Stanford’s Pac-12 hopes on the ropes
The Stanford football team has made its mark in the Pacific-12 Conference as the counter culture team. Stanford has not featured the up-tempo spread of Oregon, and high-scoring affairs, but rather, a dominant running game, consistent-if-safe passing attack and a stout defense.
But the Cardinal defense looked anything but stout in allowing 19 consecutive converted passes to start the half last weekend. Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew did just that, as the No. 14 Cougars beat the Cardinal 41-38 at Stanford Stadium.
Now, Stanford (5-3, 3-2) is tied for second place in the Pac-12 North loss column with Washington. Of course, Washington entertains Stanford at 6 p.m. Saturday in Seattle.
The Cardinal has lost three of its past four, and isn’t even technically bowl eligible yet.
Stanford’s fading chance at another Pac-12 North title and appearance in the conference championship game rides on beating Washington. Washington, though, just lost 12-10 in an upset to Stanford rival Cal in Berkeley.
“Crunch-time situation — give it to Minshew,” said Cardinal coach David Shaw, after Minshew hit Jamire Calvin with a 35-yard pass to set up Blake Mazza’s game-winning field goal.
While Washington State is alone atop the Pac-12 North standings, Washington (6-3, 4-2) was just held to 250 yards of total offense at Cal — which won without scoring an offensive touchdown.
And Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello was prolific along with Minshew, completing 34 of 43 passes for 323 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Costello, though, did lose a fumble that turned into a TD drive for the Cougars.
“That was a great college football game,” Shaw said. “We just ended up on the wrong side of it.
“…This was the way we wanted to play against these guys. We thought it gave us the best chance to win.”
Stanford tailback Bryce Love is easing back from an ankle injury, and performed well — with 71 yards on just six carries (thanks mostly to a 43-yard burst). The Cardinal passed (43 times) nearly twice as much as running the football (23).
Stanford, though, struggled to frustrate Minshew, earning only one sack via freshman defensive end Thomas Booker. The linebacker corps of Joey Alfieri, Sean Barton and Bobby Okereke was unable to break through and bring down Minshew.
And the secondary, including cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Alijah Holder, and safety Malik Antoine, did little to stifle coach Mike Leach’s offense.
