© The Associated Press Stanford linebacker Jordan Perez, top, sacks Oregon State quarterback Darell Garretson, bottom, in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Corvallis, Ore., Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, October 26, 2017

Stanford squeaked out a 15-14 Pac-12 football win over Oregon State Thursday, doing it the hard way – without Bryce Love.

The No. 20 Cardinal came from behind, as Keller Chryst connected with JJ Arcega-Whiteside with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, to complete the comeback at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Stanford (6-2 overall, 5-1 Pac-12) announced an hour and a half before the game that Love, who tweaked an ankle on Oct. 14 against Oregon, would be held out of the contest against the Beavers (1-7, 0-5).

A fumble recovery by Harrison Phillips with 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter got Stanford the ball while trailing 14-9. The Cardinal converted a fourth-and-10 on the Beaver 40 when Chryst completed a 25-yard pass to Kaden Smith.

Arcega-Whiteside snagged a Chryst pass on a fade pattern in the end zone, but Stanford failed to convert a 2-point conversion. The Ducks mounted a final drive, but Darell Garretson’s pass from the Cardinal 44 was picked off with 3 seconds remaining.

Stanford opened the scoring with a 40-yard field goal by Jet Toner in the second quarter. OSU responded with a Garretson quarterback keeper, giving the Beavers a 7-3 lead. A Toner 33-yard field goal cut the Cardinal’s halftime deficit to 7-6.

Toner booted a 40-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter, pulling Stanford to within 14-9.

Cameron Scarlett, filling in for Love, gained 72 rushing yards. Chryst completed 16 of 33 passes for 141 yards, while the Cardinal was held to 222 yards of total offense. Stanford was averaging 456.7 yards in total offense going into Thursday’s game.

It was Oregon State’s second game under interim head coach Cory Hall. Gary Andersen was relieved of his duties two weeks ago.

Stanford’s next game is on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Washington State.