Khalil Tate and Grant Gunnell saw playing time in Saturday’s game for Arizona at Stanford.
The two quarterbacks were able to move the Wildcats up and down the field, but neither could play on the other side of the football. Stanford took advantage of the Wildcats defensive shortcomings in a 41-31 loss in the Bay Area to the Cardinal.
Was the quarterback rotation a sign of a changing of the guard by Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin? Tate would finish the day 17–32-205 2 Tds and 2 INTs. Gunnell was a perfect 7-7 for 68 yards with 1 score.
What didn’t show up in the stat sheet were two back-breaking plays by the two quarterbacks in the second half. Gunnell fumbling a ball while scrambling which took the Wildcats out of field goal range. Mistakes are going to happen when you’re a freshman are on the field. Tate threw an ill-advised ball in the 4th quarter that was picked off by the Cardinal. Tate is not a freshman. It was just a poorly thrown ball and decision by the senior quarterback.
Stanford head coach David Shaw improved to 5-0 against Arizona in his Stanford coaching career.
With the loss Arizona has dropped three straight. The Wildcats fall to 4-4 and must win two of their final four in order to become bowl eligible.
