Photos: Arizona falls behind early but storms back to bury Northern Illinois 42-17

For Arizona fans in Tucson, Saturday brought the response the Wildcats needed after last weekend’s loss to BYU. Arizona fell behind Northern Illinois early, then reversed the game’s direction and finished with a 42-17 victory over the Huskies on Sept. 19 at home. The win gave the Wildcats a chance to reset in front of their local supporters, while a series of big plays on offense, defense and special teams turned a difficult start into a comfortable finish.

Northern Illinois quarterback Taron Dickens created problems for Arizona early, moving around the pocket and forcing the Wildcats to pursue him in space. Arizona linebacker Dash Fifita came close to bringing Dickens down in the first quarter, while defensive lineman Dominic Lolesio also got a hand on him without finishing the play. The Wildcats did, however, produce an early defensive stop, with head coach Brent Brennan leading the bench onto the field to greet the defense. Cornerback Tyrese Boss also broke up a pass intended for Northern Illinois wide receiver Kelan McInerney.

Arizona’s offense began to find its rhythm as the game progressed. Quarterback Noah Fifita worked from the pocket while also escaping pressure when necessary, and wide receiver Chris Hunter contributed a catch and run that ended in the end zone. Northern Illinois cornerback Marshall Washington Jr. attempted to strip the ball from Hunter during another play, but Hunter protected it as he moved upfield. The Wildcats also connected with Tre Spivey for a touchdown in the back corner of the end zone during the second quarter.

Special teams added another major swing before halftime. Wide receiver Caleb Smith returned a punt for a touchdown late in the second quarter, a play that prompted an early celebration from Arizona cornerback Tyrese Boss as Smith raced toward the goal line. The return gave the Wildcats another way to generate points and helped build the momentum that carried into the second half. Arizona’s defense continued to contest Northern Illinois passes, including a high throw that Northern Illinois wide receiver DeAree Rogers leaped to catch in front of linebacker Jabari Mann.

The Wildcats kept applying pressure after halftime. Arizona tight end Tyler Powell made a touchdown catch on fourth down in the third quarter, extending a drive that required the offense to convert in a high pressure situation. Running backs Quincy Craig and Ismail Mahdi worked for yards against the Northern Illinois front, with Craig fighting through contact and Mahdi squeezing through traffic at the line. Kedrick Reescano also reached the goal line area before being stopped just short by Northern Illinois linebacker Jashawn Nelson.

Arizona’s defense supplied one of the game’s clearest turning points in the third quarter. Linebacker Cooper Blomstrom sacked Dickens on fourth down before Northern Illinois could reach the end zone, stopping the Huskies’ possession and preserving Arizona’s advantage. The defensive effort also included a hard tackle by linebackers Max Harris and safety Malcolm Hartzog on Northern Illinois tight end Liam Russo. Cornerback Tyrese Boss and safety Gavin Hunter combined to stop Northern Illinois running back Telly Johnson Jr., while the Wildcats continued to limit opportunities downfield.

The game also marked a major individual milestone for Noah Fifita. In the fourth quarter, the Arizona quarterback set the school’s career passing record. His teammates carried him after the achievement, and his brother, Arizona linebacker Dash Fifita, bowed to him in celebration. Noah Fifita later added a rushing touchdown, outrunning the Northern Illinois defense on a scramble. The moment linked a personal accomplishment to the team’s broader recovery from the BYU defeat, giving the Wildcats a memorable finish as they pulled away.

Arizona’s depth at quarterback also appeared late, with Sawyer Anderson scrambling for positive yardage despite a Northern Illinois defender gripping his shirt. Running back Antwan Roberts escaped a tackle after making a catch, and Arizona continued to attack with the lead. Not every play ended cleanly. Wide receiver Chris Hunter could not hold onto a full extension attempt in the fourth quarter, and cornerback Xaier Hiler was called for pass interference while defending a late looping throw to Northern Illinois wide receiver Zaire McKinney.

By the final whistle, Arizona had buried Northern Illinois 42-17 and put the early deficit behind it. The game’s decisive moments came from several areas: touchdowns by Hunter, Spivey and Powell, Smith’s punt return, the fourth-down sack by Blomstrom and the record-setting performance by Noah Fifita. For Tucson, the victory offered a needed home-field rebound and a collection of scenes that captured both the team’s response to adversity and the milestone reached by its starting quarterback.