K.J. Costello returns, leads Stanford over Arizona
STANFORD – K.J. Costello is back. So is Stanford’s offense.
Costello completed passes to 12 receivers and produced Stanford’s first 300-yard passing game of the season as the Cardinal defeated Arizona 41-31 on Saturday afternoon at Stanford Stadium
Costello returned for the first time since injuring his thumb five weeks ago against Oregon, completing 30 of 43 passes for 312 yards and three TDs.
The Cardinal (4-4, 3-3 Pac-12) entered Saturday averaging 20.0 points per game, 115th in the FBS.
Stanford broke a 31-31 tie midway through the third quarter on a 14-yard fade pass from Costello to Simi Fehoko, and added a 21-yard field goal by freshman Ryan Sanborn with 6:18 to play.
Fehoko, a redshirt freshman, also had a 44-yard touchdown catch, and senior Cameron Scarlett had 19 carries for 102 yards and two TDs as the Cardinal won its sixth straight game in the series.
Khalil Tate threw for 205 and ran for 103 yards for Arizona (4-4, 2-3), which scored touchdowns on four of its first seven drives but was held scoreless for the final 24 minutes.
Stanford junior cornerback Paulson Adebo had two fourth-quarter interceptions, doubling his season total and providing the only two turnovers in the game. Sanborn, who was replacing the injured Jet Toner, connected from 33 and 21 yards in his first collegiate field goal attempts.
The Cardinal has a bye next week before traveling to Colorado on Nov. 9.