Blocked Punt Helps Arizona Beat Cal, 24-17 : Pacific 10: Wildcats also take advantage of two interceptions in winning third game in a row.

Arizona found something new to add to the mix of tipped passes, sacks and interceptions it has used to frustrate opponents recently--the blocked punt.

The Wildcats had effectively stopped California’s running game and led, 17-3, when backup quarterback Heath Bray blocked Chris Noonan’s punt and sent the ball rolling toward the goal line. Thomas Demps covered it for the Wildcats, and quarterback George Malauulu ran it in from the one on the next play.

It was just more one big play for the 21st-ranked Wildcats, who went on to win, 24-17, Saturday night, and one more misfortune for the Golden Bears.

Arizona, 4-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the Pacific 10, won its third game in a row by exploiting Cal’s chief weakness--turnovers. The Wildcats turned two interceptions into touchdowns.

“We feel our defense can stop any team in the nation,” said linebacker Sean Harris, who had one of the interceptions and six tackles. “I think Cal’s a great team, but they’ve been hurt on turnovers this year.”

California (3-4, 1-3) lost its third game in a row under first-year Coach Keith Gilbertson and fell to the Wildcats for the first time in five meetings.

“We had two tipped balls and a blocked punt. It was very disappointing,” Gilbertson said. “This is a good team that’s had a lot of bad things happen to it.”

Last week his team committed three turnovers in the final eight minutes to surrender an 11-point lead to USC.

Arizona’s defense, which led the way in upset victories over UCLA and Stanford, took advantage of Cal’s mistakes and quarterback Dave Barr’s relative lack of experience. The Wildcats sacked the sophomore four times and have 19 sacks in the last four games.

On the Bears’ first possession of the second half, Jim Hoffman tipped Barr’s pass, which was grabbed by Sanders and returned 40 yards for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats the 17-3 lead.

After Bray’s blocked punt, a 44-yard pass from Barr to Sean Dawkins set up Russell White’s two-yard run. It was the first touchdown allowed by Arizona in 12 quarters.