Like he’s done all season, Arizona senior Bryson Beirne was busy discussing different formations by the opposing defense with his teammates.

Trailing 27-24 last Saturday in the fourth quarter of the Territorial Cup —the annual rivalry game between the Wildcats and Arizona State —Beirne, the backup quarterback, was studying various looks by the Sun Devils defense in hopes of helping starter Nick Foles pull off a comeback.

His concentration was quickly interrupted by a loud yell from one of the coaches.

"I heard a coach yell at me to go get my helmet," Beirne said. "I looked toward the field and (Foles) was on the ground."

With little time to comprehend what was taking place, the 2007 Mid-Pacific graduate found himself behind center in the fourth quarter of UA’s biggest game of the season.

As a hostile ASU crowd of 72,694 tried to overwhelm the backup QB, who had only attempted 17 passes in his five-year career, Beirne hooked up with receiver Juron Criner for the game-winning 23-yard touchdown with 5:18 remaining to give Arizona a 31-27 victory.

After his first significant playing time in a meaningful game, Beirne immediately became the hero in knocking off Arizona’s hated arch rival.

"People live and die off of this rivalry," Beirne said. "It’s something special and something I’ve never been around.

"As a backup, you’re expected to be able to come off the bench and win the game, and to do that in their building on their senior night was an awesome feeling."

It was a moment Beirne said he couldn’t even dream up.

Waiting for the snap from center on third and 4, Beirne remembers making eye contact with ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

Scanning the defense, Beirne realized the Sun Devils were bringing the house — and the Wildcats had the perfect play called.

"Vontaze was standing over the ball and I caught his eyes and thought this was a moment I’d never forget," Beirne said. "We had a jailbreak screen called for our best receiver, Juron, and all I did was throw it to him.

"He did the rest."

The victory helped temporarily erase the pain of a difficult season in Tuscon, Ariz.

After starting the year 1-5, head coach Mike Stoops was fired and replaced by interim coach Tim Kish. The Wildcats responded with a resounding 48-12 win over UCLA on a nationally-televised Thursday night game on ESPN.

But three losses after that, Arizona was 2-8 heading into its game against the Sun Devils, who had been in the Top 25 for part of the season.

Trailing 27-17 in the fourth quarter, Beirne and the Wildcats somehow managed to find a way.

"A lot of the frustration we’ve felt all year was kind of wiped away with that game," Beirne said. "It’s been a crazy year."

Beirne said he took all the reps in practice on Monday and wasn’t sure if Foles, who has been diagnosed with bruised ribs, would play in Saturday’s finale against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Either way, Beirne says it’s his job to fill any role he’s asked to fill the best he can.

"I know Nick is going to try to play and if not, I’ll be more than willing to step in," he said. "I know the offense really well and I’ve been around so long I have really good relationships with the seniors, so if my name is called, I’ll be ready."