Sept. 20, 2008

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

To watch head coach Rick Neuheisel's post-game press conference, click here.

To watch interviews with quarterback Kevin Craft, tailback Derrick Coleman and defensive tackle Brigham Harwell, click here.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Willie Tuitama threw for 222 yards and connected with tight end Rob Gronkowski for a pair of touchdowns Saturday to lead Arizona to a 31-10 victory over UCLA in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.

The Wildcats (3-1) bounced back from a 36-28 upset by New Mexico.

Arizona broke the game open with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Tuitama's second scoring pass to Gronkowski gave them a 24-10 pad with early in the period, then Xavier Smith added an 8-yard touchdown run with 6:48 remaining.

The Bruins' defense provided their lone touchdown on a 1-yard fumble return by Korey Bosworth in the first quarter.

Bruins quarterback Kevin Craft, the third-stringer pressed into duty by injuries, went 15-of-31 for 81 yards in what was his third UCLA start.

The previous year, Tuitama was a freshman making just his second start when he threw for 204 yards and two scores as Arizona shocked the 8-0 and seventh-ranked Bruins 52-14. Last season, he passed for 341 yards and three TDs in the Wildcats' 34-27 win.

This time, Kai Forbath's 35-yard field goal pulled UCLA within 17-10 on the final play of the first half. The Bruins opted to kick on fourth-and-1 after the Wildcats went for it on fourth-and-1 at the UCLA 17 earlier in the quarter and Wildcats running back Nic Grigsby was piled up for no gain.

The Bruins' defense gave them a short-lived lead in first quarter when Bosworth picked up Grigsby's fumble near the Arizona goal line and dived into the end zone.