Mizell’s 183-yard day lifts Arizona past West Virginia, 52–31

Isaiah Mizell caught six passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona beat West Virginia 52–31 Saturday in Morgantown. Noah Fifita threw for 341 yards and three scores, helping the Wildcats win even with three of their leading receivers unavailable because of injuries.

Arizona improved to 5–1 overall and 2–1 in the Big 12. West Virginia fell to 3–3 and 0–3, with its third straight conference defeat arriving despite 522 yards of offense and another productive rushing day from Cam Cook.

Mizell supplied the explosive plays West Virginia could not contain. He caught a 14-yard touchdown pass on Arizona’s opening possession, then had a 48-yard reception early in the third quarter that helped set up Kedrick Reescano’s eight-yard scoring run.

His biggest play came with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. Fifita found him for a 72-yard touchdown that stretched Arizona’s lead to 38–24, immediately answering a West Virginia drive that had reduced the deficit to seven.

The Mountaineers made it a one-score game again when Cook scored from a yard out with 12:33 left. Arizona answered in two plays: a 33-yard completion to Shane King and a 42-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Phelps. Antwan Roberts Jr.’s 30-yard scoring run on the next Arizona possession established the final margin.

Fifita completed 16 of 23 passes, with one interception. Phelps added four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. The Associated Press identified Tre Spivey, Giovanni Richardson and Chris Hunter III as the three injured receivers Arizona was missing; the Wildcats’ replacements still found room for repeated long gains.

West Virginia’s first-half mistakes also mattered. Lee Molette III returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown after an option pitch went loose, giving Arizona a 14–3 lead. Later, Cook lost another fumble at the Arizona two-yard line with 51 seconds remaining before halftime, ending a chance to tie the score.

Cook finished with 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. Michael Hawkins Jr. contributed 98 rushing yards and a score, plus 219 passing yards. Prince Strachan caught five passes for 121 yards. The Mountaineers finished with 303 rushing yards, but Arizona converted its opportunities into touchdowns often enough to outweigh West Virginia’s yardage advantage.

The official West Virginia recap counted eight Arizona gains of at least 20 yards, six after halftime. Arizona now has a bye before hosting Iowa State on October 24. West Virginia hosts Cincinnati next Saturday, still seeking its first conference win.