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Arizona Football: Cats end the Season Leading the Pac in Rushing yards in two categories
Nov 25, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona football Wildcats wide receiver Samajie Grant (10) takes the hand off from quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) during the third quarter of the Territorial Cup against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats won 56-35. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
While the 2016 Arizona Football season did not go the way most fans wanted it to, the Cats’ school-record 511 rushing yards in Friday’s Territorial Cup 56-35 rout over Arizona State helped the team finish with a conference high in rushing yards this season.
The year 2016 was not a kind year to the Arizona Football team. In spite of a plethora of injuries to the Cats running back corp, the rushing attack was hardly slowed down. In fact, this is the first time under Rich Rod that the Wildcats led the Pac-12 in rushing during the regular season.
As a program, the Cats generally finished second or third behind Oregon; however, after both teams had a down season, the Cats took top honors as the best rushing team in the conference. Here’s how the Pac-12 regular season team rushing stats finished up:
At ZonaZealots, we’d be wrong to not mention Samajie Grant‘s rushing contributions to this year’s team. The senior leader took one for the team, after adopting a new role for Arizona in his final year as a Wildcats.
ZonaZealots proclaims @samajie_grant for Football Pac-12 Player of the week because he deserves it! #nuffSaid #Pac12 #TerritorialCup
— ZonaZealots Go Cats! (@ZonaZealots) November 28, 2016
Grant moved to running back earlier this season, amidst the depleted “revolving door” at the position. The Compton, CA native finished the season with a 19 carry, 176 yards (9.3 yards/rush) hat-trick touchdown performance in the Territorial Cup to finish the season with 74 rushes, 461 yards (6.2 yards/rush), and ranked as the 21st leading rusher in the Pac-12.
Referring to the conference rankings of team rushing, both Pac-12 South rivals Arizona St. and UCLA had the fewest yards per rush in the whole conference, which likely contributed to their own disappointing seasons as well.
Nov 25, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Brandon Dawkins (13) scores a touchdown as Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Viliami Moeakiola (28) and linebacker DJ Calhoun (3) defend during the second quarter of the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
In classic Rich Rod fashion, his team racked up big chunks of yardage on the ground, including large contributions from the quarterback position. Two Arizona quarterbacks made it into the top 5 in yardage. The fact that neither of Arizona’s quarterbacks started or played in every game during the season, make this stat even more impressive.
Brandon Dawkins led the way for all Pac-12 quarterbacks on the ground, racking up 945 yards with freshman third-string QB Khalil Tate rushing for 237 yards as well. Here’s how the Pac-12 regular season rushing stats amongst quarterbacks finished up:
Perhaps his most memorable yardage on the season came with his collision with Miss Arizona:
Dawkins will be back next season as a junior for the Cats, as he will look to retain his role as Arizona’s starting quarterback. While no one will question his abilities as a runner, he must look to improve his throwing ability and decision making, as RichRod breaks in a younger receiving corp next season.
Although the season was not one to remember, it is important to appreciate the individuals and their contributions to the team moving forward. In wins and losses, this team made us proud. Bear Down Arizona!
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