College Football

Arizona Football: Top 5 Wins Vs. Utah

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:56 p.m. ET

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Nov 14, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Football (Wildcats) wide receiver Nate Phillips (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second overtime at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 37-30 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Football is looking for it’s first conference win of the season against Utah this weekend in Salt Lake City.

The Utah Utes and Arizona Football have been evenly matched since they started playing each other in the roaring 20’s.

The Cats hope to crawl back to .500 in the series when the teams meet on Saturday. Arizona trails in the series 19-20-2.

Let’s take a look at some of the great battles these two teams have had over the years.

Here are Arizona’s top five wins over Utah.

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5. Cats blank Utes 27-0

Oct. 4, 1952

Arizona 27
Utah 0

Nearly 40 years before Desert Swarm was a chic phrase in Tucson. The 1952 squad put up some numbers against the Utes that Tedy Bruschi and company would be proud of.

The Cats held the Utes to 239 total yards and caused Utah to fumble the ball nine times. Arizona recovered six of those fumbles and added an interception to their defensive domination.

On the offensive side of the ball, Arizona sophomore fullback Don Beasley scampered his way to 160 yards on the ground giving him 7.2 yards per carry on the afternoon.

His touchdown in the second quarter gave the Cats a 20-0 lead.

Arizona would finish the season 6-4.

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Mackovic and Smith Combine Forces

Oct. 27, 1973

Utah 21
Arizona 42

In 1973 Arizona had a few future head coaches on it’s staff. The offensive coordinator was controversial figure John Mackovic. The defense was lead by the king of the upset, Larry Smith.

Both gentlemen had their sides of the ball working near perfection against the Utes.

Mackovic’s offense had 532 yards, including an impressive 432 on the ground. Jim Upchurch had 169 yards rushing while Willie Hamilton added 100 yards of his own.

Smith’s defense was also impressive. The Cats forced nine turnovers including two interceptions and a fumble recovery by Roussell Williams.

Arizona would finish the year 8-3 and 7-1 in the WAC. A late season loss to their rivals from the North would sour their possible Fiesta Bowl dreams.

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

No 3. Cats play spoiler

Nov. 15, 1969

Utah (No. 20) 16
Arizona 17

For the second straight season, the foot of Steve Hurley helped the Cats take out the Utes.

A year earlier a late game field goal in the snow, by Hurley gave the Cats a huge road victory in Salt Lake City.

In 1969 Utah was riding a seven-game winning streak when they got to Tucson. The Cats were struggling through a bumpy season and were going nowhere.

The Arizona offense could only muster 240 total yards.

Arizona fullback Willie Lewis had 116 of those on the ground. He also added a 39-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Steve Hurley’s kick was good from 21-yards out giving the Cats a one-point lead.

Utah would have their chances late, but an interception in the end zone by Arizona’s Johnny Black Jr. sealed the victory for the Cats.

Nov 14, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Nate Phillips (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second overtime at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 37-30 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Utes National Championship Dreams Upended

Nov. 14, 2015

Utah (No. 10) 30
Arizona 37 (Double OT)

Utah came to Tucson with a chance to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive.

With 9:25 left in the fourth and the game tied at 27, Arizona’s offense took a big blow.

Anu Solomon was having one of his best games of the season when he was knocked out of the game, on a controversial helmet to helmet hit.

Without Solomon, the Cats offense was one-dimensional, and the game was pushed into overtime.

In the second extra session backup quarterback, Jerrard Randall completed his only pass of the game.

That 25-yard pass was complete to Nate Phillips for a touchdown and a 37-30 lead.

The Cats defense would hold the Utes at bay in the second overtime, giving the Cats it’s fourth straight year in which they defeated a top 10 team.

Nov 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Nick Wilson (28) avoids the tackle of Utah Utes defensive end Nate Orchard (8) during the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 : Keeping Pace in the Pac

Nov. 22, 2014

Utah (No. 20) 10
Arizona (No. 15) 42

In a battle of two Top 20 teams, the Cats kept their slim Pac-12 South title hopes alive by using their aggressive run game in a rain-soaked Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Anu Solomon threw for 158 yards in the first half before leaving the game with an injury.

With Solomon out, the Cats ran roughshod over the Utes on the ground, gaining 298 yards.

Nick Wilson put the game out of reach when he ran virtually untouched for a 75-yard score.

Wilson would finish the game with 218 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Arizona’s defense forced four turnovers, one of which allowed defensive linemen Dan Pettinato to score a 31-yard touchdown after picking up a Utes fumble.

A week later the Cats would defeat its rivals from the North, giving them a Pac-12 South title.

BearDown Arizona!