Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) is defended by UCLA Bruins linebacker Kenny Young (42) in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
STANFORD, Calif. — Sophomore sensation Christian McCaffrey announced his Heisman Trophy candidacy to the nation with a resounding performance in Stanford’s 56-35 victory over then-No. 18 UCLA in a prime time game on ESPN.
The victory sends Stanford into the second half of the season as the clear-cut favorite in the Pac-12 Conference’s North Division and an emerging contender for the national championship. The Cardinal jumped five spots to No. 10 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Stanford will entertain Washington on Saturday. The Cardinal has won five in a row since opening the season with a 16-6 loss at Northwestern, putting itself in position to run the table with a favorable schedule over the final six weeks of the regular season. The Cardinal’s hopes could hinge on the continued health and spectacular play of McCaffrey, who leads the nation in all-purpose yards.
McCaffrey ran for 243 yards and four touchdowns in just three quarters of work against UCLA, breaking Toby Gerhart’s single-game school rushing record and tying the school record for touchdowns in a game. McCaffrey, who also had an electrifying 96-yard kickoff return, amassed 369 all-purpose yards. He threatened the school record of 379 all-purpose yards set by Glyn Milburn in 1990 and likely would have broken it if coaches hadn’t opted to sit him in the fourth quarter.
“I was just lucky enough to run behind some great offensive linemen and went through some holes and tried to make stuff happen,” the son of former NFL star Ed McCaffrey said.
Stanford coach David Shaw presented the game ball to McCaffrey when it was over, a rare occurrence at Stanford. Teammates reacted with thunderous applause and hoisted McCaffrey onto their shoulders.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Shaw said. “Not just a great runner, but a great runner, a great receiver, kickoff returner (and) punt returner. He had an outstanding night.”
There could be more nights like that in the future. Stanford will play host to Washington before visiting Washington State and Colorado in its only remaining road games. The Cardinal will conclude the regular season at home against Oregon, rival Cal and Notre Dame.
Stanford’s offense has come alive since generating only two field goals in the season-opening loss to Northwestern. The Cardinal has averaged 45 points in its past five games and scored 110 points in its last two contests.
“That Northwestern loss did something to us. It bonded us together,” McCaffrey said. “A lot of teams fold after a loss like that first game and a lot of people were against us, and we remember that. It continues to push us and it will continue to push us because you can’t forget where you come from.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Kevin Hogan produced one of his poorer performances last season in a 20-13 victory over Washington. He completed 17-of-26 passes but threw for just 178 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Hogan is on a roll after completing 69-of-100 passes for 1,131 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions over the past five games, but he is about to face a Washington defense that ranks first in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and third in passing defense.
–RB Christian McCaffrey is leading the nation in all-purpose yards, averaging 253 per game. He has 844 rushing yards, 172 receiving yards, 480 yards on kickoff returns and 22 yards on punt returns. McCaffrey broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 243 yards in the win over UCLA and nearly broke the single-game record for all-purpose yards with 369 despite playing just three quarters. He has averaged 201.7 rushing yards in the past three games.
–WR Francis Owusu might have made the play of the year in college football when he hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker from Hogan in the win over UCLA. McCaffrey took the snap in the shotgun. Hogan was lined up wide right. McCaffrey handed off to RB Bryce Love, who pitched it to Hogan as he curled back around the pocket. Hogan fired deep downfield to Owusu, who wrapped his arms around S Jaleel Wadood and caught the ball behind Wadood’s back as the two of them fell to the ground.
–LB Blake Martinez left the game in the first half against UCLA when he took a shot to the head from WR Kenneth Walker, who was ejected for targeting. Martinez returned in the second half. Stanford coach David Shaw said: “We thought it might be worse, but it was just the wind knocked out of him. No concussion issue at all.”
SERIES HISTORY: Washington leads Stanford, 41-40-4. The Cardinal has won six of the last seven in the series, including a 20-13 victory last season at Husky Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It was amazing and I’m still in awe, still don’t know what to say about it. I’m going to have to re-watch that a thousand times.” — RB Christian McCaffrey, commenting on Francis Owusu’s highlight reel catch against UCLA.
