Late Stanford Comeback Stuns No. 5 Texas, 27-24

DeRonnie Pitts cartwheeled into the end zone after catching a 15-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Chris Lewis with 1:12 to play as Stanford rallied to defeat No. 5 Texas, 27-24, on Saturday night at Palo Alto.

Stanford led, 20-9, with 10 minutes left but gave up two touchdown drives led by Texas quarterback Major Applewhite, who was ineffective until the game’s final minutes.

The Cardinal (2-1) then made a frantic four-play, 59-yard drive in only 43 seconds. It ended when Pitts caught a short sideline pass, broke Joe Walker’s tackle at the 10, leaped for the goal line, was flipped into the air by Roderick Babers and landed in the end zone.

Texas’ final drive ended when Brandon Healy dropped a fourth-down pass from Applewhite with 33 seconds to play.

With former Stanford golfer Tiger Woods cheering on the sideline, Lewis, a former Long Beach Poly standout, led a dramatic comeback in place of starter Randy Fasani, who injured his left knee when he was sacked by Maurice Gordon only seven minutes into the game.

The Texas offense struggled against an inspired Stanford defense until Applewhite passed to B.J. Johnson for a 71-yard touchdown strike with 9:29 to play. Applewhite then connected with Victor Ike over the middle for a 38-yard scoring play with 5:44 left to give Texas (1-1) a 24-20 lead.

No. 9 Washington 17, Colorado 14--Rick Neuheisel returned to Boulder, Colo., at the center of a firestorm and emerged without a singe.

Marques Tuiasosopo rallied Neuheisel’s Washington team to two fourth-quarter touchdowns and the Huskies held off the Buffaloes.

The target of wrath from Colorado players, university officials and fans when he left the school to take a $1-million-a-year job at Washington 20 months ago, Neuheisel made a triumphant return on Saturday. And he refused to gloat afterward.

“Congratulations to Colorado for an unbelievably hard-fought game,” Neuheisel said. “They were inspired; we knew they would be. I’ve said all along they have good character in the program, and I thought they were extremely well coached. I wish them nothing but the best.

“This is a happy day, more than just the fact that we found a way to win. It’s happy in that it’s behind me and we can move on with our lives.”

Washington (3-0) trailed, 7-3, until Willie Hurst ran two yards for a touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter, capping a 63-yard drive.

When Colorado (0-3) followed with one of its many ineffective offensive possessions and punted, Washington went 69 yards in eight plays for the clinching touchdown.

Tuiasosopo, who made key third-down plays all afternoon, scrambled for a 13-yard gain on third and nine. He passed 15 yards to tight end Jerramy Stevens, then hit Wilbur Hooks on a 24-yard scoring pass with 8:33 left for a 17-7 lead.

Arizona State 13, Colorado State 10--Mike Barth kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired to give the Sun Devils (2-0) a victory over the Rams (2-1) at Tempe, Ariz.

Mike Williams ran for 143 yards and a touchdown in 32 carries for Arizona State, which improved to 20-1 against Colorado State and 16-0 against the Rams in Tempe.

The Sun Devils began their winning drive with 1:40 left on their 35. Barth kicked the field goal on the 10th play.

Arizona 17, San Diego State 3--Ortege Jenkins passed for 200 yards and a touchdown and freshman Andrae Thurman returned a blocked punt for a score as the Wildcats (2-1) defeated the punchless Aztecs (0-3) at Tucson.

Jenkins completed 19 of 29 passes, including a 14-yard touchdown to Malosi Leonard 12 seconds before halftime that gave the Wildcats a 7-3 halftime lead.

Washington State 38, Utah 21--Sophomore quarterback Jason Gesser threw for four touchdowns and a career-high 211 yards to lead the Cougars (1-1) over the Utes (0-3) at Salt Lake City.