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Foles' big day helps Arizona rout Toledo 41-2

Sep 4, 2010 - 3:34 AM By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press Writer

TOLEDO, Ohio(AP) -- Nick Foles threw for 360 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to help Arizona pound Toledo 41-2 on Friday night.

Foles tossed two TD passes and ran for another score as the Wildcats recorded their first road victory outside the Pac-10 in nine seasons. Nic Grigsby added two touchdown runs.

Foles completed 32 of 37 passes with an interception that occurred when a ball went off the hands of running back Taimi Tutogi and bounced to Toledo defensive back Diauntae Morrow.

He showed a nice touch on his first touchdown throw, lofting a 9-yard pass over a defender and into the hands of tight end David Douglas, who got one foot down in the back of end zone with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

Foles completed five passes for 58 yards on the opening drive, but the Wildcats didn't do much after that until late in the first half.

Grigsby, who struggled with a shoulder injury last season, scored on a nifty 36-yard run, cutting across the middle and outracing two Rockets to corner of the end zone, capping a nine-play, 91-yard drive and giving Arizona a 14-2 lead.

One play later, Derek Earls picked off Austin Dantin's pass over the middle to get the ball back for the Wildcats. Foles scored on a 1-yard run with just 17 seconds left in the half, making it 21-2.

Arizona's speedy bunch of receivers seemed to be open on nearly play. Juron Criner led the way, finishing with 11 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona's young defense, with seven new starters, including all three linebackers, did a nice job limiting the Rockets to 80 yards rushing, including just 16 yards in the first half.

It was quite an improvement for a defense that coach Mike Stoops said looked terrible in a team scrimmage two weeks ago.

Toledo had the top offense in the Mid-American Conference a year ago, but it did little right against the Wildcats. Dantin was 14-of-23 passing for 103 yards.

Toledo's only score of the night came when Arizona lineman Conan Amituanai was called for holding in the end zone, giving the Rockets the safety.

Arizona hadn't ventured this far for opener since going to Penn State in 1999. It also was the first time a Pac-10 team has played at a Mid-American Conference stadium.