Fiesta Bowl: Boise State leading Arizona 31-17 at halftime

GLENDALE Ten wins will have to do for the Arizona Wildcats.

The UA fell to Boise State 38-30 in the Fiesta Bowl after a last-minute comeback effort fell short.

The UA had a final chance to try to tie the game and got the ball down to Boise States 8-yard line.

But after two incompletions, Anu Solomon took a sack to ice the game and give the Broncos the win.

The UA finishes the season 10-4.

Third quarter: The Arizona Wildcats are running out of time.

The UA enters the fourth quarter in a 38-27 hole to Boise State at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Trailing 31-17 at halftime, Arizona got a field goal from Casey Skowron with 9 minutes and 11 seconds left in the quarter to cut it to an 11-point game.

The defense forced four straight Boise State punts, giving the offense several opportunities to make it a one-score game. Instead, the offense sputtered and Anu Solomon eventually threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Boise States Donte Deayon.

Deayons play made it 38-20.

Just when it looked like Boise State was about to run away with it, Solomon found Samajie Grant for a 51-yard touchdown to make it 38-27.

The UA has lost two significant players to injuries so far today. Jared Tevis injured his elbow and is out of pads on the sideline. Running back Nick Wilson took a shot to the head in the first half and hasnt played in the second.

Second quarter: The Arizona Wildcats will have some work to do in the second half to be Fiesta Bowl champions.

The UA is trailing Boise State 31-17 at halftime.

It could have been worse.

The Broncos raced out to a 21-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game and seemed to have control at University of Phoenix Stadium.

But the UA has battled back and made it a manageable 14-point game at half.

After falling behind by 21, Anu Solomon got Arizona on the board with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Boise State answered back early in the second quarter though when Jay Ajayi scored for the third time of the half, this time from one yard out.

The UA then scored the next 10 points and cut it to 28-17. It looked like that would be the score at half after Casey Skowron hit a 42-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the half.

But instead of being content to go into the half up 11, Boise State quickly went 57 yards over four plays and Dan Goodale hit a 36-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half to make it a 14-point game.

Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick is 17 for 18 for 272 yards. His only incompletion was a Cam Denson interception.

Receiver Thomas Sperbeck has nine catches for 164 yards. Running back Jay Ajayi has 12 carries for 107 yards.

All total, Boise State is outgaining Arizona 397-196.

Solomon is 7 for 13 for 73 yards. He has 37 rushing yards and the touchdown.

Nick Wilson, who took a shot to his head at the end of the half, has 19 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown.

The UA will get the ball first in the second half.

First quarter: The Arizona Wildcats appear to have a Pac-12 Championship Game hangover and trail Boise State 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Broncos scored on their first three drives and took a 21-0 lead. The Wildcats got on the board and cut it to a two-touchdown game late in the quarter when Anu Solomon scored on a 1-yard touchdown rush.

But the story of the first quarter was Boise States explosive offense.

The Broncos went 78 yards on their first drive, 88 on the second and 80 on the third. Running back Jay Ajayi opened the scoring with a 56-yard touchdown rush on his first carry of the game.

After the UA punted on its first possession of the game, Boise State went right back to work.

Quarterback Grant Hedrick found Chaz Anderson for a 57-yard score.

The Wildcats again punted and gave the ball back to Boise.

After the Broncos worked it down to the 16-yard line, they pulled out their Statue of Liberty play and Ajayi scored on a 16-yard score to make it 21-0.

The Wildcats finally got a drive together after that score and went 65 yards on 11 plays. Solomon capped it with his touchdown rush.

The final play of the quarter was a TraMayne Bondurant sack.

The Broncos will punt to open the second quarter.

They have a 242-94 advantage in total offense.

Source: http://tucson.com/sports/college/wildcats/fiesta-bowl-boise-state-leading-arizona---at-halftime/article_a696e78c-9118-11e4-893a-e36a3314f22a.html