PULLMAN, Wash. (Interstat) — Noah Fifita threw four touchdown passes and Arizona held off Washington State for a 34-24 victory Saturday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Martin Stadium. Fifita completed 22 of 36 passes for 297 yards and rushed 11 times for 20 yards as the Wildcats improved to 3-1. Washington State fell to 1-3. The Cougars started fast, but Arizona’s passing game and a late field goal proved decisive. Tre Spivey caught seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Caleb Smith added four receptions for 86 yards and a score. Isaiah Mizell also caught a touchdown as Arizona overcame an early two-score deficit and a pair of missed field goals. Washington State got a strong all-around effort from quarterback Caden Pinnick, who threw for 241 yards and a touchdown and ran for 35 yards and another score. The Cougars also got a defensive touchdown from Jackquintin Bal, but could not keep pace in the fourth quarter.

Washington State struck first in the opening quarter. Pinnick kept the ball on a rush left and ran 11 yards for a touchdown, and Jack Stevens made the extra point. Later in the first quarter, Fifita was intercepted by Bal at the Arizona 25-yard line. Bal returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, and Stevens again converted to push the Cougars ahead 14-0. Arizona answered before the end of the period when Fifita found Spivey on a short middle route. Spivey caught the pass at the Washington State 25 and broke free for a 28-yard touchdown. Michael Salgado-Medina kicked the extra point, cutting the deficit to 14-7 heading into the second quarter.

Arizona tied the game early in the second quarter. Fifita connected with Spivey again, this time on a short right pass that went 4 yards for a touchdown. Salgado-Medina’s kick made it 14-14. Washington State had a chance to reclaim the lead later in the quarter, but Stevens’ 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Tre Smith. The Cougars did get points before halftime when Stevens made a 33-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the second quarter. That sent Washington State into the break with a 17-14 lead. Arizona’s defense kept the game close despite the early pick-six, with Max Harris finishing with five tackles and Jay’Vion Cole adding six stops. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. and Taye Brown each recorded five tackles, and Taye Brown also had a quarterback hurry.

The third quarter was a struggle for Arizona’s kicking game. Salgado-Medina missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, and another attempt from 43 yards was blocked by Damarjhe Lewis. The Wildcats finally broke through with a big play through the air. Fifita found Caleb Smith deep left for a 38-yard touchdown, and Salgado-Medina’s extra point gave Arizona a 21-17 lead. The drive shifted momentum after Washington State had controlled much of the first half. Washington State’s defense tried to answer. Linus Zunk finished with six tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Matyus McLain and DJ Warner each had seven tackles. Keith Brown added eight tackles and a quarterback hurry. Arizona’s Cam Chapa recorded four tackles, a quarterback hurry and an interception, helping the Wildcats hold their lead into the fourth quarter.

Arizona extended its lead early in the fourth quarter on Salgado-Medina’s 27-yard field goal. The Wildcats then added to their advantage when Fifita hit Mizell on a short right pass that went 11 yards for a touchdown. Salgado-Medina’s kick made it 31-17. Washington State refused to go away. Pinnick connected with Branden Ganashamoorthy on a deep right pass for a 46-yard touchdown, and Stevens’ extra point trimmed the margin to 31-24 with just over seven minutes remaining. Arizona responded with a clock-consuming drive and sealed the win on Salgado-Medina’s 51-yard field goal with 1:57 left. The kick capped Arizona’s fourth-quarter scoring and kept Washington State from mounting a final comeback.

Fifita led Arizona’s offense with his most productive passing day of the young season. He completed 22 of 36 attempts for 297 yards and four touchdowns, adding 20 rushing yards on 11 carries. Spivey was his top target, hauling in seven passes for 129 yards and two scores. Caleb Smith caught four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, and he also returned one punt for 5 yards. Mizell caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. Chris Hunter III added four receptions for 39 yards, and Brandon Phelps had one catch for 6 yards. In the running game, Ismail Mahdi led Arizona with 10 carries for 63 yards and one reception for 5 yards. Kedrick Reescano ran seven times for 34 yards and caught two passes for 3 yards. Antwan Roberts Jr. added four carries for 25 yards. Quincy Craig had four carries for 12 yards, one reception for 8 yards and one kick return for no gain.

Pinnick guided Washington State’s offense with 241 passing yards and a touchdown on 24-of-41 passing. He also ran 13 times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Ganashamoorthy caught four passes for 67 yards and a score. Darrius Clemons had four receptions for 57 yards, and Daniel Blood added five catches for 57 yards. Tank Hawkins Jr. caught six passes for 37 yards. Kirby Vorhees ran nine times for 39 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards, while Maxwell Woods added eight carries for 20 yards. Leo Pulalasi had one reception for 1 yard, and Jack Pedersen caught one pass for 5 yards. Bal paced the Cougars’ defense with nine tackles, one interception and one touchdown. Keith Brown had eight tackles and a quarterback hurry. DJ Warner and Matyus McLain each recorded seven tackles, with McLain adding a quarterback hurry. Linus Zunk had six tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Jaylen Thomas returned two kickoffs for 54 yards and made five tackles. Jirah Leaupepetele had four tackles and a sack, Kaden Beatty added four tackles, and Khamari Terrell had four stops. Max Dean punted five times for 200 yards and made one tackle. Arizona’s Chase Ridley punted three times for 120 yards. Arizona will next host Cincinnati, while Washington State will next host Fresno State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Washington State 33, Arizona 29. Interstat’s ELO system gave Arizona a 71.5 percent probability to win. Washington State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -10.5. The total score of 58 went under the over/under line of 48.5.