Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee keeps the ball in the first half of action against the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Sat Oct 2, 2021 (AP News photo)

Stanford Hands Oregon First Loss of the Year 35-24

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon Stanford took on the 4-0 Oregon Ducks. Last week Stanford lost to UCLA 35-24 and the 2-2 Cards were looking to upset the powerhouse Ducks in this game.

Stanford started this game with a 25 yard field goal to take the early lead. They added to their lead in the same quarter with a Tanner McKee pass to Brycen Tremayne for 18 yards and the touchdown. They now led 10-0.

Oregon would come around in the second quarter with their first score; an Anthony Brown 3 yard scamper for the touchdown. Stanford would also score a touchdown in the quarter. An Isaiah Sanders rush for two yards gave the Cards a 17-7 lead going into halftime. Stanford would have to pull out all the stops to stop the number three ranked Ducks.

The Ducks would start the second half with the ball. It would be a three and out on the opening drive of the second half for Oregon and the Stanford defense was keeping pressure on the Duck offense. A turnaround could be sensed in the second possession by Oregon. They began to dominate at the line of scrimmage something they hadn’t shown in the first half. At 8:32 in the third quarter C J Verdell scored on a one yard run making this a 3 point game 17-14.

Oregon began pressuring and pushing Stanford in the third quarter and the Cards were having trouble containing the Ducks. As the third quarter began to wind down Oregon did have a first and goal but could not cross the line and had to settle for a 22 yard field goal to tie up the game. Stanford did a great job keeping Oregon out of the end zone.

Oregon did however take the lead in the fourth quarter. Anthony Brown ran for 5 yards and a touchdown. The Ducks had taken the lead for the first time in this game 24-17.

Stanford’s get up and go got up and went in the second half. It’s hard to believe that Stanford had five false starts in the second half of this game. The Card offense and defense had a real let-down that really had started mid-way in the second quarter. This was when the Ducks really got going.

The Cards had a great drive going in the final two minutes. They had a first and goal with 12 seconds left on the clock. The loss of receiver Brycen Tremayne loomed large in this final drive. On fourth and goal a penalty gave Stanford another shot as the clock ran out. The Cards would tie up this game at 24 and this game went into overtime. The tying touchdown was a McKee pass to Elijah Higgins for two yards.

Oregon won the toss and elected to kick. Stanford scored on their first possession in overtime. McKee would connect with John Humphreys for 14 yards to take the 31-24 lead. The Ducks were not able to score and Stanford had the upset handing the Ducks their first loss of the year.

It was a shocker for the Ducks who had the game well in hand in the fourth quarter. Stanford’s record would improve to 3-2. They will take on Arizona State next Friday in Arizona