TUSCON, AZ ? Toledo's visit to the desert to open its 2008 campaign on Saturday evening resulted in a 40-16 loss to Pacific-10 Conference foe Arizona (2-0). The Rockets were able to slow down the high-powered Wildcats to a degree but had trouble finding the end zone.
Arizona utilized a balanced attack in the contest with sophomore Nic Grigsby gaining 135 yards on 20 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Senior QB Willie Tuitama was sharp throughout the night, throwing for 292 yards and two TDs and completing 25-of-33 attempts.
Junior QB Aaron Opelt threw for 170 yards for the Rockets, completing 21-of-31 passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Junior WR Stephen Williams served as Opelt's primary target totaling a game-high 12 receptions for 67 yards.
Arizona stifled the Rockets' offense in the first quarter as UT was held without a first down on their first three series of the game. Toledo's defense kept the Wildcats out of the end zone on their first two drives but Grigsby capped off an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a seven-yard TD dash.
Staring at a 10-0 deficit following one quarter, the Rockets put together their best drive of the game highlighted by redshirt freshman RB Morgan Williams' 37-yard reception on a screen pass from Opelt. UT's 14-play drive reached the two-yard line, but the Rockets were forced to settle for a ??-yard field goal from junior Alex Steigewald when Opelt's pass to Williams fell incomplete.
Arizona struck back quickly with a three-play, 53-yard scoring drive culminated by Grigsby's 27-yard TD run. The Rockets answered with a 35-yard field goal, but Grigsby scored his third touchdown of the half with a minute remaining.
The two teams traded field goals in the third quarter and the Wildcats put the game away on Tuitama's seven-yard touchdown pass to WR Delashaun Dean.
Opelt connected on a three-yard TD pass to Williams early in the fourth quarter for Toledo's lone touchdown of the game. The scoring play was set up when freshman LB Damien McIntosh returned a fumble nine yards to the three-yard line.
The Rockets will be back in action next week with their Mid-American Conference opener at Eastern Michigan (0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kick-off time is set for 12 noon.
