The running of Alex Loukas, Stanford's third quarterback in the game, ignited a late drive that culminated with Toby Gerhart's winning touchdown with 25 seconds left.
The following is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of Stanford's homecoming game as it happens:
Pregame
Entering its Pac-10 home opener with records of 3-3 and 2-1, Stanford had an opportunity to draw closer to its first winning season and bowl berth since 2001. A victory would not only make those goals more realistic, but would lift Stanford to a 3-1 conference record and a chance to become a viable contender in the Pac-10.
Arizona (4-1 and 2-0 going into the game) had many of the same ambitions, of turning around a recent series of losing seasons and introducing itself as a true contender. The Wildcats hadn't had a winning record since 1998, when they beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl to finish 12-1.
Temperature at gametime was a sunny 62 degrees, with gusts of up to 18 mph.
Gametime
Arizona opened with a 4-3 front that Stanford immediately exploited with a first-play eight-yard pass from Tavita Pritchard to Austin Gunder, and a 12-yard first-down run by Toby Gerhart.
Pritchard threw behind Gunder on a third-down crossing route and, though the tight end made the catch, he was a yard short at the Arizona 48-yard line and Stanford was forced to punt on its opening drive.
The Arizona spread offense began with a 21-yard Mike Thomas end-around run on Arizona's opening offensive play. Arizona faced third-and-eight when quarterback Willie Tuitama, a Stockton native, connected with Delashaun Dean for 12 yards on a play Stanford disputed as a trap, but did not ask to review.
Tuitama converted another third-down pass, a 24-yard slant to slot receiver Terrell Turner against blown coverage, to the Stanford seven. A loss and penalty dropped Arizona to the 19, but Tuitama found Turner again, released on a pick by a fellow receiver, to the 1. But on third down, a pass to Dean was not controlled as he stepped out the back of the end zone.
Arizona instead got a 19-yard field goal with 6:38 left by Jason Bondzio for a 3-0 lead.
Stanford countered with an 88-yard, 11-play drive in which Pritchard was superb, completing all five of his passes.
Toby Gerhart rolled off right guard for a 27-yard run to the 7-yard line to set up a third-down touchdown toss to Doug Baldwin with 1:03 left in the quarter.
Pritchard rolled right and threw to Baldwin under tight coverage just inside the right pylon for his third touchdown of the season, and a 7-3 lead.
End of first quarter: Stanford 7, Arizona 3
Though Arizona was forced to punt, Tuitama was 11-of-14 passing for 99 yards after its first series of the second quarter. Pritchard was 7-of-8 for 55 yards over the same time period.
Gerhart converted a third-down run and Pritchard hit Ryan Whalen for 10 yards to barely convert another, giving Stanford the ball at midfield midway through the second quarter. It was Stanford third third-down conversion in four tries to that point.
Stanford tried a trick play on second-and-10, snapping the ball directly to Michael Thomas, listed as a cornerback on the roster. Thomas ran left, but was hit by safety Cam Nelson and fumbled. The ball was recovered by free safety Nate Ness.
The turnover ignited the Arizona offense, with Tuitama firing two completions for a combined 21 yards.
On the next play, with the blocking going right, Nic Grigsby cut against the grain to the left, covering 25 yards for a touchdown with 6:38 left in the second quarter and a 10-7 Arizona lead.
Stanford got itself in trouble on its ensuing series when center Alex Fletcher was called for unnecessary roughness, but a pinpoint pass to Whalen on the right sideline for 17 yards helped the Cardinal get back on track.
Stanford drove to the Arizona 29 when Pritchard tried to find Whalen in the left flat, but free safety Ness jumped the pattern for the interception and found room down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown play.
Jason Bondzio made the extra-point try and suddenly Arizona was ahead, 17-7, with 3:31 left in the quarter.
It was Pritchard's eight interception against seven touchdown this season.
However, Arizona was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct after the score, and offsides on the kickoff, being forced to kick-off again from its own 10-yard line.
Stanford didn't take full advantage, being called for holding on Chris Owusu's 27-yard return. However, the Cardinal moved downfield anyway, with help from a 13-yard pass to Coby Fleener and third-down conversions by running back Anthony Kimble and receiver Whalen.
Two Pritchard short runs brought the ball to the 4-yard line, with third down and 19 seconds left. Stanford could not convert. Pritchard was rushed hard from his left by defensive end Brooks Reed and threw as he was hit.
His high pass toward Baldwin was incomplete, and nearly intercepted in the end zone. Instead, Stanford settled for a 22-yard field goal by Aaron Zagory with nine seconds left to draw Stanford within 17-10.
Halftime: Arizona 17, Stanford 10
In the first half, Stanford had 117 rushing yards, with Gerhard leading the team with 83 yards on 13 carries. The Cardinal outgained Arizona, 230-172 altogether, with Pritchard completing 13 of 17 passes for 113 yards.
Tuitama was 13-of-16 for 120 yards.
Missing from the Stanford lineup in the third quarter was Gerhart, who left the game late in the second quarter with an apparent injury.
Pritchard, also because of injury, wasn't out there either. It was backup Jason Forcier. His season stats to date were 1-of-7 for five yards and an interception.
The Michigan transfer picked up first downs on his own six-yard run and a 13-yard pass to Baldwin to the Arizona 28.
On a bizarre play, Forcier fumbled as he went back to pass. The ball, however, was batted forward and Fleener recovered for a six-yard gain. Gerhart, back in the game, picked up the first down on the next play.
From the Arizona 24, Forcier's second-down pass intended for Fleener was batted into the air by defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and was intercepted by defensive end Ricky Elmore.
But Stanford got another chance when its defense held Arizona to three-and-out on its next series.
This time, with Forcier back under center, Kimble took the handoff, broke through the line and ran for 70 yards before getting driven out of bounds by Nelson at the 2-yard line.
Two plays later, Kimble scored from one-yard out, and Zagory kicked the extra-point to tie the game, 17-17, with 4:20 left in the quarter. The run was Stanford's second-longest play from scrimmage this season, trailing Kimble's 83-yard run against Washington.
Though Stanford failed to gain a first-down on its next possession, punter David Green got the Cardinal out of trouble with a 70-yard punt to the Arizona 6-yard line. That ties Green with the sixth-longest punt in Stanford history and the longest in 11 years.
Tom McAndrew forced a Tuitama fumble on his own sack on the final play of the quarter, but Arizona recovered.
End of third quarter: Stanford 17, Arizona 17
The sack did not deter Arizona. Tuitama hit tight end Rob Gronkowski on a tackle-breaking 21-yard third-down pass. Moments later, he connected with Turner for 48 yards on the fly.
Turner was held short of a first down on a third-down slant, but had nine catches for 164 yards at that point.
That set up a 22-yard field goal by Bondzio that gave Arizona a 20-17 lead with 11:55 left in the fourth quarter.
Stanford failed to counter, with Forcier dropping a shotgun and snap and being sacked for a 20-yard loss to drop the Cardinal back to its own 7-yard line. Faced with third-and-30, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh brought in his third quarterback of the game, Alex Loukas.
Loukas scrambled for eight yards on his only play to that point and Stanford had to punt, giving Arizona possession at its own 44-yard line with 10:16 left.
Again, Arizona drove downfield, and again the Wildcats had to settle for a field goal.
The Wildcats got as far as the Stanford 5-yard line before stalling. On third down, Tuitama's pass into the end zone was broken up by Thomas, now playing defense. Bondzio kicked a 23-yard field goal to boost Arizona's lead to 23-17 with 5:48 left.
Loukas remained in the game after Stanford regained possession and hit Whalen down a seam for 20 yards. Moments later, Loukas kept the ball on the option and picked up 16 yards for a first down at the Arizona 25.
Loukas did it again, two plays later, fooling Arizona into falling for a fake pitch to Delano Howell, but keeping for 13 yards.
For a third time, Loukas kept the ball. This time on third-and-six from the nine. Arizona followed Gerhart on a fake and Loukas headed right and then cut left to reach the 1-yard line and earn a first down.
On second-and-goal from the one and seconds ticking in the final minute, Stanford lined up in the I-formation and Gerhart took the handoff and carried over left tackle for the touchdown with 25 seconds left.
Zagory's successful extra-point kick gave Stanford its first lead since the opening quarter, 24-23.
The driver covered 60 yards on 11 plays and took 5:16 off the clock.
Arizona took possession at its own 16 with 19 seconds left after the kickoff. Tuitama's first-down pass was deflected by Erik Lorig. On second down with 12 seconds left, Tuitama was sacked by Pannel Egboh and Lorig.
With eight seconds left at its own 14, Arizona tried a series of laterals, but for little gain and Stanford earned the final-minute victory.
Stanford is 4-3 and 3-1 in the Pac-10. Arizona fell to 4-2 and 2-1.
Gerhart rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries, and Kimble had 110 on 10 carries, with Loukas earning 39 yards on five carries.
Tuitama completed 21 of 33 passes for 259 yards. Pritchard was 13 of 17 for 113, and Forcier was 2 of 6 for 18.
Turner caught 10 passes for 175 yards for Arizona, which totaled 436 yards on offense to Stanford's 438.
Final: Stanford 24, Arizona 23