February 4- Arizona kicked off their fifth season at William David Sitton on Saturday as they welcomed Utah State for their 2019 home opener. The first match in recent history between the Aggies and the Wildcats started well for the home side, with Outside Center Kyle Fulton's second minute score getting things moving. The first half, however, was dominated by Scrumhalf Jonah Eldridge, with the senior's two early tries the precursor to a great kick chase off a ball from Wing Garrett Walker to make it 50-0 at halftime, giving the Senior from Sacramento a hat trick going in to the break.

 

In the second half, Arizona was able to see some new faces in the first side, including Scrumhalf Sidney Shoop and Center Matthew Start who both scored in their debuts. Not to be outdone by Eldridge, Inside Center Lucas Bartzis finished his day with a diving score to nab a hat trick of his own. Wing Garrett Walker (2 tries) also put in a great attacking contribution along with scores from first time starters Wing George Niethammer and Number Eight Riley Kerr.

 

Head Coach Sean Duffy was pleased with the victory but looked ahead to the coming challenges. "Utah State deserves a lot of credit, they hung in there and they're a committed group. It's great to see a few guys like Lucas and Jonah get in to the try zone given how hard they work each week. We rested some bodies and rotated others to help build out our depth and evaluate some players within a first side match environment."

 

#10 Arizona moves to 2-0 on the season with Saturday's match the highest point total in three years for the program. The Wildcats will welcome #20 Grand Canyon to Sitton Field next Saturday before kicking off conference play at Arizona State the following weekend. Tickets for next Saturday's match are on sale on gameday at the north gate of Sitton Field with gates opening one hour prior to kickoff.
 

​

2019 PRICING​

Adult: $10

Student, Military, and First Responder with ID: $5

12 and under: Free

UA Student with CatCard: Free

​

​

Scoring vs GCU

W 114-0

Tries: 17- Bartzis (3), Eldridge (3), Walker (2), Fulton, Niethammer, Kerr, Biggs, R. Thompson, Shoop, Start, Scoular, Clinton

Conversions: Grigoriou- 5/9, Figley- 4/6, J. Rogers- 1/2

Penalties: Figley- 3/3

​

​

​

Arizona First XV vs Utah State

1. Chaz Huntsman

2. Zach Biggs

3. Ryan Thompson

4. Billy Esposito

5. Bronson Teles (C)

6. Sinclair Clinton

7. Ben Scoular

8. Riley Kerr

9. Jonah Eldridge

10. Anton Grigoriou

11. George Niethammer

12. Lucas Bartzis

13. Kyle Fulton

14. Garrett Walker (VC)

15. Jon Rogers

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​