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Arizona Football: Cats Top 5 Wins Over Washington
Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Rich Rodriguez congratulates wide receiver Tyrell Johnson (2) and wide receiver David Richards (4) after scoring against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the fourth quarter of the territorial Cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
When Arizona Football takes on the No. 9 Huskies this weekend, the Cats will be trying to defeat a top ten team for the fifth year in a row under Rich Rod’s watch.
Washington and Arizona football first met in 1978 when the Pac-10 added the Wildcats and their rivals from the Northwest.
Since then the Huskies have had a firm handle on the series. The Cats are 11-20-1 all time against Washington but are 5-4 against the Huskies since the 2007 season.
There have been plenty of memorable games in this series for the Cats, including a few of the program’s top moments of all time.
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 Arizona Wins over the Washington Huskies.
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No. 5 Cats Get First Win in Seattle
Nov. 5, 1988
Arizona 16
Washington 13
When the Cats went to Seattle during the 1988 season, they had never beaten the Huskies.
The only glimmer of sunshine against UDub was a tie the previous season in Tucson.
Fast forward to 1988.
With under two minutes remaining and the game knotted at 13, Arizona pinned the Huskies deep. Legendary Huskies head coach Don James did not want to settle for another tie and decided to roll the bones. He opted to pass with the Huskies near their own goal line with little time remaining.
Arizona took full advantage of the opportunity when Wildcats cornerback Scott Geyer blitzed on third down and was able to knock the ball loose from Washington quarterback Cary Conklin. Arizona nose guard Dana Wells jumped on the ball at the Huskies six-yard line, giving the Cats a very early Christmas gift.
Moments later Doug Pfaff etched his name in the history books when his 22-yard field goal sailed through the uprights.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
No. 4 Pfaff’s Kick Does it Again
Sep. 23, 1989
Washington (No. 11) 17
Arizona (No. 23) 20
In 1989 Doug Pfaff was at it again. A week before the Huskies came to Tucson, the Cats hosted the college football juggernaut Oklahoma Sooners.
Pfaff’s last second field goal gave the Cats a 6-3 win over Barry Switzer’s No. 6 Sooners.
Against the Huskies Arizona again turned to it’s mobile quarterback Ronald Veal.
Running the wishbone offense, Veal was 8 of 12 through the air for 153 yards with one touchdown. He also had a rushing touchdown and 53 of Arizona’s 250 yards on the ground.
Just like the previous week, Veal was able to convert on fourth down to keep the winning drive alive.
With 1:05 left and the game tied at 17, Pfaff stepped up to the plate again and delivered.
His 35-yard field goal was the difference, and the Cats had won at home over the No. 6 and No. 11 teams in the land, in consecutive weeks.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 Skowron Redemption
Nov. 15, 2014
Washington 26
Arizona (No. 17) 27
During its recent football history, Arizona has gotten a bad reputation for finding ways to lose games late, which seemed like sure W’s.
During Arizona’s magical 2014 Pac-12 South Championship year, the football gods paid the Cats back twice for their previous shortcomings.
The first came during the monumental comeback win against Cal when Anu Solomon found Austin Hill in the end zone as time expired.
The other was against the Huskies.
The contest was all but over, but a late game fumble gave the Cats new life on the Husky 45 with 1:23 left.
Earlier in the season, Casey Skowron missed a potential game-winning field goal against USC.
Against the Huskies Skowron was ready.
His 47-yard field goal as time expired gave the Cats a victory in a must-win game.
Two weeks later the Cats defeated their rivals from the North for the title.
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
No. 2 Ortege Jenkins Takes Flight
Oct. 3, 1998
Arizona (No.14) 31
Washington (No. 20) 28
The 1998 football campaign was Arizona’s finest season in history.
It finished 12-1 and defeated defending National Champion Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, but the greatest season almost wasn’t.
It still would have been an exceptional year for the Cats, but one play helped define the campaign.
On second down with only 0:12 left, and no timeouts remain, someone needed to make a play.
With the Cats on the Washington 10-yard line, everyone in Husky Stadium was confident Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins would have to throw the ball.
O.J. took the snap and dropped back all the way to the Husky 20-yard line before he made his move.
Jenkins ran full speed for 16 yards before he did the unthinkable, jumping from the 4-yard line and somersaulting his way into the end zone for the win.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1 Defending Champs Dominated
Nov. 7, 1992
Washington(#1) 3
Arizona (#12) 16
During Arizona’s 1991 trip to Seattle, the Huskies left cleat marks all over the Cats.
A 54-0 drubbing to the eventual National Champions is not something you forget.
When the Huskies came to Tucson in 1992, the Cats were not intimidated.
Arizona started the season on a bumpy stretch but found it’s identity during a loss on the road at top-ranked Miami. Arizona’s new identity was simply called Desert Swarm because of its suffocating defense.
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After starting 1-2-1, the Cats went on a winning streak. By the time Washington got to Tucson, Arizona had a new found national rep and was ranked No. 12 in the nation.
The Huskies were riding a 22-game winning streak and was ranked No. 1 in the country.
It was a close game throughout but the Cats played smart on the offensive side of the ball, and Desert Swarm lived up to its name by forcing four turnovers and held the Huskies to just 90 yards on the ground.
Quarterback George Malauulu put the final nail in the Huskies coffin when he scored a one-yard touchdown with under three minutes to play, giving the Cats a comfortable 13 point lead.
The victory over the No. 1 Huskies is considered one of the crowning achievements in Arizona Football history.
Go get those Huskies, Wildcats! BearDown!
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