Arizona Gets Key Plays From Both Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks Keith Smith and Brady Batten each led Arizona to a touchdown, and Matt Peyton kicked three field goals without a miss Saturday night as Arizona opened the season with a 23-3 victory over Texas El Paso.

Smith, Batten’s backup for the time being, scored on a five-yard keeper early in the second quarter, and Batten threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Mike Metzler late in the period as the Wildcats led, 17-0, at halftime.

Texas El Paso gained 166 yards in the game, 147 in the second half.

Arizona led, 20-0, before Jon Olsen kicked a 49-yard field goal for the Miners with 6:11 left in the third quarter.

That followed Leonard Lilja’s 35-yard pass to Cedric Johnson, which nearly doubled UTEP’s yardage until then.

Chris McAllister led the Wildcats’ defense with two interceptions and two tackles for losses as Arizona beat the Miners for the 10th straight time and 21st in the last 22 meetings.

The Miners made a game of it in a scoreless first quarter.

David Terrell blunted Arizona’s best scoring threat by intercepting a pass by Batten in the end zone after receiver Jeremy McDaniel couldn’t hold on and batted the ball back over his shoulder to Terrell.

But that was the high-water mark.