Matt Ortega

According to the Tucson Citizen, the Arizona Wildcats are the nation’s best inside the redzone. Granted the first two games were uncharacteristic blowouts against the lowly Idaho Vandals and Toledo Rockets, Wildcats fans are fired up this season.

Getting inside the red zone didn’t guarantee anything for Arizona a year ago.

The Wildcats are a sure thing, at least so far, when getting the ball to the 20-yard line after victories over Idaho and Toledo.

What a difference from a year ago, when the red zone made the Wildcats feel blue with only a 43 percent touchdown ratio when inside the 20.

“We have really worked on it,” UA coach Mike Stoops said. “We had the right plays called. We just couldn’t execute as well as we needed to.”

This season, UA (2-0) is perfect inside the red zone: 15 for 15.

Outscoring opponents 111-16 in their first two games, the Wildcats rank third in the nation scoring 55.5 points per game. Quarterback Willie Tuitama ranks 12th in the nation in pass efficiency and among the leaders in the PAC-10 conference in only six quarters of play as opposed to eight for most starting quarterbacks. Their four interceptions this season places them seventh in the nation.

The fact of the matter remains, however, that the massive offensive output and strong defensive showing came against two of the worst teams in the nation and the Wildcats are 2-0 on their weakest nonconference schedule in six years — my freshman year at Arizona.

The Wildcats will travel to New Mexico for their first true test this season. Although the Lobos are 0-2 in 2008, last year, they were 9-4, and walked away from their game against the Wildcats with a 2-point victory. On Saturday, the Wildcats may get some added help from the Lobos starting quarterback Donovan Porterie who, according to John Moredich of the Tucson Citizen, lost his touch from last year.