Scott to start again at QB for Wildcats

TUCSON — Arizona has removed the "or" from its depth chart at quarterback. Heading into last weekend's season opener, the Wildcats listed "Matt Scott or Nick Foles" as the starter.

Arizona defeats Central Michigan 19-6

Scott played every snap in the Wildcats' 19-6 victory over Central Michigan, and he'll start against Northern Arizona on Saturday night.

"Matt'll continually start until things change," coach Mike Stoops said Monday at his weekly campus news conference.

That's a change from last week, when the identity of Willie Tuitama's successor remained a closely guarded secret. Scott and Foles had dueled on even terms throughout spring and fall drills, and both players were expected to see action in the first game.

The original plan had called for Scott to start and for Foles to come on for the second series of the third quarter. But with Arizona leading only 13-0 at halftime and searching for rhythm on offense, the coaches decided to stick with Scott.

Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said the coaches didn't want to puncture Scott's confidence — something the staff wouldn't be quite as concerned about if it thought Foles would give the team a better chance to win.

"We knew (Scott) was capable of playing better than he did the first half," Dykes said. "And so when you're trying to build confidence in your quarterback, you hate to have a quick trigger finger, I suppose, and pull a guy out and put somebody else in, especially when they're searching for a little bit of a rhythm.

"I wish we had played Nick, but given the set of circumstances and the way the game played out, I think we were wise probably doing what we did," Dykes said.

After a slow start, Scott completed 19-of-30 passes for 202 yards. He threw one interception.

Scott also carried nine times for 83 yards — and that's what the coaches hope to build on.

"You can see what his ability to run the football does for you," Stoops said. "That was promising."

Scott's mobility sets him apart from Foles, who is more of dropback passer, and it brings a different dimension to the Arizona attack.

The last Wildcats quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards in a season was Ortege Jenkins, who gained 166 yards in 2000.

Arizona hopes to tailor its offense to Scott's skills. But the coaches said they will try to keep Foles in the mix.

"Our intent last week was to play Nick wholeheartedly, and that will be the case this week," Stoops said.

Dykes said he had spoken to Foles after the Central Michigan game.

"More than anything else, really honestly, I just kind of apologized to him because I told him he was going to play," Dykes said. "That's the last thing you ever want to do to a player is tell him something and not do it."

Arizona wide receiver Bug Wright said he had assumed Foles would play in the opener, and he hopes the staff gives Foles a chance against NAU.

"I was actually surprised he didn't get in," Wright said. "I knew the coaches were going to at least give both of them a series or two. I hope next game, they at least put him in there just to see what he'll do, so we'll keep this competition going to get the best one out there on the field."