Antoine Cason made his final game at Arizona Stadium one he — and the masses — will never forget.
The highly decorated senior cornerback scored touchdowns on an interception return and a punt return in the Wildcats' stunning 34-24 upset over No. 2 Oregon.
"You could not be more happy for him," UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said. "Everybody knows the story, but what a great person, a great leader, a great character."
The story is Cason is a legit candidate to be named a first-team All-American, as well as a quality person away from the football field. The Long Beach, Calif., native has raised $4,000 for his charity, Cason Cares, for cancer research.
Along with his fifth interception of the season, Cason registered seven tackles in front of 50,387 fans and an ESPN audience.
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"When the bright lights were on in a big game, you step up," Stoops said. "That's what All-Americans do."
By halftime, Cason had scored as many points as Oregon had — 14. As a whole, the Wildcats held a 31-14 edge at the break.
Cason intercepted Oregon quarterback Brady Leaf, forced to play three-plus quarters because of a knee injury to Heisman favorite Dennis Dixon and returned the pick 42 yards for a touchdown. It was his second touchdown off an interception this season and gave Arizona a 17-11 lead with 14:45 left before halftime.
Cason then snared a 46-yard punt by Josh Syria and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown, slipping into the end zone after Xavier Smith laid a big hit before the goal line for a 31-11 lead in the second quarter.
"I scripted tonight in my head, but the final results were better than what was in my head," Cason said.
Cason's highlight-worthy plays only boosted his case as a semifinalist for three of the nation's top defensive awards — the Jim Thorpe for the top defensive back, the Chuck Bednarik Award for the most outstanding defensive player and the Ronnie Lott Trophy that recognizes a defensive player's character and athletic performance.
For perhaps his only blemish Thursday night, Cason was whistled for a pass interference penalty when he broke up a Leaf throw early in the fourth quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Leaf unleashed a low throw that Cason nearly caught for would have been his second interception of the night.
The ball rolled through Cason's hands and spiraled to the ground. Cason rolled across the field and then sat up, his fists clenched in frustration.
Arizona's Nate Ness intercepted the ball two plays later, sealing the mind-boggling Wildcats' upset.
In the final ticks of the clock, Cason leaped for a final pass from Leaf. He did not make that play either — but it did not matter.
As he hit the ground and the game ended, students engulfed the entire field in a sea of red and blue.
Thomas ties 'T'
Arizona's Mike Thomas caught his 11th touchdown reception of the season — tying an Arizona single-season record — on his 46-yard catch from Willie Tuitama for a 24-11 Arizona lead in the second quarter. Thomas tied Theopolis "T" Bell (1974) in the record books. Thomas also caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Grigsby sets school record
On a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter, Nicolas Grigsby etched his name into the UA record books. His 682 rushing yards this season have surpassed Clarence Farmer's former freshman record of 666 set in 2000. Grigsby rushed for 53 yards on 20 carries on Thursday, his longest run 15 yards.
Tukuafu burns Cats again
Will Tukuafu burned the UA once by going back on his verbal commitment last December. He was at it again Thursday night, recovering a third-quarter fumble with the Ducks trailing 31-14.
Tukuafu, a Scottsdale Community College product, committed to the Wildcats the day after last season's loss to Arizona State. Two weeks later, he changed his mind and chose Oregon. Tukuafu, a 23-year-old sophomore, was a captain for Thursday's game.
