Salgado-Medina’s Kick Lifts Arizona Past TCU 29-28

A Decisive Finish

Michael Salgado-Medina’s 37-yard field goal with seconds remaining lifted the Arizona Wildcats to a 29-28 victory over the visiting TCU Horned Frogs at Casino Del Sol Stadium. The win improves Arizona’s record to 7-2, while TCU falls to 4-5 on the season.

The game, played before an attendance of 40,501 fans, was decided by a final scoring drive that saw the Wildcats erase a deficit and seize the lead.

Early Exchange and Momentum Shifts

Arizona struck first, taking a 7-0 lead when Noah Fifita connected with Isaiah Mizell on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Salgado-Medina added a 43-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 10-0 early in the second quarter. TCU responded with urgency, scoring two quick touchdowns to take an 14-10 lead.

Jaden Craig’s 7-yard run was followed by a dramatic 93-yard interception return for a score by Hudson Hooper.

The third quarter saw Arizona reclaim control as Fifita ran for a 9-yard touchdown, putting the Wildcats ahead 17-14. However, TCU answered immediately with a 6-yard pass from Craig to Jordan Dwyer, restoring their lead at 21-17 heading into the final period.

Fourth Quarter Drama

The fourth quarter began with Salgado-Medina kicking a 23-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 21-20. TCU then pulled ahead again when Craig ran for a 2-yard touchdown, making it 28-20. Arizona mounted a comeback, with Fifita throwing a 15-yard pass to Quincy Craig and attempting a two-point conversion that failed, bringing the score to 28-26.

With time winding down, Salgado-Medina stepped up for the decisive kick. His 37-yard field goal gave Arizona a 29-28 lead, holding off any final TCU rally to secure the win.

Top Performers

Noah Fifita led Arizona’s offense with 313 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 24 of 37 passes. Kedrick Reescano contributed 52 rushing yards on 10 carries, while Giovanni Richardson hauled in 11 receptions for 171 yards.

For TCU, Jaden Craig threw for 232 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding a rushing touchdown. Amante Martin provided ground support with 35 rushing yards on eight attempts, and Kari Ashley led the receiving corps with 14 catches for 95 yards.

Sources

ESPN