The Wildcats iced the win on when Ronnie Palmer dove to haul in a tipped Nate Longshore pass. Three kneel downs later and the Wildcats had the stunning win.
Palmer almost did not get a chance for the pick. DeSean Jackson appeared to have a 63-yard touchdown in the final 2:00 but replay showed he stepped out of bounds near the Wildcat 40. Three plays later Palmer was clinching the win.
The Cats had to battle back just to get to that point. Arizona trailed 17-3 at the half and it looked like another good defensive performance gone to waste. Instead the Wildcats are 5-5 and have a lot of hope.
Things were looking bleak in the third quarter. They were unable to move on their first drive and took over at their own 25. Following a five-yard Chris Henry run, Tuitama hit Syndric Steptoe on a 25-yard pass play. The next play Tuitama threw a quick screen to Mike Thomas and Thomas raced 44 yards for an apparent score. Replay showed that Thomas stepped out of bounds at the five, but two plays later Chris Henry hit the pile at the one, and squirmed his way for a touchdown.
Arizona stormed right back and appeared to tie the game when Brandyn McCall slipped behind the Bear defense and Tuitama hit him in stride, but the junior tight end dropped the ball. Instead of self destructing, the Cats made a number of plays and bennefitted from two costly Cal penalties.
Tuitama threw not one, but two interceptions inside the 20, but both were called back thanks to Cal penalties. The second penalty, a pass interference, gave the Cats the ball at the five and two plays later Henry beat the defense to the pylon for his second touchdown of the game.
Three plays later Antoine Cason stepped in front of Jackson and raced 39 yards for the go ahead score.
Cal was able to tack on a field goal but nothing more.