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 for Arizona.
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.
Fole 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.
Grigsby, who struggled with a shoulder injury last season, scored on a nifty 36-yard run to give Arizona a 14-2 lead. One play later, Derek Earls picked off Austin Dantin’s pass to get the ball back for the Wildcats. Foles scored on a 1-yard run, making it 21-2.
Arizona’s Juron Criner finished with 11 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Arizona’s young defense, with seven new starters, did a nice job against Toledo, which had the top offense in the Mid-American Conference a year ago but did little right against the Wildcats.
Toledo’s only score came when Arizona lineman Conan Amituanai was called for holding in the end zone, giving the Rockets the safety.
The game marked the first time a Pac-10 team has played at a Mid-American Conference stadium.
NCAA RUNS REVERSE: MASOLI CAN PLAY
In another surprising twist to a month-long saga, Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has been cleared to play just one day before the start of the season.
Three days ago, the NCAA ruled that the former Oregon quarterback had to sit out a season after enrolling at Mississippi. But the university appealed that decision, and the NCAA Division I Subcommittee for Legislative Relief overturned the first ruling.
Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said he couldn’t talk about specifics of Friday’s appeals hearing but was thrilled with the decision.
“It’s a big lift for us, and the team’s really excited,” Nutt said. “Jeremiah and his family were in tears they were so happy afterward.”
Masoli is expected to be the Rebels’ starting quarterback this season, though Nutt said sophomore Nathan Stanley will start against Jacksonville State today because of the short notice.
Masoli played for Oregon the past two seasons, leading the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 2009. But he was kicked off Oregon’s team this summer after two run-ins with police. He pleaded guilty to a second-degree burglary charge and was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Masoli had already received an undergraduate degree from Oregon and decided to transfer to Ole Miss, where he entered the Parks and Recreation graduate program. The NCAA will often waive a one-year residency requirement for athletes who enter a graduate program not offered at the previous school but initially didn’t do that for Masoli.
SHORT YARDAGE
Boise State running backs coach Keith Abu Bhonapha was arrested early Friday on suspicion of drunken driving and won’t make the trip to the team’s season opener against No. 10 Virginia Tech on Monday. … Brandon McManus kicked a 43-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to lift Temple to a 31-24 win over defending FCS national champion Villanova. … Georgia safety Alec Ogletree has been suspended for at least one game following a misdemeanor theft charge. … Investigators subpoenaed North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin in a case involving sports agents laws.
