Sept. 25, 1999

Game Stats

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Keith Smith completed a desperation 42-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wade with no time left and Arizona beat Washington State 30-24 on Saturday.

Televised replays appeared to show the ball hit the turf before Wade had possession.

Arizona coach Dick Tomey said he didn't have a clear view and couldn't tell. Washington State's Mike Price said he didn't think the officials were in a good position to make the call.

"There is nothing we can do about it," Price said. "I can't comment too much under league rules."

Arizona (3-2 overall, 1-1 Pac-10) took possession on its 20 with 1:56 left, and appeared to have stalled around midfield before Smith, with 5 seconds left, launched a pass into a crowd of players in the end zone.

It was the 12th loss in a row for Washington State (0-4, 0-2), which hasn't won since Sept. 19, 1998 and hasn't beaten a Pac-10 opponent since 1997.

Trung Canidate rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns to lead Arizona. Arizona kicker Mark McDonald missed four field goals in the game, and all six of his attempts this season.

Arizona struck first on Canidate's 1-yard burst midway through the first quarter.

Washington State tied it on Steve Birnbaum's 11-yard pass to Farwan Zubedi with 1:31 left in the half, and Rian Lindell's 52-yard field goal gave Washington State a 10-7 halftime lead.

McDonald missed field goals attempts of 53 and 40 yards in the first half, and 43 yards and 32 yards in the second half.

McDonald faked a 52-yarder in the third quarter, but instead tried to bury Washington State with a short punt. The Cougars took possession on their 20.

After an offside penalty put the ball on the 15, Washington State running back Deon Burnett fumbled, with the ball bouncing into the end zone. Birnbaum fell on it for an Arizona safety, cutting Washington State's lead to 10-9.

Later in the third, the Wildcats' Dennis Northcutt returned a punt 68 yards to the Washington State 13, with Billy Newman making the touchdown-saving tackle.

Canidate run in untouched from the 2, and Keith Smith passed to Brandon Manumaleuna for a 2-point conversion and a 17-10 Arizona lead after three quarters.

Jason Gesser, who

replaced Birnbaum late in the third quarter, directed a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive early in the fourth quarter. Burnett's 2-yard run tied it 17-17 with 10:15 left.

The Wildcats responded with an 80-yard drive of their own, with Canidate rushing nine times. The last was a 4-yard burst up the middle to give Arizona a 24-17 lead with 4:39 left.

After Newman returned the kickoff to the Washington State 45, Burnett ran 55 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 4:14 left.