New Mexico had a strategy to limit Tetairoa McMillan, using various defensive coverages against Arizona’s top receiver. However, they lost sight of McMillan on Arizona’s first drive, leading to a big gain, and couldn’t contain him throughout the game.
McMillan set a school record with 304 receiving yards and tied another record with four touchdown catches — all from Noah Fifita. No. 21 Arizona started coach Brent Brennan’s first season with a 61-39 win over New Mexico on Saturday night.
“We tried man-to-man coverage, man with help, and zone pressures,” New Mexico coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “They did a great job moving him around, and we struggled to stop him.”
The Wildcats (1-0) showcased their offense in their first game as a Big 12 team, with McMillan and Fifita leading the way.
Arizona’s stars connected on a 69-yard touchdown on their opening drive and continued to gain large chunks of yardage against New Mexico’s defense.
McMillan averaged 30.4 yards per catch on 10 receptions, breaking the Arizona single-game record of 283 yards set by Jeremy McDaniel in 1996.
He matched Jacob Cowing’s record for touchdown catches set against Southern California last season and was just 10 yards short of the Big 12 record set by Baylor’s Terrance Williams in 2012.
Fifita finished with 422 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing, with one interception. Quali Conley added 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns, contributing to Arizona’s total of 627 yards.
“I like how we came together in the second half and played good team football,” Brennan said. “That’s the kind of rhythm we need, complementing each other as we play.”
The Lobos (0-2) began Mendenhall’s first season by losing a 17-point lead in a 35-31 loss to Montana last week.
