2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 1
The Yankees answered in the bottom of the inning when Jeter smashed a two-run home run into the left field seats, and in the fourth, a two-out RBI double off the bat of Swisher put the Yankees in front for the first time of the night. One inning later, Rodriguez broke an 0-for-29 postseason skid with runners on base (dating back to the 2004 ALCS) by lining a two-out single to left center, scoring Jeter from second and knocking Twins starter Brian Duensing out of the game.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 1
Matsui then belted a two-run home run into Monument Park off reliever Francisco Liriano, making it 6–2 Yankees. Rodriguez added another RBI single in the seventh off of John Rauch with the run charged to Liriano to complete the scoring. Sabathia settled down after the third inning, striking out eight and limiting the Twins to two runs (one earned) and eight hits in 6+2⁄3 innings of work. The Yankees bullpen then combined for 2+1⁄3 innings of scoreless relief.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
6:07 p.m. (ET) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
Late-game heroics from Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira powered the Yankees past the Twins in Game 2 for a commanding two-games-to-none series lead. The Twins' Nick Blackburn and Yankees' A. J. Burnett pitched five shutout innings each before Delmon Young walked with one out in the top of the sixth, stole second and scored on Brendan Harris's triple, but the Yankees tied the score in the bottom of the inning on Rodriguez's RBI single off of Blackburn.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
In the eighth, Phil Hughes allowed a two-out walk to Carlos Gomez, who moved to third on Harris's single and scored on Nick Punto's single. Mariano Rivera relieved Hughes and allowed an RBI single to Denard Span. With the Yankees trailing 3–1 in the bottom of the ninth, Teixeira led off with a single off Twins closer Joe Nathan, and Rodriguez followed with a dramatic game-tying two-run home run into the Yankee bullpen in right center.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
The Yankees threatened to win the game in the tenth, putting runners on first and third with one out, but Johnny Damon lined out to shortstop Orlando Cabrera and Brett Gardner was doubled off third to end the inning. In the top of the 11th the Twins mounted a threat of their own, beginning with a Joe Mauer base hit later in an at-bat in which he had already been denied a ground-rule double on a blown call by left field umpire Phil Cuzzi, who erroneously called Mauer's drive down the left field line foul.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
Replays showed the ball landed inside the foul line in fair territory. Two subsequent Twins hits moved baserunners up a single base and loaded the bases with nobody out, meaning that Cuzzi's officiating error possibly cost the Twins a run. Yankees reliever David Robertson was able to work out of the jam, bringing the total number of runners left on base by the Twins to 17. That set the stage for Teixeira, who opened the bottom of the frame by lining José Mijares' 2–1 pitch down the line and just over the left field wall for a walk-off home run.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 2
Teixeira's home run was the first of his postseason career and the first postseason walk-off home run by a Yankee since Aaron Boone's series-winner in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 3
7:07 p.m. (ET) at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 3
Starters Carl Pavano and Andy Pettitte matched zeroes until the bottom of the sixth, when Joe Mauer singled off Pettitte with two on to put the Twins ahead 1–0. The Yankees seized the lead half an inning later on a pair of opposite field solo home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada. In the eighth, Nick Punto led off with a double off New York's Phil Hughes and Denard Span followed with an infield single, but Punto made a wide turn around third and was thrown out trying to get back to the bag, effectively ending the threat.


2009 American League Division Series, New York vs. Minnesota, Game 3
In the top of the ninth, Ron Mahay, Jon Rauch and Jose Mijares walked three straight batters with one out before consecutive RBI singles by Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano off of Joe Nathan padded the Yankees' lead to 4–1. Mariano Rivera recorded the final four outs, earning the save and sending the Yankees on to the American League Championship Series in the Twins' final game at the Metrodome.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 1
9:37 p.m. (ET) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 1
Game 1 started off as a pitchers' duel between Los Angeles' John Lackey and Boston's Jon Lester. Each starter gave up four hits; however, one of the hits given up by Lester was a three-run home run by Torii Hunter in the fifth inning that proved to be all the run support Lackey needed. In the seventh, Ramon Ramirez loaded the bases for the Angels on a walk, hit-by-pitch and single with no outs. Takashi Saito in relief allowed a two-out Kendry Morales RBI single that scored Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera. Lackey pitched 7+1⁄3 shutout innings while Darren Oliver pitched 1+2⁄3 shutout innings. This was the first time the Red Sox had been shut out in postseason play since Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS, and the first ever shutout by Angels pitching in the postseason.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 2
9:37 p.m. (ET) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 2
The Red Sox scored their first run of the series when Jacoby Ellsbury tripled to lead off the fourth and scored on Victor Martinez's single. However, they did not score again while the Angels tied the game in the bottom half on Kendrys Morales's sacrifice fly with two on. The Angels broke the tie with three runs in the seventh to hand Josh Beckett his first loss in nine postseason starts since Game 3 of the 2003 World Series.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 2
Vladimir Guerrero drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Howie Kendrick stole second, then Maicer Izturis broke the deadlock with an RBI single and, after Mike Napoli was hit by a pitch, Erick Aybar's two-run triple over center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury's head chased Beckett from the game two batters later. Angels starter Jered Weaver continued in the footsteps of Game 1 starter John Lackey with a masterful performance, striking out seven while limiting the Red Sox offense to one run on two hits and two walks in 7+1⁄3 innings.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 3
The Angels stunned the Red Sox and the Fenway crowd with two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, overcoming late-inning deficits of 5–2 and 6–4 to sweep the series and advance to the American League Championship Series.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 3
Scott Kazmir started for Los Angeles and was largely ineffective, surrendering five runs on five hits and three walks in six innings. The Red Sox struck first in the third when a one-out walk and subsequent single was followed by a two-run double by Dustin Pedroia, who scored on Victor Martinez's single to put them up 3–0. After the Angels got on the board in the fifth on Kendrys Morales's home run, J. D. Drew hit a two-run home run in the bottom half that gave Boston what seemed like a comfortable 5–1 lead. The Angels chipped away against Boston starter Clay Buchholz in the sixth, putting runners on first and third with none out before Kendrys Morales grounded into a run-scoring 5–4–3 double play.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 3
Red Sox reliever Billy Wagner worked into a second-and-third, two-out jam in the eighth, prompting manager Terry Francona to summon Jonathan Papelbon from the bullpen for a four-out save. Juan Rivera greeted Papelbon by lining his first pitch to right center for a two-run single, momentarily making it a 5–4 game, but Boston added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning off of Kevin Jepsen when David Ortiz singled with two outs and was replaced by pinch runner Joey Gathright, who stole second and scored on Mike Lowell's single.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Game 3
Papelbon retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth, but Erick Aybar kept the inning alive with a two-strike single. After Chone Figgins worked a walk, Bobby Abreu, also down to his final strike, doubled off the Green Monster to score Aybar from second. Torii Hunter then received an intentional walk, loading the bases for Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero ripped Papelbon's first pitch for a two-run single to center, putting the Angels ahead 7–6. Closer Brian Fuentes retired the Red Sox in order in the bottom of the inning for the save.


2009 American League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. Boston, Composite box
2009 ALDS (3–0): Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Boston Red Sox


2009 American Society of Cinematographers Awards
The 24th American Society of Cinematographers Awards were held on February 27, 2010, honoring the best cinematographers of film and television in 2009.


2009 Americas Combined Events Cup
The 2009 Americas Combined Events Cup were held in La Habana, Cuba, at the Estadio Panamericano on May 29–30, 2009. A detailed report on the event and an appraisal of the results was given.


2009 Americas Combined Events Cup, Participation
An unofficial count yields the participation of 32 athletes from 7 countries. Cuba entered with two teams (A and B). The announced athlete from  Chile did not show.


2009 Americas Rugby Championship
The 2009 Americas Rugby Championship season was the inaugural season of the Americas Rugby Championship. The season featured a Canadian division with four teams representing provinces or regions of Canada, along with international A sides from the U.S. and Argentina.


2009 Americas Rugby Championship
The Canadian Division played a round robin schedule to determine what two teams would play in the Canadian final. The BC Bears went undefeated in round robin play and defeated the Ontario Blues 12–8 in the Canadian final.


2009 Americas Rugby Championship
The international finalist was decided in a match between the U.S. Select XV and the Argentina Jaguars. The match was won by the Jaguars 57–10.


2009 Americas Rugby Championship
The ARC Final pitted the BC Bears against the Argentina Jaguars. The Jaguars gave the Bears their only loss of the season in a 35–11 decision. The Ontario Blues defeated the U.S. Selects to take 3rd place.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
The 2009 Amstel Gold Race was the 44th edition of the Amstel Gold Race classic cycle race and took place on April 19, 2009. It was held on a 257.4-kilometre (159.9 mi) course from Maastricht to Cauberg, the Netherlands, as the fifth event of the 2009 UCI ProTour, and the ninth event in the inaugural UCI World Ranking series. It was won by Serguei Ivanov, who formed a late breakaway with Robert Gesink and Karsten Kroon with 8 km to go.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
The top three from 2008 event, Damiano Cunego, Fränk Schleck, and Alejandro Valverde, were present but only Cunego finished in the top ten.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
Over the course of the race, many riders sought to break away from the peloton. While some breakaways lasted for some time, all were eventually retrieved. The final attempt, by Roman Kreuziger, ultimately contributed to the winning move:


2009 Amstel Gold Race
Andy Schleck led the peloton at a steady pace over the Kruisberg while Gasparotto did the same over the famous Eyserbosweg. In the descent Kreuziger sneaked away on his own and he rode up the following climb of the Fromberg on the big ring. Still, he gained no more than 100 metres over a peloton that was reduced to no more than 50 riders.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
Serguei Ivanov (Katusha), marked by Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), tried to bridge up towards Kreuziger but the attempt from the Russian fell short since the Italian didn't co-operate in this counter-attack.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
On the Keutenberg, the penultimate climb, Simon Gerrans (Cervélo TestTeam) caught Kreuziger, followed by Ivanov, Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto), Andy Schleck, Michael Albasini (Columbia-Highroad), Christian Pfannberger (Katusha) and Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank).


2009 Amstel Gold Race
Meanwhile, the likes of Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) and Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) missed this move and were consequently effectively shut out of contesting the finale.


2009 Amstel Gold Race
Gesink attacked the leader's group after the climb of the Keutenberg. The Dutchman was joined by Ivanov and Kroon a little later, and while Albasini tried to bridge towards the leaders on his own, it didn't stick. The leading trio was left on its own out front and soon after were the occupants of the podium's three steps.


2009 Amsterdam Tournament
The Amsterdam Tournament 2009  was the 11th Amsterdam Tournament, a pre-season football tournament which is contested from club teams from all over Western Europe. The 2009 tournament was contested by Ajax, Sunderland, Benfica, and Atlético Madrid. It was won for the first time by Portuguese side Benfica.


2009 Amsterdam Tournament, Table
NB: An extra point is awarded for each goal scored.


2009 Anchorage mayoral election
The 2009 Anchorage mayoral election was held on April 7 and May 5, 2009, to elect the mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. Since no candidate reached a 45% plurality needed to win outright, the top-two candidates advanced to a runoff. Fifteen candidates competed, with former State Rep. Eric Croft and former Anchorage Assemblyman Dan Sullivan proceeding to the runoff election, which Sullivan won with 57% of the vote.


2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience
The 2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the inaugural edition of the Andalucia Tennis Experience, and was an International-level tournament of the 2009 WTA Tour. The event took place at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, Spain, from 6 April until 12 April 2009. Second-seeded Jelena Janković won the singles title.


2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience, Finals, Doubles
Klaudia Jans /  Alicja Rosolska defeated  Anabel Medina Garrigues /  Virginia Ruano Pascual, 6–3, 6–3


2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience – Doubles
The doubles event at the 2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience was won by Klaudia Jans and Alicja Rosolska.


2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience – Singles
Jelena Janković won in the final 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 over Carla Suárez Navarro.


2009 Andaman Islands earthquake
The 2009 Andaman Islands earthquake occurred on August 11 at 19:55 UTC in the Andaman Islands of India. The earthquake magnitude was recorded as 7.5 Mw, and was the strongest in the region since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The epicentre was 260 km north of Port Blair, and tremors were felt in south-east India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch to India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand, but it was later lifted. No casualties or injuries were reported, although there were complaints about minor damage to buildings. At about the same time, the  2009 Shizuoka earthquake affected south Honshū in Japan.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash
The 2009 Andhra Pradesh helicopter crash occurred on 2 September 2009 near Rudrakonda Hill, 40 nautical miles (74 km) from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India. The helicopter was a Bell 430 helicopter owned by the Andhra Pradesh Government, and registered VT-APG. Fatalities included Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Accident
The Bell 430 helicopter took off from Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, and soon encountered bad weather. The official accident report states that the aircraft's weather radar was red, meaning that the weather was extreme. The flight crew decided to fly slightly left of their planned route. The pilots soon noticed that the weather was getting worse, and agreed that they would turn left after crossing Krishna River. Begumpet and Shamshabad Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 9:02 am IST while it was passing through the dense Nallamala Forest area.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Accident
Shortly after 09:20 am IST, the flight crew encountered a problem with the transmission oil pressure. The pilots became engaged in finding out emergency checklist procedures for the transmission oil pressure, but were unsuccessful.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Accident
Soon after, the co-pilot continually called out "go around", likely indicating that he thought the aircraft would soon crash into something. During the last 14 seconds, the rate of descent was extremely high. Thereafter the helicopter crashed due to loss of control resulting in high rate of descent in down draught. The helicopter impacted the ground in a steep left bank and all occupants on board died due to crash injuries.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Aftermath
The state government of Andhra Pradesh and the Government of India launched one of the largest search and rescue operations in the history of the country. The state's security officials mentioned that bad weather was hindering the search and rescue efforts. The Home Ministry of India dispatched 5000 CRPF soldiers for the operation while the Defence Ministry of India ordered the Indian Air Force to comb the area using low altitude planes and the Sukhoi-30MKI equipped with thermal imaging systems. In addition, police personnel from six districts were involved in the ground search.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Aftermath
Andhra Pradesh's elite anti-Naxal troops, Greyhounds, were also deployed in the area, owing to their extreme familiarity with the jungle terrain of the area. Local tribal residents from this part of the state assisted with the search mission. Patrol parties also combed the Krishna river for the remains of the helicopter. ISRO's RISAT-2 satellite was also deployed to search the area, but the 41 high-resolution images of the area were unable to trace the helicopter.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Aftermath
The wreckage of the helicopter was finally spotted by an IAF Mi-8 helicopter at 08:20 am IST the following day, less than 24 hours after contact was lost with the aircraft.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
The Indian Prime Minister's Office confirmed the helicopter's crash on the morning of 3 September and the death of all aboard, including that of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The Director General of Police said that the bodies of Reddy and others were charred beyond recognition and had to be identified on the basis of clothing. The autopsy of all the bodies was carried out at Kurnool Medical College.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Investigation
Although the sparsely populated forest area is considered to be stronghold of the outlawed Naxal communist insurgents, the National Security Advisor of India ruled out the possibility of the Naxals bringing down the helicopter.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash, Investigation
The investigation eventually concluded that the factors that caused that crash included the fact that the crew became fixated for more than six minutes in trying to find the reason behind the problem with their transmission oil pressure system, and they became distracted from the worsening weather. They also noted that the flight crew was flying in Instrument meteorological conditions whereas the flight plan was cleared for VFR flying, and the flight crew never discussed the bad weather, diverting, or returning to base.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election of 2009 took place in April 2009, concurrently with the 2009 Indian general election. The elections were held in the state in the first phase (2009-04-16) and the second phase (2009-04-23). The results were declared on 2009-05-16. The incumbent Indian National Congress retained power in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly lower house, though with a reduced majority. The Congress Legislature party re-elected incumbent Chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy as its leader thus re-nominating him to the post.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Previous Assembly
In the 2004 Andhra Pradesh Assembly election, Congress had swept the state, winning 185 of the 294 seats in the Assembly. The Congress' pre-poll alliance partners Left Front and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also did well, winning 15 and 26 seats respectively, taking the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tally to 226. As the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was invited to form the Government by Governor S.S. Barnala.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Previous Assembly
As expected, the Government lasted the full term of 5 years and the tenure of the Legislative Assembly was due to expire on 30 May 2009. The Election Commission of India (ECI) decided to hold the Assembly elections along with the general election. The election in each Assembly constituency (AC) was held in the same phase as the election to the corresponding Parliamentary constituency that the AC falls under.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Background
After the 2008 Lok Sabha vote of confidence, the Left Front withdrew support to the Congress in the state as well. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and TRS then joined the Left as part of the national Third Front. In Andhra Pradesh, this alliance called themselves the "Grand Alliance" against what they called the "corrupt Congress" and "communal BJP".


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Background
However, after the elections in Andhra Pradesh were completed, but before the counting of votes, TRS switched allegiance to the NDA.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Government formation
Despite losing their alliance partner after voting and fighting anti-incumbency in the state, Congress managed to get the majority in the 294-member Assembly with 157 seats. Analysis of the results showed that the split of the anti-Congress votes between the Grand Alliance and actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi's newly formed Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) helped increase the Congress overall seat count.


2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Government formation
The incumbent Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was sworn in for a second term on 20 May 2009. His council of 35 ministers were sworn in by Governor N.D. Tiwari a few days later on 25 May 2009.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Andorra on 26 April 2009, the fourth under the 1993 Constitution. The elections were held at the end of the normal four-year term of the General Council (Consell General, Andorra's parliament), but also following months of intense pressure from Co-Prince Nicolas Sarkozy to change the country's banking secrecy laws.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election
The Social Democratic Party led by Jaume Bartumeu was the clear winner, with 45.03% of votes for its national list, followed by the "Reformist Coalition" led by the Liberal Party of Andorra (32.34%) and the new Andorra for Change party (18.86%). The Social Democrats hold fourteen seats in the General Council, against eleven for the Liberals and three for Andorra for Change.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election
The electorate, restricted to Andorran citizens, was 20,298 voters out of a population of about 85,000. There were 114 candidates for 28 seats, more than one candidate for every 200 voters. Turnout was 75.3%.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Issues
The main issue in the elections is the possible changes required to Andorra's economic model to facilitate its international relations.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Issues
On 11 March 2009, three weeks before the 2009 G-20 London Summit, the Head of Government Albert Pintat made a unilateral declaration in Paris promising to improve the exchange of information (for tax purposes) about non-residents who hold bank accounts in Andorra. He committed the incoming government to drafting changes to the banking secrecy laws by 1 September 2009, which would then be passed by the General Council before 15 November 2009.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Issues
He also announced that he would not be leading the Liberal Party of Andorra in the elections so as to devote his time to negotiating tax treaties with other countries, starting with France. Such agreements would also abolish the punitive customs duties which France and Spain impose on Andorran exports (33% and 25% respectively). The Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party have agreed to cooperate in the drafting of the new legislation.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Issues
The negotiation of tax treaties is complicated by the present tax structure of Andorra. The state is funded mostly by indirect taxation, such as levies on water supplies and telecommunications, and by fees for administrative permits. The Social Democratic Party proposes the introduction of income tax and value added tax, albeit at low rates, whereas the Liberal Party prefers keeping changes to the tax system to a minimum. Andorra for Change rejects any changes whatsoever to the current system.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Issues
A third issue is the relationship Andorra should have with the European Economic Area (EEA): at present, Andorra has a limited set of bilateral agreements with the European Union in the fields of economic, social, and cultural cooperation, signed in June 2004. The Social Democratic Party favours expanding these into a fully fledged association agreement; the Liberal Party is more reticent, but has promised to cooperate in any discussions.


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Electoral system
Twenty-eight "general councillors" were elected on 26 April 2009, based on party lists (closed list system):


2009 Andorran parliamentary election, Electoral system
The parish lists and the national list are independent of one another: the same person cannot appear on both the national list and on a parish list, and voters cast two separate ballots (there is no requirement to vote for the same party for both lists).


2009 Angola Cup
The 2009 Taça de Angola was the 28th edition of the Taça de Angola, the second most important and the top knock-out football club competition in Angola, following the Girabola. Primeiro de Agosto beat Sagrada Esperança 2–1 in the final, to secure its 3rd title.


2009 Angola Cup
The winner and the runner-up qualified to the CAF Confederation Cup. Sagrada who were supposed to participate as the runner-up, later declined to participate citing financial reasons, being replaced by Académica do Soyo.


2009 Angola Super Cup
The 2009 Supertaça de Angola (22nd edition) was contested by Petro de Luanda, the 2008 Girabola champion and Santos FC, the 2008 Angola Cup winner. On home court, Santos beat Petro 2–0 to secure their 1st title as the away match ended in a 2-1 win for Petro.


2009 Angola Super Cup, Match details, Second Leg
Squad: Bebucho, Buá, Buanza, Chico Caputo, Chinho, Didí, Edú, Enoque, Fissy, Guilherme, Guto, Jotabé, Maninho Loide, Manucho Barros, Mauro, Micki, Milex, Miloy, Paz, Rainho, Ribeiro, Rui, Sawú, Solange, Tchebe, Toyzinho, Tsherry, Zezão Head Coach: Mário Calado


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods
The 2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods was a natural disaster which began in early March 2009 and resulted in the deaths of at least 131 people and otherwise affected around 445,000 people. The floods affected seven regions of Namibia, three provinces of Zambia, two regions of Angola and part of Botswana. The floodwaters damaged buildings and infrastructure and displaced at least 300,000 people. A state of emergency was declared in northern Namibia and there were fears that a disease epidemic would ensue. The Red Cross agencies and governments of the two countries responded to the disaster, and aid was distributed by the World Health Organization.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Causes
The border regions of Angola, Namibia and Zambia are dominated by small rivers which flood regularly during the rainy season from December to April. Floods in 2008 lasted from February to March and affected 250,000 people in Namibia with 42 people losing their lives. The floods this year have primarily been caused by heavy rain; more rain has fallen on the region since December than fell in the entire five-month rainy season of last year. As a result, the flooding this year has been worse than that usually experienced.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Causes
It has been reported that the floods could be the worst in the area for four decades. The Angolan National Institute of Meteorology has placed the cause of the heavy rain with a large equatorial depression which is expected to remain over the country until April when it will start to move southwards. One report has blamed the continuing heavy rain on the effects of the meteorological phenomenon La Niña.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Angola
Angola has been affected by floods within two of its provinces: Cuando Cubango and Cunene. The worst affected province has been Cunene, which lies on the Cuvelai River. Within Cunene alone 125,000 people have been affected by the flood and 25,000 have lost their homes. Across the country more than 30,000 people have been made homeless by the floods. There are fears that the floods could exacerbate diseases already present in the area, particularly cholera and malaria. Three cases of cholera have also been reported in Ondjiva, the capital of Cunene region, and local officials expect that number to increase. The Red Cross reports that so far there have been 19 deaths attributable to flooding in Angola.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Botswana
Botswana has been affected by the rising height of the Okavango River has risen to 8.62 m, the second highest depth recorded and the highest since 1969. The Okavango terminates in Botswana at the inland Okavango Delta and the Botswana government has issued an alert to those living alongside the river to move to higher ground. The government has evacuated 63 families amid concerns that flooding will worsen, particularly in the Chobe District. More than 400 people have been displaced as a result of the floods and the Botswana Defence Force is working to help those affected.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Namibia
Seven regions of Namibia have been affected by the flood: Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Zambezi, Kavango and Kunene. The worst affected regions have been Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto which lie on the Cuvelai River. In the Zambezi Region floodwaters have reached areas up to 20 km from where the river normally flows. Up to 300,000 people have been affected by the floods in Namibia which have displaced around 276,000 people.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Namibia
The floods have destroyed crops, houses, schools, medical centres and roads in the country whose president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, has said could be experiencing one of the worst natural disasters in living memory. Gravel roads have been particularly affected with up to 85% of those in affected areas being damaged and cutting people off from assistance. People and livestock have been washed away and there have been cases of crocodiles and hippopotamuses swimming in the flood water, attacking and killing people.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Namibia
There was a pre-existing cholera outbreak in the Kunene Region and the floods have worsened this by overwhelming sanitation infrastructure and reducing supplies of clean drinking water. Malaria cases have also increased, with 2,000 known to have contracted the disease of which 25 have died. The Namibian government has stated that 112 people have died so far as a result of flooding.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Namibia
President Pohamba has stated that a food shortage could follow the floods and the United Nations has estimated that crop production in Namibia will fall by 63% in the next year and that up to 500,000 people could be affected by a food shortage. Local food prices have already risen by 37% because of the disaster.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Zambia
Zambia has experienced flooding in the Western, North-Western and Southern Provinces. The damage to infrastructure alone totals more than $5 million and one district, Shangombo, remains cut off from outside help completely. The floods have affected 20,000 households and destroyed 5,000 homes in the Southern Province alone.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Effects, Elsewhere
Although this particular flood event has been worse than previously experienced in Namibia and Angola, there have been lower levels of flooding elsewhere in the region, such as on the Zambezi River, and the rainy season is expected to last just four more weeks. It is expected that the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique will protect countries on the lower Zambezi from flooding caused by rainwater in the upper river. The Red Cross is also keeping watch on Severe Tropical Storm Izilda which is heading for Mozambique's east coast and could cause further flooding there.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Reactions
President Pohamba has declared a state of emergency across six northern districts, and has requested international assistance. The Namibian state relief fund has been active in the region delivering water, food, tents and other supplies to flooded areas by helicopter and motorboat. However it is hindered by a shortage of both aircraft and boats, and is running out of funding. The Red Cross agencies in both Angola and Namibia have responded to the disaster.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Reactions
The Angola Red Cross is distributing mosquito nets, water purification tablets and rehydration sachets and the Namibia Red Cross Society has been distributing chlorine tablets and promoting hygiene in the affected areas. The World Health Organization has also responded with the delivery of five tonnes of health care kits and supplies of drinking water. There are fears that the financial crisis of 2007–2008 may limit the effectiveness of aid agencies who are already over-stretched across Africa.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Reactions
Displaced persons camps have been established in Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati in Namibia and currently hold around 4,500 people although they are said to be overcrowded and lacking in fresh water and sanitation provision. The World Health Organization has sent several healthcare teams into the area to train emergency personnel and to provide expertise in disease prevention. The floods coincided with a visit to Angola by Pope Benedict XVI, who expressed solidarity with the flood victims and encouraged reconstruction efforts.


2009 Angola, Namibia and Zambia floods, Reactions
The Namibian national power company, NamPower, has donated food worth N$50,000 to those who have lost their homes in the areas near to Ruacana Hydro-electric Power Station which accounts for 70% of the country's electricity needs. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an appeal for $1.3 million to fund relief operations to assist 20,000 people in Namibia.


2009 Antiguan general election
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 12 March 2009. The result was a victory for the United Progressive Party, which won nine of the seventeen elected seats in the House of Representatives.


2009 Antiguan general election, Conduct
Three days before the elections the Chamber of Commerce announced observations of voter registration irregularities and called for an investigation into the matter. For example, in the Saint Peter constituency, voter registration increased by 41%.


2009 Antiguan general election, Conduct
A three-member observation team from Belize, Canada, and Guyana observed the election.


2009 Antiguan general election, Aftermath
On 31 March 2010, a judge nullified the election of UPP's leader Spencer and two other UPP MPs, calling the UPP's majority into question. However, on 24 October the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court overturned the High Court's decision and decided that the three MPs were duly elected.


2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì
The 2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was the eleventh edition of the tournament which was part of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Manerbio, Italy between 24 and 30 August 2009.


2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì, ATP entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì, Champions, Doubles
Alessio di Mauro /  Simone Vagnozzi def. Yves Allegro /  Jesse Huta Galung, 6–4, 3–6, [10–4]


2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì – Doubles
Thomas Fabbiano and Boris Pašanski won the doubles competition in 2008. Fabbiano teamed up with Matteo Marrai, but they were eliminated by Philipp Marx and Rogier Wassen already in the first round. Alessio di Mauro and Simone Vagnozzi won in the final 6–4, 3–6, [10–4], against Yves Allegro and Jesse Huta Galung.


2009 Antonio Savoldi–Marco Cò – Trofeo Dimmidisì – Singles
Victor Crivoi didn't try to defend his 2008 title. Qualifier Federico del Bonis became the new champion, after defeating another qualifier Leonardo Tavares 6–1, 6–3 in the final.


2009 Anugerah Bintang Popular
2009 Bintang Popular Berita Harian Awards (2009 Most Popular Artiste Berita Harian Awards) was held on April 4, 2010 on Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands as an appreciation for artists and most entertaining artists in 2009. The show was broadcast live by TV3. The winner of Most Popular Artiste, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza defeated Mawi that had won three times in row before.


2009 Anzac Test
The 2009 ANZAC test, was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 8 May 2009. It was the 10th Anzac test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997. This was the fourth Anzac Test played in Brisbane.


2009 Anzac Test
This was the 112th test between Australia and New Zealand since 1908.


2009 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team
The 2009 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team represented Appalachian State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was the 80th season of play for the Mountaineers. The team was led by Jerry Moore, the 2006 Eddie Robinson Award winner for Coach of the Year. Moore is in his 21st season as head coach. The Mountaineers played their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.


2009 Arab Athletics Championships
The 2009 Arab Athletics Championships was the sixteenth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries which took place in Damascus, Syria from 6–9 October.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture
Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture (Arabic: القدس عاصمة الثقافة العربية) was the name given to Arab Capital of Culture programme in 2009. The programme, organised by UNESCO and the Arab League, is designed to promote Arab culture and encourage cooperation in the Arab world. The 2009 event was the 14th programme since its establishment in 1996.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture
Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, the proclaimed capital of the State of Palestine, although the seat of government and de facto capital is Ramallah. Many of the events were held in the Palestinian territories controlled by the Palestinian National Authority. The opening event scheduled for January 2009 was delayed due to the Gaza War. It was held on March 21, 2009.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture, Launching of the events
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas officially launched the celebration of Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2009 at a ceremony in Bethlehem. Simultaneous ceremonies were supposed to take place in Jerusalem, Gaza, Nazareth and Mar Elias refugee camp in Lebanon. These synchronized celebrations in five locations reflect the desire of building a cultural bridge between the Palestinian people in Palestine and the Palestinians in the diaspora. Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter instructed police to suppress PNA-sponsored events calling Jerusalem the "capital of Arab culture" because they constituted a violation of the interim agreement, which includes a clause stating that the PA is prohibited from organizing events in Israeli territory.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture, Launching of the events
On Dichter's orders, police shuttered eight planned events and detained twenty organizers and participants for questioning. The blocked events included a soccer match scheduled at a school on Nablus Road, a conference for young women at the Al-Hiya'la Center, and marches in the Wadi al-Joz and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods. In addition, a group of Arab students was blocked from rallying at the Temple Mount with PLO flags. A similar ceremony was blocked on the Haroun al-Rashid road. Events in Ras al-Amud and al-Tur were also shut down.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture, In the Gaza Strip
Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior Ihab al-Ghussein said that the celebrations for Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture in March at the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza. Abbas accused Hamas of blocking celebrations.


2009 Arab Capital of Culture, In Denmark
Events took place on September 26 and 27 in Denmark. This celebration, the only one outside the Arab world, included more than 40 Palestinian artists, among them the hip hop group Ramallah Underground, the folklore dance troupe El Funoun, the Oriental Music Ensemble, visual artist Rana Bishara, and film director Larissa Sansour who presented her film A Space Exodus (reviewed by Professor Helga Tawil Souri). They were also joint cultural productions produced with prominent Danish artists, as well as a bazaar showcasing cultural products and Palestinian cuisine.


2009 Arab Champions League Final
The 2009 Arab Champions League Final was a football match which was played on Saturday, 21  May 2009. It was the 6th final of the Arab Champions League. the final play as home and away matches, and it was contested between Espérance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.


2009 Arab Champions League Final, Match details
The 2009 Arab Champions League Final will be play home and away matches on 9 May at  Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco, on 21  May   at Stade 7 November, Radès, Tunisia.


2009 Arab Cup
The Arab Cup 2009 was planned to be the ninth staging of the Arab Cup, an association football tournament held between Arab countries by UAFA. The first stage of qualifying began in December 2006, but no further rounds were played and the tournament was cancelled because of no sponsor.


2009 Arab Cup, Qualifications
The first qualifying stage contained eight teams which had lower FIFA ranking. The eight teams were divided into two groups. Each group contained four teams and the group winners qualified for the second qualifying stage.


2009 Arab Cup, Qualifications
The second qualifying stage contained 16 seats; 14 teams which had a higher FIFA ranking get byes from the first qualifying round and were entered into the second qualifying round, and two teams from the first qualifying stage got the last two seats. 16 teams were divided into four groups, four teams in each group and the group winners and runners-up qualified for the Arab Cup.


2009 Arab League summit
The 2009 Arab League summit was held in Doha, Qatar on March 30, 2009. The Arab League defied the International Criminal Court by giving a "warm welcome" to Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, whom the Court placed a warrant on for war crimes in the Darfur genocide.


2009 Arab League summit, Reactions
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak boycotted the summit amid differences with Qatar stemming from the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. Other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia were also hesitant to come to the summit if Iran or Hamas were in attendance (neither of the parties came while the Saudis did).


2009 Arab League summit, Incidents
After Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani speech, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi called King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia a liar, accusing him of "bringing the Americans to occupy Iraq" and of being "made by Britain and protected by the US. ", while stating: "I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam (leader) of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level". He then invited the King to visit him to solve the issues between the two.


2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships
The 2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships was the third edition of the international athletics competition for under-18 athletes from Arab countries. Organised by the Arab Athletic Federation, it took place in the Syrian city of Aleppo from 22 to 24 July. A total of thirty-eight events were contested, of which 20 by male and 18 by female athletes. The difference was accounted for by the lack of steeplechase and pole vault events for girls (the latter being dropped from the tournament due to a lack of entries).


2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships
As in 2007, Morocco and Bahrain – typically strong in the sport regionally – did not participate. Egypt topped the table for a second time running, winning eight gold medals in its haul of thirteen. Sudan had the next highest number of event winners, with seven. Algeria had the highest overall medal count, at 22 medals (four gold), and were followed by this ranking by the host nation, which took 20 medals (five gold). Tunisia also performed well, with five gold medals and a total of ten. Thirteen of the five nations present at the competition reached medal table.


2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships
A total of eleven championship records were broken at the competition. Awad El Karim Makki of Sudan set new records in both the boys' 200 metres and 400 metres events – defending the two titles he had won in 2007. Syria's Hamid Mansour also achieved a title defence and new record, doing so in the boys' discus throw, and managed to create a double by winning the shot put as well. Three girls managed individual doubles: Abir Barkaoui of Tunisia won the 200 m and 400 m, while Egypt's Fadia Saad Ibrahim and Rana Ahmed Taha swept the throws, taking the shot put/discus and javelin throw/hammer throw, respectively.


2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships
Makki of Sudan went on to win a medal at the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics, being the only 2009 Arab medallist to do so. Qatar's Mohammed Al-Garni later reached the 1500 m podium at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics. Egyptians Rana Ahmed Taha and Wedian Moktar Abdelhamid claimed senior titles at the 2011 Arab Athletics Championships while their compatriot Fadia Saad Ibrahim became a senior Arab gold medallist in 2013.


2009 Arab Youth Volleyball Championship
The 2009 Arab Youth Volleyball Championship was the tenth edition of the Arab Youth Volleyball Championship. It was held in Ghazir Hall, Beirut, Lebanon from 24 July to 1 August 2009.


2009 Arab Youth Volleyball Championship, Pools composition
Bahrain Lebanon (Host) Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Iraq Kuwait


2009 Arbil governorate election
Governorate or provincial elections are due to be held in Arbil Governorate in 2009 to replace the governorate council elected in the Iraqi governorate elections of 2005. The remaining governorates outside Iraqi Kurdistan held elections on 31 January 2009. The election will follow the 2009 Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election.


2009 Archery World Cup
The 2009 Archery World Cup was the fourth edition of the Archery World Cup, organised by the World Archery Federation. The first three hosts of the qualification legs remained the same as in 2008, with the first leg was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the second leg in Porec, Croatia, the third at Antalya Centennial Archery Field in Antalya, Turkey. The final leg was held in Shanghai.


2009 Archery World Cup
The best individual and mixed performers in each discipline over the three legs then joined host representatives in qualifying for the World Cup Finals, which were contested on in Copenhagen.


2009 Archery World Cup
This was the first edition of the world cup where the mixed team events were contested at the final, with the top ranked mixed teams competing against a host country team in a one match final.


2009 Archery World Cup, Competition rules and scoring
The compound legs consisted of a 50m qualification round of 72 arrows, followed by the compound round at 50m on a 6-zone target face, using cumulative scoring for all individual, team and mixed competitions. The top four individual performers (with no more than two from each country) proceeded to the finals.


2009 Archery World Cup, Competition rules and scoring
The recurve legs consisted of a FITA qualification round, followed by a 72m Olympic set system . The top seven individual performers (with no more than two from each country), plus one host nation representative if not already qualified, proceeded to the finals; the top mixed team performer proceeded to face the host nation at the finals, which were the same competition format as the legs. The team competition was not competed at the finals.


2009 Archery World Cup, Competition rules and scoring
Competitors' top three scores go towards qualification. The scores awarded in the legs were as follows:


2009 Argentine legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Argentina for half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third (24) of the seats in the Senate on 28 June 2009, as well as for the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and other municipalities.


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
The elections were due to have been held on 25 October 2009. In March 2009, the Mayor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, moved to bring forward the date of elections to the Buenos Aires City Legislature to June 28, saying that it would increase transparency and democratic quality. Opposition figures criticised the decision, suggesting Macri was attempting to consolidate his power in the city, and building the career of his deputy, Gabriela Michetti, expected to head the list for Macri's coalition in the election. Similar changes to the election date had been introduced in the provinces of Santa Fe and Catamarca (March 2009).


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
Despite the criticism by politicians from Government ranks that Macri had abused the process by unilaterally changing the election date, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced that she too would be introducing legislation to move the date of national elections forward by four months, to June 28. Despite great debate and the defections of some Peronist legislators, the proposal passed its Congressional stages quickly and the date was successfully changed. The Government claimed it would allow politicians to leave behind campaigning priorities and focus on tackling the ongoing local effect of the international financial crisis.


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
Equally controversial was a decision by Front for Victory leader Néstor Kirchner (the current President's husband and predecessor) to advance stand-in candidates - prominent local lawmakers (notably Buenos Aires Province Governor Daniel Scioli, as well as 15 Greater Buenos Aires-area mayors) who, after the election, would be likely to cede their new seats to down-ticket names.


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
The elections resulted in a setback for the governing, center-left Front for Victory and its allies, which lost their absolute majorities in both houses of Congress. Former President Néstor Kirchner stood as head of his party list in the important Buenos Aires Province. Kirchner's list was defeated, however, by the center-right Republican Proposal (PRO) list headed by businessman Francisco de Narváez; the loss in Buenos Aires Province, though narrow, is significant as the province has been considered a Peronist stronghold and had helped maintain Kirchnerism as the dominant force in Argentine politics since 2003. Buenos Aires Vice Mayor Gabriela Michetti stood as head of the PRO list for the Lower House, and defeated four other prominent parties; the evening's surprise in Buenos Aires, however, was that of filmmaker Fernando Solanas' left-wing Proyecto Sur, which obtained second place.


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
The Kirchners' leading opposition on the center-left, the Civic Coalition, also made significant gains – particularly in the Senate, where they gained 7 seats. The Front for Victory had already lost 16 Lower House members and 4 Senators on the heels of the 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector over a proposed rise in export tariffs.


2009 Argentine legislative election, Background
The crisis was defused by Vice President Julio Cobos' surprise, tie-breaking vote against them on July 16, 2008; but fallout from the controversy led to the President's distancing from Cobos (who successfully supported his own party list in his native Mendoza Province), a sharp drop in presidential approval ratings, and the aforementioned congressional defections. One especially successful ex-Kirchnerist was Santa Fe Province Senator Carlos Reutemann, who after the agrarian conflict formed Santa Fe Federal. His new party narrowly bested local Socialist Party leader Rubén Giustiniani, who would garner one of Santa Fe's three Senate seats. The Front for Victory retained a plurality in both houses, however (they will, with two allies, be one seat short of an absolute majority in the Senate).


2009 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2009 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 90th in the National Football League, their 22nd in Arizona and their third under head coach Ken Whisenhunt.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season
The Cardinals finished the season with a 10–6 record, an improvement from their 9–7 previous season record and the first time the team has won 10 games since 1976. The franchise was able to successfully defend the National Football Conference (NFC) West division title and earned a playoff berth in the NFC Wild Card round against the Green Bay Packers, which they won in overtime by 51–45, the highest scoring game for two teams combined in a playoff game.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season
The following week on January 17, 2010, the Cardinals were blown out by the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the NFC divisional round. This game would be the final game of quarterback Kurt Warner's career, and this was the only playoff game in thirteen total appearances in which he failed to throw a touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2009 season was the team's first to secure back-to-back postseason appearances since its move to Arizona, and the first time the team did so since 1975.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, 2009 NFL Draft
As NFC champion and having lost Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals had the second-to-last pick in the first round (31st overall).


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
With their NFC title on the line, the Cardinals began their season at home in a Week 1 divisional duel with their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as Niners kicker Joe Nedney got a 37-yard and a 50-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Cardinals got on the board as kicker Neil Rackers made a 44-yard field goal. San Francisco answered with running back Frank Gore getting a 6-yard touchdown run, while Arizona closed out the half with Rackers kicking a 29-yard field goal.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Cardinals would tie the game in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. In the fourth quarter, Arizona took the lead as Rackers nailed a 43-yard field goal. However, the 49ers regained their lead as quarterback Shaun Hill completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Gore. San Francisco's defense would then prevent the Cards' offense from rallying.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
With the loss, the Cardinals began their season at 0–1.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the 49ers, the Cardinals traveled to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 2 interconference duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cardinals scored on their first drive with a 1-yard run by running back Tim Hightower. The Jaguars also scored on their first possession with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Josh Scobee. Arizona then answered with a 45-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
In the second quarter, trailing 10–3, the Jaguars lined up for another Scobee field goal only to have it blocked by backup defensive end Calais Campbell and returned by free safety Antrel Rolle for an 83-yard touchdown. The Cardinals would extend their lead by halftime as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Jason Wright.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Warner would find wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the third quarter for a 22-yard touchdown pass that increased the Cardinal lead to 28. Jacksonville would attempt to mount a comeback with quarterback David Garrard completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis in the third quarter and a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker in the fourth quarter, but Arizona held on for the victory.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Warner's performance (24/26, 243 yards, 2 TDs) would become the new NFL record for a single-game completion percentage (92.3%), snapping Vinny Testaverde's old record set in 1993 (91.3%).


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Coming off their Week 2 road win over the Jaguars, the Cardinals went home for a Week 3 Sunday night interconference duel with the Indianapolis Colts. Arizona took flight in the first quarter with kicker Neil Rackers' 38-yard field goal. However, the Colts took a monster lead in the second quarter as quarterback Peyton Manning completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark, and a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garçon.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Cardinals tried to fight back in the third quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner hooked up with wide receiver Anquan Boldin on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but Indianapolis replied with Manning's 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Joseph Addai. Afterwards, the Colts closed out the game in the fourth quarter with kicker Adam Vinatieri's 26-yard field goal.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
With the loss, Arizona entered its bye week at 1–2.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Houston Texans
Coming off their bye week, the Cardinals stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Houston Texans. Arizona would get off to a very fast start as running back Tim Hightower got a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, followed by quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 9-yard and a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the second.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Houston Texans
However, the Texans gained steam in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Brown. Afterwards, Houston would tie the game in the fourth quarter with quarterback Matt Schaub completing an 11-yard and a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson. However, the Cardinals went back to work with two crucial defensive moments. First, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would return an interception 49 yards for a touchdown. Second, even when the Texans' offense got down to Arizona's 1-yard line on a 1st down play inside of the two-minute warning, the defense withstood three tries and held on for the victory.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 6: at Seattle Seahawks
Coming off their home win over the Texans, the Cardinals flew to Qwest Field for a Week 6 NFC West duel with the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona took flight in the first quarter with quarterback Kurt Warner hooking up with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on a 2-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run from running back Tim Hightower. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would add onto their lead as kicker Neil Rackers made a 29-yard field goal. The Seahawks would then get their only score of the game as kicker Olindo Mare got a 28-yard field goal. In the second half, Arizona pulled away with Warner completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston in the third quarter and Rackers booting a 31-yard field goal in the fourth.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 7: at New York Giants
Coming off their road win over the Seahawks, the Cardinals flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 7 Sunday night duel with the New York Giants. After a scoreless first quarter, Arizona would trail in the second quarter as Giants running back Brandon Jacobs got a 4-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals would answer with rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, but New York came right back with quarterback Eli Manning completing a 62-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Arizona would end the half with kicker Neil Rackers nailing a 30-yard field goal.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 7: at New York Giants
The Cardinals would take the lead in the third quarter with running back Tim Hightower's 1-yard touchdown run, followed by quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 6-yard touchdown pass to running back Jason Wright. The Giants tried to come back in the fourth quarter as kicker Lawrence Tynes booted a 20-yard field goal, yet safety Antrel Rolle's final interception of the game sealed the deal for Arizona.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers
Coming off their impressive road win over the Giants, the Cardinals went home for a Week 8 duel with the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of last year's divisional game.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers
In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart got a 6-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals would respond as quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back LaRod Stephens-Howling. However, Carolina unleashed its fury in the second quarter with Stewart's 10-yard touchdown run, quarterback Jake Delhomme's 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith, and defensive end Julius Peppers returning an interception 13 yards for a touchdown.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers
The Cardinals would begin their rally in the third quarter as Warner connected with tight end Ben Patrick on a 1-yard touchdown pass, but the Panthers would answer in the fourth quarter as kicker John Kasay booted a 35-yard field goal. Arizona tried to come back as running back Tim Hightower got a 1-yard touchdown run, but Carolina would seal the win as Kasay nailed a 31-yard field goal.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 9: at Chicago Bears
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Panthers, the Cardinals flew to Soldier Field for a Week 9 duel with the Chicago Bears. Arizona would deliver the opening strike in the first quarter as quarterback Kurt Warner completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Bears would respond with quarterback Jay Cutler hooking up with tight end Greg Olsen on a 33-yard touchdown pass, yet the Cardinals would answer with Warner finding tight end Ben Patrick on a 6-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, Arizona would unleash a firestorm as Warner found Fitzgerald again on a 17-yard touchdown pass, followed by tight end Anthony Becht on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Cardinals would close out the half with a 43-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 9: at Chicago Bears
In the third quarter, Arizona would get the period's only points as Rackers booted a 30-yard field goal. Chicago would begin to rally in the fourth quarter as Cutler found Olsen again on a 3-yard and a 20-yard touchdown, yet the Cards closed out the game with Warner hooking up with wide receiver Steve Breaston on a 4-yard touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Coming off their dominating road win over the Bears, the Cardinals went home for a Week 10 NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. Arizona would trail in the first quarter as Seahawks running back Justin Forsett got a 20-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, Seattle would increase their lead as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck found tight end John Carlson on a 31-yard touchdown pass. The Cardinals would get on the board with quarterback Kurt Warner's 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston, but the Seahawks answered with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 32-yad field goal. Arizona would end the half with a 27-yard field goal from kicker Neil Rackers.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals would tie the game in the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run from rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Seattle tried to take control in the fourth quarter with Mare booting a 20-yard field goal, yet Arizona came out on top as Wells picked up a 13-yard touchdown run and Warner connected with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on an 18-yard touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 11: at St. Louis Rams
Looking to improve to 5–0 on the road, the Cardinals went to their former home for a Week 11 duel against divisional rival St. Louis Rams. The Rams would score first, on a Josh Brown field goal following a fumble by Chris "Beanie" Wells. However, the Cardinals would score the next 21 points, as Kurt Warner connected with Anquan Boldin for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter, followed by a Warner to Larry Fitzgerald touchdown and a Beanie Wells rushing touchdown in the second quarter.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 11: at St. Louis Rams
During the second touchdown drive of the second quarter, Warner was hit hard by St. Louis safety O.J. Atogwe, with his head hitting the turf as he went down. Warner played the remaining six plays of the drive, but was replaced for the remainder of the game by backup quarterback Matt Leinart. Leinart struggled with a more conservative game throughout the second half, and the Cardinals did not score for the remainder of the game. St. Louis attempted to rally; however, they were only able to muster a second Josh Brown field goal and a Steven Jackson touchdown.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 11: at St. Louis Rams
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 7–3; however, Warner's status remained questionable for the next week's game against the Tennessee Titans.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 12: at Tennessee Titans
With Kurt Warner on the sidelines due to injury, and in the tenth season since he won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans, the Cardinals fell to a game-winning rally led by quarterback Vince Young as he raced the Titans 99 yards down field over the final 2:37, converted two fourth downs, and fired the winning ten-yard touchdown on the final play to Kenny Britt. The win made the Titans the first team to win five straight after starting 0–6 as they improved to 5–6 while the Cardinals fell to 7–4.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 13: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 13 saw the return of star quarterback Kurt Warner to the line-up. The Cardinals took off in the first half building a 24–10 lead. Warner played exceptionally well, throwing for three first half touchdowns on his way to a 285-yard effort. The defense stifled Favre and the Vikings and held Adrian Peterson to a season-low 19 yards. The Warner led offense propelled the Cards to a stunningly one-sided 30–17 victory.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 16: vs. St. Louis Rams
With this win, The Cardinals got their 10th win of the season. The last time the Cardinals had double digit wins in a season was in 1976.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Regular season results, Week 17: vs. Green Bay Packers
With the Vikings win earlier in the day, this game was rendered unimportant. The Cardinals pulled Kurt Warner along with other starters early in the 2nd quarter while the Packers continued to play their starters until the 4th quarter. Late in the 4th quarter, quarterback Brian St. Pierre threw his first career touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
Entering the postseason as the NFC's #4 seed, the Cardinals began their playoff run at home in the NFC Wild Card game against the #5 Green Bay Packers, looking to avenge their Week 17 defeat.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
Arizona would take advantage of some Packer turnovers early in the first quarter by turning them into a 1-yard touchdown run for running back Tim Hightower and quarterback Kurt Warner's 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Early Doucet. The Cardinals would also add a 23-yard field goal from kicker Neil Rackers. Green Bay would reply in the second quarter with quarterback Aaron Rodgers getting a 1-yard touchdown run, yet Arizona went right back to work as Warner found Doucet again on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The Packers would end the half with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Mason Crosby.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
In the third quarter, the Cardinals went back to work as Warner found wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on a 33-yard touchdown pass, but Green Bay would answer with Rodgers completing a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings followed by a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Arizona continued to show off its offense firepower as Warner hooked up with Fitzgerald again on an 11-yard touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Packers would tie the game in the fourth quarter as Rodgers would complete a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver James Jones, followed by fullback John Kuhn's 1-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals' offense continued to flex its muscles as Warner found wide receiver Steve Breaston on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Just then, Green Bay would tie the game again as Rodgers would complete an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Havner. The Cardinals drove down field in the final minutes, but a 34-yard field goal try by Neil Rackers with nine seconds remaining sailed wide left, forcing overtime.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
Arizona's defense would rise to the occasion in overtime as linebacker Karlos Dansby recovered a fumble and ran it back 17 yards for the game-winning touchdown.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
With the win, the Cardinals improved to overall record to 11–6.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Wild Card: vs. Green Bay Packers
The 96 combined points between both teams would become the highest point total in an NFL postseason game.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Divisional Round: at New Orleans Saints
Coming off their shootout win over the Packers, the Cardinals flew to the Louisiana Superdome for the NFC Divisional Round against the top-seeded New Orleans Saints. On their very first offensive play of the game, Arizona came out fast as running back Tim Hightower got a 70-yard touchdown run. The Saints would hugely respond with running back Lynell Hamilton getting a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by quarterback Drew Brees completing a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey, along with running back Reggie Bush getting a 54-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would come right back as rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells got a 4-yard touchdown run. However, New Orleans came right back as Brees threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devery Henderson and a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Divisional Round: at New Orleans Saints
The Saints would add onto their lead in the third quarter with a 43-yard field goal from kicker Garrett Hartley, followed by an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by Bush. Arizona tried to rally, but New Orleans' defense continued to shut down any possible comeback, effectively sealing a Cardinals blowout.


2009 Arizona Cardinals season, Post season results, NFC Divisional Round: at New Orleans Saints
With the loss, the Cardinals' season ended with an overall record of 11–7.


2009 Arizona Diamondbacks season
The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2009 season is the franchise's 12th season in Major League Baseball.


2009 Arizona Diamondbacks season, Player stats, Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases


2009 Arizona Diamondbacks season, Player stats, Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts


2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2009  Arizona State Sun Devils football team  represented Arizona State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were coached by third-year coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils finished the season 4–8 (2–7 Pac-10).


2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Game summaries, Idaho State
Junior placekicker Thomas Weber ties school record for 5 made field goals in a game and Senior Linebacker Mike Nixon earned Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of Week for his 3 interceptions one of which returned for a touchdown and blocked punt.


2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Game summaries, Washington
With the appearance the game would be heading into overtime, ASU quarterback Danny Sullivan threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris McGaha in the last five seconds of the game.


2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Game summaries, California
Both teams were 2-2 in the conference. The Bears fumbled in their first possession, but scored in the second possession on a Kevin Riley pass to Jahvid Best for 11 yards for a touchdown. Another touchdown pass, from Riley to Marvin Jones, gave Cal a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. For the Sun Devils, Samson Szakacsy completed a pass to Jovon Williams (3 yards) and Danny Sullivan passed to Kyle Williams (80 yards) for touchdowns to tie the game in the second quarter. Then Giorgio Tavecchio kicked a 25-yard field goal for Cal before the half.


2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Game summaries, California
In the third quarter, Giorgio Tavecchio kicked a 51-yard field goal to increase Cal's lead to 6. But Arizona State answered in the fourth quarter with a Cameron Marshall rush touchdown for 6 yards. Giorgio Tavecchio missed a 39-yard field goal with 5:46 left in the game, but kicked a 24-yard field goal to win the game.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Wildcats, led by sixth-year head coach Mike Stoops, played their home games at Arizona Stadium.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
Arizona hosted Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference to begin the season on September 5, 2009 (with a 19–6 win), and ended the regular season with a 21–17 win over perennial conference power, then-ranked #20 Southern California on December 5, 2009; this was the first victory over USC by the Wildcats in the Mike Stoops era.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
In addition to the slate of nine conference games, four at home and five on the road, the Wildcats traveled to Iowa City, Iowa and lost to the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten (who eventually finished with a #10 AP Poll ranking and an invitation to the Orange Bowl), and hosted in-state sister school Northern Arizona of the Big Sky Conference the preceding week.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
After posting an 8–4 regular season record (6–3 in the Pac-10, good for a second-place tie in the conference with Oregon State and Stanford), the Wildcats were invited to appear in the 2009 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, the second consecutive postseason bowl game for the Arizona football program under Stoops. The Wildcats were shut out 33–0 by Nebraska.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team
The Wildcats finished the regular season with an Associated Press poll ranking of #22, their first national ranking since the 2000 season.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
The Wildcats’ season began following a 43-minute lightning delay, the second straight year the Arizona season opener was delayed by lightning.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Central Michigan was flagged for a false start on its first play from scrimmage. After a short completion and a trap-play run, CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour was intercepted by LB Vuni Tuihamalaka at the Chippewas’ 31, but the Wildcats, on their third play from scrimmage (in the person of WR Bug Wright) coughed up the ball at CMU's 16. The UA forced Central Michigan to go three-and-out on its second drive, then drove to score.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
The 'Cats forced a second turnover just before the end of the quarter. Linebacker C.J. Parish drilled CMU's Antonio Brown on a punt return, forcing the ball loose. UA longsnapper Jason Bertoni, who started his career at Central Michigan (before leaving the Chippewa program in 2007 for personal reasons), recovered at CMU's 28.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
The Wildcats gained seven yards on three plays, setting up a 37-yard Alex Zendejas field goal. Zendejas hit a total of four field goals in his first college start.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Arizona's first touchdown of the season came midway through the second quarter.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Freshman QB Matt Scott led the Wildcats on a nine-play, 63-yard drive. RB Nic Grigsby capped it with a three-yard run up the middle. Zendejas’ PAT made it a 13-point lead.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Central Michigan was hampered by the quickness of the Arizona defense and didn’t score until there were 12 minutes 21 seconds remaining in the game; even then, the team failed to convert on a two-point conversion that would have made it a one-possession game.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Scott completed 10 of 17 first-half passes for 110 yards. Sophomore QB Nick Foles did not play a snap in the entire game. TE Rob Gronkowski, a key offensive weapon for Arizona in 2008 and speculated to be a future top NFL draft pick, did not play in the opener because of a back injury.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
The Wildcats were effective, if not totally crisp, in a 34–17 win over in-state rival Northern Arizona (NAU), a FCS (formerly Division I-AA) member of the Big Sky Conference.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
Junior RB Nicolas Grigsby rushed for two touchdowns; Grigsby's two scores — a 25-yard run and a 30-yard run — helped pace the Wildcats through a sometimes-choppy first half in front of 50,623 at Arizona Stadium.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
He was key to the Wildcats' final drive of the second quarter, an 18-play, 99-yard march. WR Terrell Turner gave the Wildcats a 21–10 lead with a 2-yard touchdown catch from starting QB Matt Scott, a play after WR Delashaun Dean hauled in a 23-yard grab. Dean was drilled by two NAU players at the end of the play, and had to be helped off the field. Scott then found Turner on a short pass to pad the Wildcats' lead.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
Arizona added two scores in the second half to put the Lumberjacks away. Sophomore RB Keola Antolin punched in a 1-yard score on the first play following Grigsby's 94-yard run to give the Wildcats a 27–10 lead with 10 minutes left in the quarter.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
Backup quarterback Nick Foles hit Juron Criner for a 5-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the fourth quarter to make it 34–10.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
The Wildcats began emptying their bench midway through the third quarter. Foles entered the game with 7:15 remaining in the quarter, and drove the team about 40 yards before fumbling a snap and turning the ball over. CB Trevin Wade's second interception of the third quarter gave Arizona the ball back.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Northern Arizona
Arizona has not lost to NAU since 1937. All three of Arizona's state universities (Arizona, NAU and Arizona State) are obligated under state law to play one another in athletic contests each year.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Iowa
The Hawkeyes scored on the opening drive, with a 2-yard touchdown run by Adam Robinson. But Arizona tied the score at 7 after Trevin Wade returned a Ricky Stanzi interception 38 yards into the end zone.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Iowa
QB Matt Scott missed a handful of open receivers in the third quarter, and — on a play that could have changed the momentum of the game — WR Delashaun Dean dropped what would have been a 50-yard gain. Dean appeared to trap the ball between his leg and the ground; a video replay rule confirmed that it was an incomplete pass.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Iowa
Iowa's defense would again prove to be the difference-maker in this game, not allowing a touchdown until 1:53 was remaining in the game, with the Hawkeyes well ahead. Iowa safety Tyler Sash, with a grab of a Matt Scott pass intended for Terrell Turner, also netted his seventh interception in five games (dating back to last year).


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Iowa
Nick Foles came in at QB in the fourth quarter and went 6 for 11 with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Juron Criner, but, as noted above, the damage was already done.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Iowa
The loss dropped Arizona to 0–7 against Big Ten teams in the last decade; the Wildcats’ last nonconference road win of any kind came in 2001, when John Mackovic's Wildcats defeated San Diego State.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Running behind a third-string tailback and second-team left tackle, right guard and wide receiver (as well as a new starting QB, sophomore Nick Foles, the transfer from Michigan State) the Wildcats defeated Oregon State 35–32 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, in the Pac-10 opener for Arizona. The Wildcats started the game without a half-dozen starters, including tight end Rob Gronkowski (who would end up being out the rest of the 2009 season due to back surgery). Tailbacks Nicolas Grigsby and Keola Antolin were out of the game by halftime with shoulder and leg injuries, respectively (Grigsby would not fully recover until the end of the season).


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
That left the Wildcats with third-stringer Greg Nwoko at running back. The redshirt freshman from the Austin, Texas area delivered: His 52-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass set Arizona up for its second touchdown of the quarter, a 3-yard pass from quarterback Nick Foles to receiver Juron Criner. Nwoko rushed nine times for 44 yards and a touchdown in the first extended action of his career.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Arizona took the lead early in the third quarter, when Foles — making his first college start — dove in on a sneak from the 1-yard line. Foles led his team on a 15-play, 71-yard scoring drive in the first quarter, connecting with WR Delashaun Dean for a 2-yard touchdown pass.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
The Beavers scored their first touchdown with 2 minutes remaining in the quarter, when Damola Adeniji caught a tipped pass from QB Sean Canfield for an 11-yard score. James Rodgers gave OSU a 14–7 lead with a 2-yard run midway through the second quarter. Arizona tied the game on Nwoko's touchdown, but the Beavers re-took the lead on the final play before halftime. Justin Kahut's 21-yard field goal made it 17–14.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Foles appeared to put the game away when he found WR Terrell Turner for a 13-yard touchdown pass with eight minutes remaining, but the Beavers — resilient and persistent — proved tough to put away. Canfield found Aaron Nichols for a 13-yard score with 4:09 remaining, cutting Arizona's lead to 3.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
CB Devin Ross intercepted Canfield with 1 minute 33 seconds remaining.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Even after surrendering a safety with 25 seconds left, Oregon State recovered an onside kick and had the ball, down five points, in their zone. This time, Arizona made the plays. Sacks by Earl Mitchell and Ricky Elmore ended the game.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Grigsby left the game after just one rushing attempt with what was discovered to be a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. He was never fully healthy the rest of the season.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
In a controversial play, Washington LB Mason Foster intercepted a deflected pass off the foot of Arizona's Delashaun Dean (who insisted the pass hit the ground) and returned the carom 37 yards for a touchdown with 2:37 left, and the Huskies rallied with two touchdowns in the final three minutes to beat the Wildcats 36–33 in Seattle.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
On the call, Dean commented: "I felt it graze my foot, but the way the ball bounced up, it would have hit my foot a lot harder", Dean said. "I figured it had to hit the ground, then after seeing the pictures you could actually see the black beads from the turf jump up when the ball hit the ground. It's pretty obvious when you look at it. I don't know how it got missed."


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
Led by quarterback Jake Locker, Washington overcame a 12-point deficit in the final 3 minutes to hand Arizona the loss. Arizona lost the game despite a torrid third quarter. QB Nick Foles connected with David Roberts on a 9-yard touchdown pass on the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half. The Wildcats got the ball back — and scored again — following a strange play.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
Washington punter Will Mahan muffed a snap on fourth down deep in the Huskies' zone on their first possession of the second half. He recovered the muff, took a few steps and kicked a ball that rolled 12 yards behind the original line of scrimmage. Mahan was flagged for an illegal kick, and the Huskies were penalized half the distance to the goal line – 9 yards.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
Arizona turned the good fortune into a 23-yard Alex Zendejas field goal. The Wildcats capped their 17-point quarter with an eight-play, 36-yard drive; Foles delivered the crushing blow on third-and-goal from the Huskies’ 1, faking a hand-off up the middle and bootlegging into the end zone for a touchdown.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
Washington cut Arizona's lead to six points just before the quarter's end, when Devin Aguilar caught his second touchdown pass of the night, a 29-yarder from Jake Locker. But Zendejas nailed a 29-yarder on the first possession of the fourth quarter.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
The UA was leading 33–21 when Washington took over with the ball with 4:16 remaining in the contest. But the Wildcats' LB Vuna Tuihalamka was flagged for a late hit on a missed pass, getting Washington past midfield. It took quarterback Jake Locker six plays to travel 59 yards; his 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kavario Middleton cut the Wildcats' lead to 33–28 with 2:55 left.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
The Huskies then chose to kick the ball deep, figuring that — with two timeouts left — they could try to force Arizona to punt. The Wildcats instead went for the kill. On first down, the Wildcats called what Stoops dubbed "a run-pass" option play, meaning Foles could check down to a run or choose to throw. He threw.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
When his first few options weren't there, the quarterback attempted a short screen route to Dean. The ball glanced off the side of his right shoe and into Mason Foster's hands. The Huskies' linebacker ran in untouched. The defeat of Arizona came as the Husky football program, winless during the 2008 season, was trying to rebuild under their new head coach, former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian (for their part, the Huskies finished the season 5–7 and 4–5 in Pac-10 play).


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Washington
Following the game, head coach Mike Stoops said Arizona coaches were to blame for the poor call — even though Foles had been running the play all night with great success. He completed 39 of 53 passes for 384 yards and a touchdown. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, however, defended the call. Arizona settled for four field goals and continued to struggle in the red zone. The Wildcats limited Locker to just 140 passing yards, but let him drive at will when one stop would have ended the game.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Stanford
In a game that featured more than a thousand offensive yards, the Wildcats rallied back late to defeat the Cardinal. The quarterbacks were evenly matched: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns, while Arizona's Nick Foles also tossed three touchdown passes and had a total of 415 yards. Stanford's Toby Gerhart had 123 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona managed a total of just 138 rush yards, but 57 of those came on Nic Grigsby's go-ahead touchdown with under three minutes left. Stanford drove to the Arizona 17 with seconds to play, but a fourth-down pass to Chris Owusu was batted away and the Wildcats escaped with a home victory.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, UCLA
In the first quarter, Arizona's first drive ended when UCLA safety Rahim Moore intercepted a Nick Foles pass. But in their second drive, Foles passed to Juron Criner for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a lead. After Arizona recovered a Bruin fumble, Grigsby rushed into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown, extra point blocked.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Both Moore and Jerzy Siewierski intercepted a Wildcats pass in the second quarter. Kai Forbath kicked a 53-yard field goal to put UCLA on the board before the half. UCLA's Datone Jones recovered a Foles fumble and Forbath kicked a field goal to begin the third quarter. Kevin Craft came in to replace Kevin Prince in UCLA's second possession, but Christian Ramirez fumbled the ball to Arizona, which led to the Wildcats' third touchdown, a Nick Foles 25-yard pass to Criner. Tony Dye recovered a Wildcats fumble and ran in for a 28-yard UCLA touchdown. Late in the third quarter, Nick Booth rushed for 6 yards for a score to give Arizona a 27–13 lead.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, UCLA
In the fourth quarter, the Bruins were unable to do anything and lost their fourth game in a row.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
In their final home season game, California started backup RB Shane Vereen in place of their star RB Jahvid Best, who was still recovering from a concussion sustained the previous week. The then-#18 ranked Wildcats were also missing their starting RB, Nic Grigsby, with ongoing shoulder troubles.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Cal's Giorgio Tavecchio hit four field goals, including a 22-yard go-ahead kick with 4 minutes 46 seconds remaining, to boost the Golden Bears past a desperate UA team.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Tavecchio contributed in other ways, too. After hitting the field goal that put Cal ahead for good, the kicker tackled Arizona's Travis Cobb on a kickoff return. Bolstered by Cobb's return, the Wildcats drove deep into Cal territory.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Arizona faced third-and-three from the Cal 25 when QB Nick Foles dropped back and attempted a short pass. The ball deflected off a Cal defender and back into the hands of Foles, who rolled right and threw it forward again — this time for a completion to WR Delashaun Dean. Foles was flagged for an illegal forward pass, and Arizona was penalized 5 yards from the spot of the penalty, 9 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats' field goal unit stood on the sideline when, on fourth-and-17 from the Golden Bears' 39, Foles attempted a desperate pass to David Roberts that was broken up.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Foles' mistake was emblematic of the Cats' struggles. Arizona gained just 274 yards, 174 below its season average. Foles completed 25 of 41 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted once and sacked three times. Foles had only been sacked four times before all season before the game. The Wildcats rushed for just 73 yards as a team, a 2.6 yards-per-carry average that rarely equates to wins. And yet Arizona had its chances.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Cal scored a late touchdown but botched a PAT attempt, leaving Arizona a chance to drive for a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion. The Wildcats had hope, but struggled to make the simplest of plays. Their last drive included an incomplete pass, a holding call (which was declined) and two sacks.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
California QB Kevin Riley threw for 181 yards and a score, with two interceptions. Vereen had 30 carries for 159 yards, both career highs, including one score. Keola Antolin, who had rushed for 149 yards against the Bears in 2008, was held to 78 yards and a score. This was Cal's fourth straight victory over the Wildcats in Berkeley, and moved them up to #25 in the BCS rankings (they would go on to an 8–5 (5–4 Pac-10) regular season and lose 37–27 to Utah in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl).


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, California
Arizona, on the other hand, seemed to have its relatively high hopes for its first-ever appearance in the Rose Bowl placed in jeopardy with the frustrating road loss.


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Oregon uniform combination: green helmet, white jersey with silver numbers, black pants


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon
In a PAC-10 conference showdown that prompted College Gameday to pay its first visit to the University of Arizona campus, the outcome of the game would ultimately send the winning team to the Rose Bowl Game. The Fans and the Arizona Wildcats players all wore red with the intent to "Red Out Oregon".


2009 Arizona Wildcats football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli's touchdown plunge on third-and-goal in the second overtime period gave the Ducks a come-from-behind, 44–41 victory over the U of A before 57,863 fans at Arizona Stadium and a national TV audience (ESPN on ABC). The Ducks overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime, then scored touchdowns on both their possessions. Hundreds of red-clad Arizona students from the "Zona Zoo" student section were on the sidelines, preparing for a victory party, when Masoli hit tight end Ed Dickson for an 8-yard touchdown with six seconds left in regulation to tie the game.