Stanford caps journey with win over UCLA in 2 OT


PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Nothing was going to shock Stanford coach David Shaw on the finish of 19 straight days on the highway, together with his crew squandering a big halftime result in UCLA, falling behind by two touchdowns within the fourth quarter after which rallying to win it in double time beyond regulation.

The Cardinal capped their season with a 48-47 victory over the Bruins on Saturday evening on the Rose Bowl, ending a three-week odyssey that noticed them win three straight highway video games and apply in three states as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

”This crew, that is simply our path. This yr was tough, was going to be arduous. We’ll need to chew and scratch and claw our technique to victory,” Shaw stated. ”This crew ought to go down in Stanford historical past as certainly one of, if not essentially the most, resilient groups ever given what they confronted.”

Davis Mills threw for 428 yards and three touchdowns, together with a 14-yard rating to Simi Fehoko within the second time beyond regulation. Fehoko set a faculty file with 16 receptions and his 230 receiving yards are the third most in program historical past.

After Fehoko’s TD and Jet Toner’s additional level, the Bruins received the ball yet another time. Chase Griffin, who got here on for the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson within the second quarter, threw a 21-yard landing to Kyle Phillips on fourth-and-18. UCLA (3-4) went for the 2-point conversion, however Brittain Brown – who ran for a career-high 219 yards – was stopped wanting the tip zone.

Bruins coach Chip Kelly stated he opted to go for the win due to attrition.

”We have been operating out of some guys. I did not know the way for much longer we might go and I took a shot,” Kelly stated. ”It regarded like Brittain was on prime of the pile however got here up brief.”

Mills, who accomplished 32 of 47 passes for his second profession 400-yard recreation, bounced again from three second-half interceptions, together with a 39-yard pick-6 to Jay Shaw that gave UCLA a 34-20 lead with 5:39 remaining. However the Cardinal scored on their remaining two drives – each on Mills’ TD passes to Fehoko – to power time beyond regulation.

Fehoko’s 21-yarder with 18 seconds remaining in regulation got here after Dalyn Wade-Perry recovered Griffin’s fumble on the Stanford 28 with 1:38 remaining.

”It was the primary pick-6 I’ve ever thrown in my life, so I thought of that for a second,” stated Mills, who had a string of 222 makes an attempt with no choose snapped in the course of the third quarter. ”However as soon as I used to be again on the sideline my eyes went again snap ahead and did what we needed to do to get via the remainder of the sport.”

Griffin accomplished 9 of 11 passes for 127 yards and 4 touchdowns after Thompson-Robinson suffered a proper knee damage late within the first half. Stanford led 20-3 at halftime on a pair of Austin Jones 1-yard runs and Isaiah Sanders’ 2-yard keeper.

Griffin, a redshirt freshman, directed the Bruins to touchdowns on the primary three possessions of the second half – Keegan Jones’ 9-yard run, Craig Dulcich’s 17-yard reception and Chase Cota’s 23-yard seize on the primary play of the fourth quarter to place the Bruins up 24-20.

Saturday’s recreation was the season finale for each groups after they introduced earlier they might decline any bowl invites.

Stanford completed the yr with wins in 4 straight highway video games. Following a 24-23 win at California on Nov. 27, Shaw’s squad needed to depart campus on Dec. 1 after Santa Clara County prohibited contact sports activities as a result of COVID-19. Stanford (4-2) ready for this week’s recreation in Santa Barbara after spending two weeks in Washington and Oregon.

”Primary on the docket is all people sleeping in their very own beds. I do not assume I’ve ever actually appreciated simply that concept of getting again to my room,” Shaw stated. ”We decided to do that and we poured our souls into it, nevertheless it’s time for everyone to get a break. All of us want a break.”

SANDERS’ SCORE

Sanders was in for less than his second snap of the season when he ran for a 2-yard TD to place the Cardinal up 13-3 early within the second quarter. His earlier motion got here within the Nov. 27 recreation in opposition to California. He additionally got here on late and had a 3-yard rating in the course of the first time beyond regulation.

Sanders is just the second graduate switch in program historical past. He graduated from the Air Power Academy, the place he performed three seasons and accounted for 13 touchdowns (9 dashing, 4 passing).

QUITE THE DUO

Brown’s massive day on the bottom marks the primary time that UCLA has had two operating backs have 200-yard video games in the identical season. Felton rushed for 206 yards throughout a Nov. 28 win over Arizona.

Gaston Inexperienced (1986), Karim Abdul-Jabbar (1995) and Johnathan Franklin (2012) had posted a number of 200-yard video games in the identical season.

MILESTONE

Saturday’s recreation marked the primary time a Pac-12 recreation had been officiated by an all-Black crew.

Michael Mothershed was the referee. The crew additionally included Michael Stephens (umpire), Darryl Johnson (head line choose), Harold Mitchell, Jr. (line choose), Gary Reed (aspect choose), Michael Corridor (area choose), Antony Little (again choose), Michael Marsh (heart choose), Judson Howard (replay official) and Cleo Robinson (replay assistant) and Javarro ”Jay” Edwards (alternate official)

THE TAKEAWAY

Stanford: The Cardinal may have loads of expertise returning on the talent positions subsequent yr, together with Jones, who had 92 yards on 13 carries. The sophomore gained 356 yards in his final three video games.

UCLA: Chip Kelly’s program is displaying indicators of progress. There have been doubts about Kelly’s future after solely seven wins his first two years, however this season’s outcomes ought to at the least get him to the tip of his five-year contract.

UP NEXT

UCLA is scheduled to open the 2021 season on Aug. 28 in opposition to Hawaii. Stanford is slated to open at Kansas State on Sept. 4.



supply

Leave a Reply