FOOTBALL POST-GAME NOTES
at Stanford 37, San Jose State 0 (Stanford, CA - Stanford Stadium)
September 15, 2007
STANFORD
Stanford's victory was its first in seven games at the new Stanford Stadium as the Cardinal snapped an overall nine-game home losing skid since the last Stanford win at the old Stanford Stadium in a 45-35 victory over Arizona State on October 22, 2005.
Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh won his first game as the program's head coach, becoming the 33rd Stanford head coach to win on The Farm. He also won his 30th game as a collegiate head coach, improving to 30-7 (.811) overall in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach.
Stanford's shutout victory was its first blanking of an opponent since the Cardinal shut out Michigan State, 38-0, to win the Sun Bowl on December 31, 1996.
Stanford's 506 yards of total offense marked the team's first 500-plus yard game and its highest offensive yardage output since the Cardinal went for 563 total yards of offense versus San Jose State on September 14, 2002.
Derek Belch made each of his career-high three field goal attempts (all in the first half) to mark the most made field goals by a Stanford player since Michael Sgroi also had three at Washington State on October 16, 2004. One of Belch's field goals was from 52 yards, while another was from 50 yards. The 52-yarder with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter tied for the 10th longest in Stanford history and was the longest field goal at Stanford since Mike Biselli kicked a 52-yarder versus Washington State on September 11, 1999. Belch's third field goal make was the 50-yarder with 0:31 remaining in the first half. The two 50-plus yard field goals make Belch just the second kicker in Stanford history to hit two field goals from 50 or more yards in a game. The only player who had previously accomplished the feat was Rod Garcia, who made a school-record 59-yarder and a 52-yarder at USC on November 10, 1973.
Toby Gerhart made his season debut after missing the opener versus UCLA with an injury and finished the game with a career-high 140 yards rushing on 12 carries. Gerhart becomes the first Stanford player to rush for over 100 yards on the ground since J.R. Lemon had 162 on 19 carries versus Washington on October 2, 2004. Gerhart had the longest rush of his career with a 48-yarder in the second quarter.
Tonight's 37-0 win marked the largest Stanford margin of victory since a 43-3 victory over San Jose State at Stanford Stadium on September 4, 2004, which was also the last time Stanford had held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
The last time Stanford held an opponent scoreless in either half was when the Cardinal shut out Washington in the second half of a 20-3 victory over the Huskies in Seattle on November 11, 2006.
The last time the Cardinal led a home game at halftime was when Stanford held a 7-3 advantage over UCLA on October 29, 2005, in a game Stanford eventually lost in overtime, 30-27.
Stanford's 37 points scored are the most by the Cardinal in seven games played at the new Stanford Stadium. The team's previous best was 17 against UCLA (9/1/07) in the 2007 season-opener.
Stanford's 276 yards rushing marked the team's most yards on the ground since Stanford also had 276 at Arizona on November 10, 2001.
T.C. Ostrander tied a career-best with his two touchdown passes, throwing a pair of scoring strikes for the third straight game dating back to last year's season finale against California and for the fourth time in his career. He also had the sixth 200-yard game of his career.
Anthony Kimble was just three yards shy of his career-best for rushing yards with 80 on a career-high 19 carries. His 14-yard TD run with 13:36 to go in the game marked his fifth career rushing TD.
Tavita Pritchard completed his first pass as a Stanford quarterback when he found Jason Evans for a 10-yard gain in the fourth quarter. He also had the longest rush of his Stanford career when he carried for 18 yards on the same fourth quarter drive.
Richard Sherman led the Cardinal in receiving yards (71) for the seventh straight game dating back to the final five contests of last season. One of his catches was a 46-yard TD reception from T.C. Ostrander that marked the fourth time in the last five games that he has caught a TD pass and the fifth time in his career.
Bo McNally had 11 tackles to mark the second straight game he has led the Cardinal. He also recorded Stanford's first interception of the season and ran it back for 28 yards. The interception was the third of his career.
Austin Gunder's first career pass reception was good for a 27-yard TD catch from T.C. Ostrander with 9:40 remaining in the contest.
Doug Baldwin posted the first punt returns of his career, bringing back two for 15 yards, including a career-best 17-yarder. He also had career-bests for catches (2) and yards receiving (16) with a career-long of 11 as one of his catches.
Wopamo Osaisai (4) and Bo McNally (3) both had career-highs in pass breakups, while McNally also equaled a career-best with 1.0 tackle-for-loss. Chris Horn (1.0) equaled a career-high in sacks.
Five players made their Stanford debuts, including Corey Gatewood, Nick Macaluso, Bert McBride, Andrew Phillips and Jeremy Stewart. Stewart carried the ball five times for 19 yards. Matt Kopa also saw his first offensive action at offensive tackle after playing in 12 games on the defensive side of the ball in 2006.
Chike Amajoyi and Fred Campbell each had half a sack to mark their first collegiate sacks, while Blaise Johnson made his first career tackle.
Jay Ottovegio punted just twice for 81 yards (40.5 avg.) and has updated career totals of 206 punts for 8378 yards. Ottovegio is within reach of both school records currently held by Kevin Miller (1995-98) with 248 punts for 9973 yards.
Allen Smith started his 22nd consecutive game on the offensive line with the last 21 at offensive tackle.
Stanford has won five of its last six games against San Jose State and leads the all-time series between the clubs, 47-14-1.
SAN JOSE STATE
Fred Koloto became the third true freshman to start in the offensive line for San Jose State in 2007. He replaced Isaac Leatiota, another true freshman, at left guard. Leatiota had started the first two games of the season at left guard. Prior to the 2007 season, only two true freshmen had started a game in the offensive line for the Spartans since freshman eligibility was restored in 1972. One of those two former true freshmen, John Booker, returned to the starting lineup at right tackle in place of Bradis McGriff. Booker started at left tackle in the season opener at Arizona State.
Four true freshmen have started at least one game for San Jose State this season. Moa Ngatuvai has started three games at right guard; Isaac Leatiota, two at left guard; Duke Ihenacho, two at a safety position; and Fred Koloto, one at left guard.
Dominique Hunsucker made his first start of the season as a running back. He was a starting safety in the season opener at Arizona State on September 1.
San Jose State played three, Adam Tafralis, Sean Flynn and Myles Eden, of its four quarterbacks on the traveling roster in the Stanford game. San Jose State has played at least three of its quarterbacks in each of the first three games.
Jared Strubeck's miss of a 44-yard second quarter field goal ended a streak of four consecutive made field goals dating back to the 2006 season.
Christopher Owens came up with his second interception of the season in the second quarter. Owens has intercepted a pass in each of the last two games and six in the last eight contests dating back to the 2006 season.
Adam Tafralis moved into seventh place on the San Jose State list for career pass completions. Tafralis, 12-of-24 with an interception, has 385 pass completions for the Spartans.
Demetrius Jones led the Spartans in tackles with a game-high 12. It was the second game in a row in which he had 10 or more tackles in a game this season.
The last time San Jose State did not score in a game was at TCU (42-0) on October 9, 1999.