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Cardinals tickets wating list call 602-379-0102
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Story: Patrick Montgomery for S&E News
Photos: Kevin Pakos |
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TUCSON, Ariz. – Fireworks introduced the Wildcats to the crowd of 47,000 plus. Then it was non-scholarship player and backup running back, Chris Jennings that introduced himself to Stephen F. Austin. The junior college transfer from
AWC, Arizona Western College rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in Arizona's 28-10 victory over Stephen F. Austin Saturday night. Afterward, Wildcats coach Mike Stoops had some news for him.
"I told Chris that we are going to put him on scholarship on Monday," Stoops said. Arizona needed a big night from Jennings and a late appearance by Willie Tuitama to beat a very stubborn Lumberjacks (Division I-AA) team. Jennings became the first Arizona back to top 200 yards since Mike Bell gained 222 against Washington in 2003. "He is very electrifying," Stoops said. "I'm really excited about what he brings. He's got a chance to be a special player."
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RB Chris Jennings #28 (AWC)
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Jennings, a transfer from Arizona Western College in Yuma, carried 26 times, including touchdown runs of 2 yards in the first quarter and 10 yards in the fourth. The Lumberjacks (0-3) from Nacogdoches, Texas, out played the Wildcats, leading 10-7 in the second quarter and down only 14-10 after three.
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"I thought the kids played hard," Stephen F. Austin coach Robert McFarland said. "The deck was stacked against us talent-wise. I thought they gave us a little bit of a chance, but we didn't execute things toward the end." Adam Austin got his first collegiate start at quarterback for Arizona (2-1) in place of Tuitama, who sustained a concussion in last weekend's 45-3 loss at LSU. But Tuitama, came off the bench to direct two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
Tuitama threw 3 yards to Anthony Johnson on fourth-and-goal for Arizona's final touchdown with 1:48 to play. "That felt good," Tuitama said. "When I came in, the o-line told me I was going to have all day because they kind of felt bad for what happened last week, with some guys coming in free at me, and all of that. They did a nice job." On Arizona's first possession, Austin completed his first five passes and the Wildcats went 79 yards in 12 plays. Jennings ran two yards for the score.
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The Wildcats' Nick Folk missed a 33-yard field goal try, and Stephen Austin put together an 80-yard, 12-play drive to tie it at 7-7. Quarterback Danny Southall’s 21-yard run set up Louie Runnel's 2-yard scoring run. Cory Long kicked a 37-yard field goal and the Lumberjacks led 10-7 with 6:02 left in the half. After the subsequent kickoff, Jennings ran 41 yards to the Stephen Austin 16. Five players later, Austin sneaked in from inside the one to put Arizona back on top 14-10 with 2:01 remaining until halftime
Late in the third quarter, Timothy Knicky deflected Austin's pass and Damian Perkins intercepted at the Arizona 12. Long kicked a 27-yard field goal that would have cut the lead to 14-13, but Karl Glimp was called for holding, and Long missed one from 37 yards. "Sometimes you play to the level of your competition," Stoops said. "And this wasn't a real spirited game. The talent level wasn't what we saw the last two weeks."
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Arizona is going need to play a spirited game next week when the men of Troy the Southern California Trojan’s bring their number 3 ranking into Tucson to take on the Wildcats. Kick off is at 5:05 p.m. an will be televised by ABC.
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