Stanford rallies to stun Arizona

Stanford has been wondering whether Alex Loukas would ever live up to his incredible potential. The junior finally did it against Arizona when the Cardinal was down to its third quarterback and its last chance.

Toby Gerhart dived across the goal line for a one-yard score with 25 seconds left, capping an improbable last-minute drive led by Loukas in Stanford’s 24-23 victory over the visiting Wildcats on Saturday.

Aaron Zagory’s extra point provided the decisive margin for the Cardinal, which improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference. Stanford earned its third victory in four games with a comeback led by Loukas, a remarkable athlete who ran and passed with equal aplomb during his high school career in Illinois. He struggled to earn playing time as a quarterback at Stanford, going one for seven this season, and the Cardinal even lined him up as a receiver several times.

But Loukas was outstanding for 12 snaps against Arizona after replacing injured starter Tavita Pritchard and ineffective backup Jason Forcier in the fourth quarter. Loukas threw only one pass, but his 39 yards rushing finished the Wildcats in highly unlikely fashion.

“We have three good QBs,” Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Alex got in there and called a couple of formations wrong, but he is a gifted athlete and a determined runner.”

Loukas ran for 32 yards on four key plays during Stanford’s 65-yard winning drive, which began with 5:42 to play after Jason Bondzio’s second field goal of the fourth quarter for Arizona (4-2, 2-1).

After throwing a 21-yard pass to Ryan Whalen and making a key 16-yard run, Loukas gained seven yards up the middle for a key first down at the Arizona two-yard line with about 90 seconds left. Gerhart scored two plays later.

“The whole game was back and forth, and it came down to that last drive,” said Gerhart, who finished with 116 yards rushing. “We were moving the ball and believing we were going to finish it.”

Oregon State 66, Washington State 13 -- Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 168 yards, Sammie Stroughter had 116 yards receiving and the Beavers (3-3, 2-1) routed the Cougars (1-6, 0-4) at Corvallis, Ore.

Lyle Moevao had four passes intercepted, but that didn’t keep the Beavers from breaking a school record for points in a Pac-10 game. Eight Oregon State players scored touchdowns.

Washington State’s injury woes at quarterback continued. Marshall Lobbestael was lost to an apparent ankle injury early in the fourth quarter. The Cougars have already lost two quarterbacks to injuries.

Washington State had more penalty yards (170) than offensive yards (132). It’s the third time this season the Cougars have given up at least 60 points.