking on San Diego State in a non-conference clash to start 2019. With tight matches the past two seasons and a historic rivalry between the sides dating back through much of the previous seasons, a lot was at stake for two squads seeking playoff bids in the newly restructured D1A playoff picture.
Fortunately for the Wildcats their new captain Scrumhalf Matt Rogers made his presence felt in the first ten minutes, scoring a try and setting up a second by Flanker Sinclair Clinton after a chip ahead by Wing Garrett Walker to stake them to an early 12-0 lead. A penalty slotted by Anton Grigoriou (12 points) made it 15-0 before a SDSU try in response made it 15-7 at halftime.
“First halftime of the year is always very important. We expect effort and errors in that first 40 of the season, it’s about correcting those and getting in the habit of making adjustments in a match that will make the difference. Proud of our impact reserves for the great finish to the day” said Head Coach Sean Duffy.
The Wildcats certainly made those adjustments, doubling their point total in the next fifteen minutes thanks to a Grigoriou penalty and tries from Center Lou MacLaughlin and reserve Number Eight Riley Kerr to open the floodgates in the 42-7 victory to open the season. Additional tries by Clinton and reserve Winger George Niethammer rounded out the comprehensive first win of the season in a tough road environment.
Arizona Second XV also kicked off on the trip, taking on the University of San Diego on Friday evening and earning a 37-8 victory over the Toreros. Arizona Third XV moved to 2-0 on the year, taking down San Diego State Second XV 74-0 to finish the weekend 3-0 for the program.
11th ranked Arizona will return home to Tucson for their home opener on Saturday against Utah State for the first matchup between the schools in recent memory.
First XV vs SDSU
W 42-7
Tries: 5- Clinton (2), M. Rogers, MacLaughlin, Kerr, Niethammer
Conv: Grigoriou- 3/5, Figley- 0/1
Pen: Grigoriou- 2/2
Second XV vs USD
W 37-8
Tries: 5- Sargeant, McCrossin, Kerr, Richardson, Miller
Conv: Figley- 2/3, Agasse- 1/2
Pen: Figley- 2/2
Third XV vs SDSU 2nd XV
W 74-5
Tries: 12- Clarke (3), Agasse, N. Thompson, Richardson, Coray-Dozier, Miller, Rollins, Start, Sargeant, Davison
Conv: Agasse- 7/12
Arizona First XV vs SDSU
7. Ben Scoular
10. Anton Grigoriou
11. Jon Rogers
12. Lou MacLaughlin
13. Kyle Fulton
14. Garrett Walker
15. Jonah Eldridge
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16. Zach Biggs
17. Braeden Looper
18. Theo Smith
19. Riley Kerr
20. Zach Heisterkamp
21. Robert Figley
22. Lucas Bartzis