Ranking the top plays in Arizona Wildcats football history

We have to revise Arizona Wildcats history.

Gunner Maldonado’s 87-yard fumble return that ignited the Wildcats’ 38-24 victory over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl instantly slots into the top plays ever in Wildcats football.

But where exactly?

We’re going to let you decide.

Below are 12 of what I would consider the “top/best/most memorable/put them on a video loop” plays in Wildcats history. Go ahead and read up on them (if you need actually to!) and then watch the clip of the play (because you know you want to!).

And then have your say at this online survey. CLICK the link below:

VOTE: THE TOP PLAYS IN Arizona WILDCATS FOOTBALL History

I’ll keep this survey open for about a week and then report back the results of your voting.

I’ll list the 12 plays in chronological order because I don’t want to influence your vote, but let me say this: If Chuck Cecil and Ortege Jenkins aren’t in your top two spots, you might be doing this wrong.

Anyway, because of their magnificence, importance, uniqueness and good ol’ fun factor, here are your 12 plays to vote on:

(Hat tip to Jay Gonzales, a former Arizona Daily Star writer and current co-host of Eye on the Ball on 1450-AM, who many years ago spliced together an Arizona top plays videos on YouTube. Several clips below are time-stamped to begin at that particular play.)

1982: Max Zendejas’ game-winning FG at Notre Dame

The beginning of a series of legendary Zendejas’ kicks, part of coach Larry Smith’s “Giant Killers” legacy at Arizona, and can you ever really get tired of seeing the Notre Dame players sprawled on the field as the ball goes through the uprights.

Read more about this win over No. 9 Notre Dame and all the game-winning field goals in Wildcats history.

Final score: Arizona 16, Notre Dame 13

1982: Tom Tunnicliffe 92-yard TD pass to Brian Holland vs. ASU

The TD pass came on third-and-8 against a blitz, with Holland streaking out of the backfield in man coverage against linebacker Mark Hicks. Tunnicliffe lofted the pass over Hicks, hitting Holland in stride with a nothing but green grass in front of him. The Wildcats led 7-0, went on to knock No. 6 Arizona State out of the Rose Bowl and started The Streak – the nine-year unbeaten run against the Sun Devils.

Final score: Arizona 28, Arizona State 18

1986: James DeBow’s goal line tackle vs. ASU’s Channing Williams

This is the play in which ASU got “De-Bowed.”

Arizona was protecting a 21-10 lead, and then ASU took an 18-yard field goal off the board to accept a penalty and keep the drive alive. But the Wildcats defense stiffened again, and then on fourth-and-inches, DeBow met Williams one-on-one, legs churning, mano-a-mano … and the smaller sophomore, a converted running back, stood up Williams before his teammates came to pile on.

Final score: Arizona 34, Arizona State 17

1986: Chuck Cecil’s 106-yard interception return vs. ASU

Cecil’s INT was the exclamation point against the undefeated and Rose Bowl-bound Sun Devils, and it came in front of a national CBS telecast in the highest-profile Arizona-ASU game to date.

The Wildcats went on to finish 9-3 and rank 11th in the final AP poll.

Final score: Arizona 34, Arizona State 17

1990: Darryll Lewis turns away Oregon’s Bill Musgrave at the goal line

Oregon had the game’s final snap, fourth-and-goal from the 1. Musgrave rolled right after a play-action fake, looking for tight end Pete Thomason, shadowed by Lewis in the corner of the end zone. Does Musgrave have a passing window? Or does he dart for the pylon?

Lewis makes a critical decision. He abandons coverage and churns toward Musgrave, who has now tucked the ball under his right arm. They meet inside the 1, bodies twisting … and Lewis redirects Musgrave out of the bounds. Game over.

“It’s absolutely the last play of the game, it’s absolutely do or die … I mean, what a play,” Arizona coach Dick Tomey once told me.

Final score: Arizona 22, Oregon 17

1990: Darryll Lewis’ game-winning INT return vs. UCLA

The game was tied at 21 with 1:05 left and UCLA driving at the Arizona 37. That’s when Tommy Maddox tested D-Lew one too many times. Lewis jumped on Maddox’s pass to the sideline and raced 70 yards for the game-winning TD, one of his many highlights in his Jim Thorpe Award-winning season.

Final score: Arizona 28, UCLA 21

1993: Chuck Levy’s 68-yard TD run against Miami

If there is one play that symbolizes the Wildcats’ dominance in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day 1994, it’s this one, as Levy breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage and runs away from the Hurricanes’ defense, followed by a lengendary duck-walk celebration.

Final score: Arizona 29, Miami 0

1998: Ortege Jenkins’ Leap by the Lake

Arizona was at the Washington 9-yard line and had called its final timeout. There were 12 seconds left, the Wildcats down four points. Coach Dick Tomey’s message to his quarterback was clear.

“Don’t get sacked,” he told Ortege Jenkins that night in Seattle. “If you run, you better make it.”

He did, in a way no one thought possible. (I’ve written lots about this.)

Final score: Arizona 31, Washington 28

2006: Antoine Cason’s 39-yard INT return vs. Cal

Cal came into Arizona Stadium ranked No. 8 in the country on Nov. 11, and the teams had battled to a 17-17 tie early in the fourth quarter. Cason then made the highlight play of his Thorpe Award-winning season, jumping an out route and picking off a pass from Nate Longshore. Cason raced untouched into the end zone, providing the winning points.

Final score: Arizona 24, Cal 20

2013: Shaq Richardson/Scooby Wright INT vs. Oregon

The Ducks were ranked No. 5 in the nation, with eyes on the Pac-12 championship game, and beyond, when they ran into a feisty Arizona team on Nov. 23.

The Wildcats set the tone on the first play of the game when Marcus Mariota, who had thrown 343 consecutive passes without being intercepted, had a ball pop off the hands of Bralon Addison. As the ball headed over the sideline, Shaq Richardson made the absurdly athletic and heads-up play to scoop the ball inbounds to Scooby Wright for the INT.

Arizona rolled from there.

Final score: Arizona 42, Oregon 16

2014: The Hill Mary

We all remember the final play: Anu Solomon rolling right, heaving a “Hail Mary” pass to the back right corner of the end zone … and the ball magically settling into the arms of Austin Hill amid four defenders. That is wild enough on its own, but everything leading up to was pure chaos, too, as the quickly-dubbed “Hill Mary” capped a 36-point fourth quarter for the Wildcats.

Final score: Arizona 49, Cal 45

2023: Gunner Maldonado’s 87-yard fumble return in the Alamo Bowl

Oklahoma was ready to deliver a potential knockout punch, leading 24-13 in the final seconds of the third quarter and looking for more. Then, safety Dalton Johnson popped the ball free from receiver Jalil Farooq, and there was Maldonado, snatching it out of the air and picking up key blocks as he raced for a game-turning touchdown that ignited 12 minutes of glory.

Final score: Arizona 38, Oklahoma 24

PICK SIX.@gjett03 IS HAVING A DAY.

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/Y0cKsWKeoQ

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) December 29, 2023

WHAT DID I MISS? Follow and/or tell me on X

Top photo: Arizona Wildcats safety Gunner Maldonado carries the ball on a 87-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)