Wildcats throttle Rockets

TUCSON - Nic Grigsby rushed for three first-half touchdowns and the Arizona Wildcats went on to beat Toledo 41-16 on Saturday night. Grigsby carried 20 times for 135 yards despite sitting out the third quarter.

The shifty sophomore from Whittier, Calif., optimistically listed at 5-foot-10, had touchdown runs of 7, 27 and 14 yards to help the Wildcats take a 24-6 halftime lead.

He became the first Arizona back with three rushing scores in a game since Mike Bell did it against Washington in 2003.

Willie Tuitama completed 25 of 33 for 292 yards and two second-half touchdowns. Mike Thomas caught nine passes for 138 yards and one score.

Toledo’s Aaron Opelt completed 21 of 31 for 170 yards in the Rockets’ season opener. Stephen Williams caught 12 for 67 yards, including Toledo’s only touchdown.

Coming off a 70-0 rout of Idaho, the Wildcats have more than 100 points in their opening two games for the first time since 1954.

After punting on its first possession, Arizona scored on its remaining four possessions of the opening half.

Grigsby’s 19-yard run started the Wildcats’ first TD drive, and he ended it by going 7-yard for the score to make it 10-0 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rockets, playing a Pac-10 team for the first time since 1991, didn’t get a first down in the opening quarter but they moved the ball in the second, even though they couldn’t get it in the end zone.

Alex Steigerwarld kicked field goals of 20 and 35 in the first half and 21 in the second.

Trailing 27-6, Toledo drove to the Arizona 1 in the third quarter but was pushed back a yard on each of the next three plays. Steigerwald’s 21-yard field goal made it 27-9 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.

Tuitama’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Delashaun Dean on the first play of the fourth quarter put the Wildcats up 34-9.

EXTRA POINT: Arizona starting wide receiver Terrell Reese has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated, coach Mike Stoops said.

Stoops brought up the case in his post-game news conference following the Wildcats’ victory over Toledo. Stoops told The Associated Press that Reese had been arrested for driving under the influence on Friday night. Reese already had been suspended for the Toledo game for missing classes, Stoops said.

“His commitment to our team has to be greater than that,” the coach said.