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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Cardinals stonewall Niners, 29-24

By BOB BAUM
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Francisco quarterback Shaun Hill loses his helmet while being tackled by Arizona's Karlos Dansby, left, and Adrian Wilson.

ROSS D. FRANKLIN | Associated Press

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals accomplished something they hadn't done since the team moved to the desert 20 years ago.

They won on Monday night.

The Cardinals stopped Michael Robinson up the middle from the 2-yard line as the game ended to preserve a 29-24 victory over San Francisco.

Who made the game-saving tackle?

"We all did," defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said.

San Francisco interim head coach Mike Singletary said his team could have "done a heck of a lot better job" managing the final seconds.

The NFC West-leading Cardinals (6-3) never led until Karlos Dansby's 34-yard interception return set up Kurt Warner's 5-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin with 4:16 to play.

San Francisco (2-7) had two chances after that.

The first ended on Adrian Wilson's diving interception of Shaun Hill's pass. The second was much more nerve-racking for the home team.

Hill's 14-yard pass to Jason Hill moved it to the Arizona 1. With the last few seconds ticking off, Frank Gore was pushed by a defensive player as he ran around left end, then stumbled to the ground just outside the 2.

After officials reviewed the play to make sure Gore was down by contact, the 49ers handed off to fullback Robinson, who was stuffed nowhere near the goal line.

Isaac Sopoaga, a former University of Hawai'i standout, had two tackles for San Francisco.

For the Cardinals, former UH standout Travis LaBoy had four tackles, while Kahuku High alum Aaron Francisco added five.