STANFORD, Calif. - Earlier in the week, David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, encouraged his players to start making big plays.
Message received.
Displaying toughness, resiliency and a sense of urgency, Stanford (2-2 overall, 1-1 Pac-12) staged a come-from-behind 58-34 victory against UCLA (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday night in its long-awaited home opener. Energized by the crowd of 48,042, the Cardinal entertained its fans with a handful of clutch plays and they proved the difference as Stanford extended its winning streak to 10 against the Bruins.
Here were some highlights:
- Trailing 13-6 with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Cardinal defense made a stand inside its own 10 and senior defensive tackle Harrison Phillips blocked a 23-yard field goal attempt.
"He's playing at an All-American level right now," said Shaw.
- Subbing for injured senior starter Keller Chryst, sophomore quarterback K.J. Costello scampered for a 9-yard touchdown run with 55 second left in the half, lifting Stanford to a lead it would never surrender.
"His confidence really exuded through the huddle," junior running back Bryce Love said. "He was making all the right reads, making plays and we fed off that. He did an amazing job."
- With 16 seconds left in the second quarter, senior cornerback Alijah Holder forced a fumble and fifth-year senior inside linebacker Kevin Palma recovered at the UCLA 30. Sophomore Jet Toner boomed a 39-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cardinal a 23-13 advantage.
- Following a UCLA touchdown to start the third quarter, Stanford answered as Costello fired a 15-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Trenton Irwin.
- On the Bruins' next possession, Cardinal senior free safety Brandon Simmons caused a fumble and senior cornerback Alameen Murphy recovered, leading to a 1-yard scoring run by junior Cameron Scarlett.
- Senior tight end Dalton Schultz made a spectacular 3-yard touchdown catch from Costello, trapping the ball between his body and right forearm.
"He's a captain, a senior and a leader for us," Shaw said. "He's got unbelievable focus and concentration."
- Love exploded for a 69-yard scoring burst in the fourth quarter to cap a sensational evening. He ran for 263 yards on 30 carries -- career highs -- and finished with the second-most rushing yards in school history behind Christian McCaffrey (284).
Chryst was injured on Stanford's second possession of the first quarter after getting hit during a 5-yard run. He stood on the sideline for the remainder of the game.
"We'll see if he'll be out for any length of time," said Shaw. "If he is, then you'll probably see some combination of K.J. and Ryan Burns."
Burns received snaps, but Costello took control of the offense in his first extended playing time. He settled in to complete 13 of 19 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another, and was not intercepted.
"He started a little rough, but played with energy and passion, and gave guys chances to make plays on the ball, which was great," said Shaw. "He kept drives alive and scored with his legs."
Love has rushed for more than 100 yards, scored at least one touchdown, and produced a run of 50 yards or longer in six straight games. He is the first college player to accomplish the latter in 20 years.
With his monster performance, Love now leads the nation in rushing yards (787) and is No. 1 in yards per game at 196.8. His 10.78 yards per carry average ranks second.
"He's so explosive and physical," said Shaw. "There are not many guys like him."
True freshman Walker Little received his second start in a row at left tackle and the starters remained the same from the San Diego State game. Shaw saw notable improvement, as the offensive line cleared the way for 405 rushing yards and did not permit a sack for the first time this season.
Their efforts helped the Cardinal emerge with a 13-minute time of possession advantage, although Shaw wants the group to clean up its penalties.
In the third quarter, Holder and senior free safety Ben Edwards were penalized for targeting on consecutive plays. Both were reviewed, and Holder was ejected, meaning he must sit out the first half next Saturday against Arizona State.
UCLA's Adariu Pickett was also called for targeting in the first quarter.
"If there's any doubt at all, for the most part we should throw a flag and send it upstairs," said Shaw. "Let's take a look at it and make the right decisions. I didn't get a very close-up look at any of those to say whether I agree or disagree, but we should always operate with caution and error on the side of it as a penalty.
"We teach it and coach as well as anybody, I believe, in America. And we had a couple guys that dipped their heads today. If you dip your head and go in head first, you're going to get penalized. So I'm not going to complain at all. We have to take the head out of contact."
Arizona State (2-2, 1-0) upset No. 24 and previously unbeaten Oregon in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday night, 37-35. Freshman kicker Brandon Ruiz provided the game-winner on a 41-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining.
Sun Devil quarterback Manny Wilkins threw for 347 yards. Wide receivers N'Keal Harry (seven catches for 170 yards) and Jalen Harvey (eight for 133) had big games.
Stanford and Arizona State have played one common opponent: San Diego State. San Diego State beat both teams.
Extra Points … Toner kicked three field goals and is now 7-for-7 on the season and has converted 20-striaght extra points … Junior free safety Justin Reid led Stanford with nine tackles, while Holder and senior inside linebacker Bobby Okereke had eight. Murphy and junior cornerback Quenton Meeks added seven each … With three rushing touchdowns, Scarlett now has six on the season, tied for eighth nationally … While UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, the national leader in passing, threw for 480 yards and three scores in 60 attempts, he was intercepted twice, sacked once and hit seven times … Fifteen pro scouts attended the game … Former All-America offensive guard Joshua Garnett, now a member of the San Francisco 49ers, served as the team's honorary captain … Dick Norman, a star quarterback for the program from 1958-60, was recognized during the game and will be inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday ... There were 6,487 students at the game, the second-highest turnout since Stanford started keeping track in 2008.
Quotable … "Bryce (Love) is one of the best players in America." - David Shaw
