Stoops Is a Winner in Debut

The Mike Stoops era at Arizona got off to a winning, if unspectacular, start Saturday night with a 21-3 victory over Northern Arizona at Tucson.

Mike Bell carried 31 times for 118 yards for the Wildcats, including touchdown runs of two and nine yards. Kris Heavner completed 18 of 23 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona led, 7-3, most of the night against the Division I-AA Lumberjacks before putting the game away with a pair of touchdowns in the last 10 minutes.

Stoops, who as co-defensive coordinator helped his brother Bob build a powerhouse at Oklahoma, was hired to rebuild the Wildcats after the tumultuous tenure of John Mackovic.

Arizona defenders intercepted three passes.

Stanford 43, San Jose State 3 -- Trent Edwards threw two touchdown passes to Evan Moore, and Kenneth Tolon rushed for two scores to lead the Cardinal over the Spartans at Stanford.

Edwards passed for 187 yards and ran for a touchdown in Stanford’s fourth straight win over San Jose State. The Cardinal produced its largest margin of victory in the rivalry since winning, 44-0, in 1972.