This felt like an old-fashioned Big Game in so many ways, back to a time when it seemed to matter more than anything else on the Bay Area sports scene. The crowds were massive, regardless of won-lost records, and the action carried the kind of distinct edge that characterizes any great rivalry.

True to the game’s finest episodes in a tradition dating to the 19th century, it was in doubt until the final moments, reputations blurred and unlikely heroes celebrated. The teams played on dead-even terms for the full three hours until the Cardinal pulled out a 17-14 victory before a sellout crowd of 51,424 at Stanford Stadium.

The preseason forecasts gave Cal no chance in this game. In that sense, the Bears knew a measure of satisfaction, earned in the best possible manner: a rugged defense that emerged from the rubble of a dismantled regime. This is coach Justin Wilcox’s show, now and likely for many more seasons, and as the Bears came off a bye week, they were prepared for exactly the brand of effort they displayed.

The numbers were in place. Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello passed for just 185 yards, with no long-range damage, and Bryce Love was held to 101 yards on 14 carries. But Love did break loose once, for a 57-yard touchdown to give Stanford a 17-6 lead in the third quarter, and it was that type of episode — just a momentary breakdown — that left Wilcox disappointed afterward.

Asked if he was proud of the Bears’ defensive effort, Wilcox cringed for just a moment. “We didn’t win the game. You know? Don’t get me wrong, I love our guys and how they competed. We played our butts off. We just needed another play here or there, and we didn’t quite have it.”

Love’s touchdown was a severe blow, but it was Stanford’s final drive — steady, methodical, eventually running out the clock at the Cal 17 and leaving the Bears no chance to respond — that left a bitter taste.

The biggest play came with 2:20 remaining, Stanford facing a 4th-and-1 at the 18. It wasn’t Love getting the call but his backup, Cameron Scarlett, diving headlong into the line. It was just barely enough. Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk met Scarlett head-on and stopped him cold, but not before Scarlett picked up that precious yard.

Love may have run out of steam in his Heisman Trophy campaign. There’s nothing weak about a 101-yard game, but Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was considered a clear favorite heading into the weekend, and he lit up Kansas for 257 yards and three touchdown passes in the Sooners’ 41-3 win. (Mayfield also had a hot-headed afternoon, shouting obscenities at the Kansas bench at times, and apologized afterward for being “disrespectful.” How that plays in the voters’ minds, no one can tell.)

As for Cal running back Patrick Laird, he certainly couldn’t have dreamed of this night as he walked onto the Cal program this year: starting for the Bears, rushing for 153 yards on 20 carries, outgaining the Heisman Trophy candidate and validating the pregame comments of Stanford coach David Shaw. “Reckless abandon has kind of a negative connotation to it,” said Shaw, “but he shows total disregard for his body. He gives it all on every single play.”

Watching Laird on film will be a treat for the Cal coaching staff and players. Other moments will bring nothing but regret. Placekicker Matt Anderson, whose two field goals gave him a school-record 56 for his career, had a third one clank off the crossbar from 47 yards out in the second quarter.

Then there was a crucial near-miss in the passing game, Bowers heaving one deep downfield to Jeremiah Hawkins in the fourth quarter. Hawkins had a few steps on defensive backs Ben Edwards and Malik Antoine, but the pass was underthrown, Edwards caught up to make the interception, and Stanford took over at its own 6-yard line.

In all, said Wilcox, “You’ve got to give Stanford a lot of credit. Excellent football team, they’re really well-coached, and they’ve got really good players.”

It all seems very upbeat now for a team that endured such disappointing losses to USC, San Diego State and Washington State. A home victory against Notre Dame next week would give the Cardinal a 9-3 record and a trip to one of the more attractive bowl games. The Pac-12 championship game remains a possibility, as well, if Washington can beat Washington State next weekend.

But in Saturday night’s aftermath and the days to come, only one thing matters: possession of the Axe, signifying Big Game triumph. As Stanford representatives handed over the precious trophy, it was left to seniors Harrison Phillips, Daniel Marx and C.J. Keller to carry it in a rush across the field, teammates close at hand. They all gathered in front of photographers and the Stanford band, wildly celebrating a Big Game victory that carries a special brand of satisfaction — then, now and forever.

Bruce Jenkins is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: bjenkins@sfchronicle.com Twitter @Bruce_Jenkins1

Owning the Axe

Stanford’s 8-game

winning streak over Cal: