The Sports Xchange
Dec 19, 2015

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Arizona Wildcats got their best defensive player back in the nick of time Saturday afternoon.

Junior linebacker Scooby Wright, who had missed most of the season with injuries, returned to the Arizona lineup and led the Wildcats to a 45-37 victory over the New Mexico Lobos in the New Mexico Bowl.

Wright finished with 15 tackles (11 solo) and two sacks and had the biggest defensive play of the game late in the fourth.

The Lobos (7-6), trailing 42-37, were driving deep into Wildcats' territory with a chance to go ahead. After a misplay on a pitch attempt left New Mexico facing a fourth-and-12, Scooby Wright sacked Austin Apodaca to give Arizona (7-6) the ball on the 38.

The Wildcats then methodically drove down the field, killing the clock all the way. Casey Skowrown kicked a 37-yard field goal for an eight-point advantage with 1:32 left.

New Mexico's final drive ended when Cam Denson intercepted Apodaca with 35 seconds left.

Apodaca had pulled the Lobos to within 42-37 with a 4-yard touchdown run, his first of the season, at just 1:08 into the fourth quarter. He came on late after starting quarterback Lamar Jordan had left with an undisclosed injury.

The Wildcats then drove down the field quickly, only for their drive to stall out. Casey Skowron missed a 36-yard field goal to give New Mexico the chance to get back into the game.

Arizona seemingly put the game away early in the third quarter on Jared Baker's 32-yard scoring run just 1:04 into the period to make it 35-17.

The contrast of Lamar Jordan the runner and Jordan the passer was apparent on two of the next three series. He ran for an 11-yard touchdown run to keep New Mexico alive. Two series later, he was intercepted, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Lobos 4-yard line.

The first half was full of bizarre moments and a distinct lack of defense. It was also undisciplined, as New Mexico had four costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Baker scored another touchdown to make it 42-24, but the Lobos still would not go away.

Jordan scored another touchdown and New Mexico then recovered an onside kick to move into Arizona territory as the quarter came to an end.

NOTES: New Mexico coach Bob Davie has a past connection to Arizona. His first full-time coaching job was as the Wildcats' linebackers coach from 1978-79. ... This is the 67th all-time meeting between the Lobos and Wildcats, though only the second meeting in a bowl game. Arizona defeated New Mexico 20-14 in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl in Tucson. Overall, the Wildcats lead the series 43-20-3, though the Lobos have won the last two regular-season meetings in 2007 and 2008. ... The matchup had multiple familial connections. Arizona senior defensive back Will Parks is the brother of New Mexico sophomore WR Delane Hart-Johnson. Wildcats sophomore DE Calvin Allen IV is the son of former Lobos offensive lineman Calvin Allen III, who played in Albuquerque from 1992-95.