Foles suffers rib contusion, hopes to play

TUCSON Arizona senior quarterback Nick Foles suffered a rib contusion late in Saturday night's game against Arizona State but hopes to play in Saturday's season-finale against Louisiana-Lafayette, UA interim coach Tim Kish said on Monday at his weekly press conference. Kish said there is soreness and Foles will continue to be monitored, but after tests there was nothing serious in terms of injury. Kish added he was encouraged that was the news. He wants to play, Kish said, adding that Foles went to him on Sunday to say that. Foles missed the final two plays of Arizonas game-winning drive in Saturday night's 31-27 victory over Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium. He was replaced by seldom-used senior Bryson Beirne, who completed a screen pass to Juron Criner two plays later that Criner turned into the game-winning touchdown with a 23-yard run, breaking several tackles along the way. The touchdown reception was the 30th of his career, tying Theopolis Bell's school record. Foles completed 35 of 51 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game. He now holds the Arizona career records for passing yards (9,659) and completions (900) and needs three more touchdown passes to equal Willie Tuitama's record of 67. Beirne would again be Foles replacement if he could not go on Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m. Two two quarterbacks are among 19 seniors who will play their final game as Wildcats. The group includes wide receivers Criner, David Roberts, David Douglas and Gino Crump; running backs Keola Antolin and David Hill; defensive backs Robert Golden, Trevin Wade, Lyle Brown and Adam Gottschalk; linebackers Derek Earls, Paul Vassallo and Bilal Muhammad; defensive ends C.J. Parish and Mohammed Usman; kicker Alex Zendejas; and long snapper David Highberger. Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt Conference comes into the game with an 8-3 record.