Trick Play Elementary for Scurlock : Pac-10: Arizona cornerback intercepts halfback option pass and returns it 97 yards for touchdown in 13-6 victory over California.

Mike Scurlock returned an interception 97 yards in the first quarter and Jim Hoffman made consecutive sacks to close off a late threat as No. 18 Arizona defeated old nemesis California, 13-6, Saturday night to stay in the race for the Rose Bowl.

Arizona, 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Pacific 10, remained tied with Oregon and USC for the lead. California (3-6, 2-4) had won five of the last six games in the series, and was threatening to pull out this decision until the final 1:51.

The Wildcats held California at bay, but Pat Barnes’ 26-yard pass to Sean Bullard on third-and-10 moved Cal to the Arizona 46 with 3:21 remaining.

Two plays later, Barnes, Cal’s third-string quarterback who played the entire game, scrambled for nine yards, and a pass interference call against Arizona gave Cal a first down at the Wildcat 20.

Barnes threw an incomplete pass and Reynard Rutherford lost five yards. Then Hoffman sacked Barnes on third and fourth down and Cal turned the ball over on downs.

The second sack came with 1:45 remaining, and Arizona ran out the clock.

Steve McLaughlin kicked field goals of 54 yards, longest of his career, and 42 yards at the end of Arizona’s first two possessions.

Barnes’ 50-yard pass to Na’il Benjamin carried to the Arizona 20, and three plays later Barnes scrambled 11 yards to the Wildcat two.

On third-and-goal, Barnes pitched to Tyrone Edwards, who looped a halfback pass back toward Barnes in the left end zone.

But Scurlock, a cornerback, picked off the pass at the three and returned it 97 yards down the right sideline, scoring with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.

A television tape showed Scurlock stepped out at the Cal 12 but officials didn’t see it.