Tag: Stanford Cardinal

Stanford defense makes positive strides against Oregon

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By Ana Kieu

After lopsided losses at USC and UCF, the Stanford defense made positive strides in Saturday’s 21-6 setback to No. 16 Oregon.

Led by Heisman Trophy contender Justin Herbert, the Ducks (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) entered Saturday averaging 44.3 points and 505 yards on offense. The Cardinal (1-3, 0-2 Pac-12) allowed three touchdowns and 320 yards and sacked Herbert four times.

“Our focus was to execute and play fast and physical,” said fifth-year senior outside linebacker Casey Toohill, who recorded a career-high two sacks. “I think we did a decent job of that, but again, we left a lot on the table and gave them too many points.”

David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, was especially pleased with his front seven, which limited Oregon to 61 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Despite the sacks and two hurries, Herbert completed 19-of-24 passes for 259 yards and three scores.

“We’re a really talented defense … I still believe that,” Toohill said. “I missed two sacks and that can’t happen. Too many opportunities where we had third-and-long and let them get a big play. We took some steps, but we’re still not where we need to be.”

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Toohill, senior inside linebacker Andrew Pryts and senior outside linebacker Jordan Fox shared team-high tackling honors with eight. Sophomore strong safety Kendall Williamson added seven. The Cardinal recorded seven tackles for loss.

Afterward, senior free safety Malik Antoine implored his teammates to raise their level.

“It’s always frustrating when you leave a little meat on the bone,” Antoine said. “I’m always confident in this team. You really have to look at yourself and this is no time to start pointing fingers. Our backs are up against the wall.”

Toohill added, “You look for the little details you are missing. Once you do that, you just focus on your next opponent. We need to build off some of the good we did. You can’t be depressed and get stuck looking in the rearview mirror. We really have to look ahead.”

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RUNNING HARD: Fifth-year senior running back Cameron Scarlett matched the career-high he set against Northwestern in the season opener by slashing for 97 yards on 19 carries.

“He probably broke between eight and 10 tackles,” Shaw said. “He showed what kind of back he can be, physical, quick, tough, did a good job in pass protection.”

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STILL SEARCHING: The offense ran nine more plays and finished with a nearly nine-minute advantage in time of possession, but could only muster two field goals by senior kicker Jet Toner.

“Sloppy play,” said Shaw of the unit’s performance, which had two big plays negated by costly penalties. “There’s so much more on this football team, and we’ve got to get it out of us.”

Senior quarterback K.J. Costello never found his rhythm and finished 16-of-30 for 120 yards and was intercepted once. He was sacked five times and hurried four but praised his offensive line.

“They did a helluva job,” Costello said.

Costello banged his throwing thumb on an Oregon helmet early in the game.

“I could grip it well enough to throw it,” said Costello. “The same thing happened last year. Everybody is banged up this time of year.”

Poor field position didn’t help. Stanford started five drives from its own 12 or worse.

“It was definitely execution,” said Scarlett. “We know we all the talent in the locker room that we need.

We know we have what it takes to right the ship and turn it around.”

In four games, the Cardinal offense has produced four touchdowns.

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FIRST CATCH: Junior tight end Tucker Fisk, known more as a blocker, made his first reception since his senior year at Davis High in Davis, Calif. As a prep, he caught 92 passes for 1,116 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“It definitely felt good to get it,” Fisk said of his eight-yard grab. “Honestly, I was almost confused when I caught it. I almost didn’t remember what to do with it.”

Fisk said Stanford’s inability to find the end zone was mostly due to self-inflicted wounds. The last time Stanford failed to score a touchdown on home turf was against Colorado during a 10-5 win in 2016.

“It was mostly us,” Fisk said. “We just need to execute better and play better as a team. It’s definitely an internal issue.”

UP NEXT: Stanford hits the road for the third time in four weeks on Saturday when it plays Oregon State (1-2, 0-0) in Corvallis at 4 p.m. The Beavers had a bye this week.

The Cardinal leads the series, 57-25-3, and has won the last nine meetings. A year ago, Stanford rolled to a 48-17 home win behind four touchdown throws from Costello to tight end Colby Parkinson.

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NOTES: Stanford has dropped three straight games for the first time in Shaw’s nine-year tenure. “I’m not going to hit the panic button,” he said. “I don’t have a panic button.” … Junior Foster Sarell returned to the starting lineup at right tackle … Junior wide receiver Osiris St. Brown received his first career start … Freshman cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly made his first college start and posted four tackles. “He played extremely well,” said Shaw. “Very competitive young man. He has a high football IQ. It was great to see him go out there and make some plays.” … Freshman Jonathan McGill earned his first start at nickel back … The Cardinal has used 12 first-time starters this season … Toner is now tied for seventh in program history with 42 field goals … Freshman Ryan Sanborn’s 57-yard punt in the third quarter was a career-long … Oregon still hasn’t allowed a first-half touchdown this season … Former Cardinal swimmer Katie Ledecky, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, served as Stanford’s honorary captain … Ex-Cardinal running back Brad Muster tooted the pregame train whistle and was recognized in the second quarter to help celebrate the 125th year of Stanford Football. The Novato, Calif. native was the 1986 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American … John Ralston, the only coach in program history to guide Stanford to back-to-back Rose Bowl wins in 1971 and 1972, was recognized. He passed away last week at age 92 … The newly inducted 2019 Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame Class was introduced on the field. The eight-member group includes the late Bill Tarr ’55, a two-way standout at running back and linebacker, who was represented by his widow, Deanna, and son, Bill Tarr Jr. … Autumn quarter classes start Monday.

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QUOTE: “Too many errors against a good football team makes it hard to win.” — David Shaw

Changing Personalities: Oregon the patient, methodical outfit in 21-6 win over Stanford

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By Morris Phillips

STANFORD — In a down year for Stanford, Colby Parkinson is probably as close as the Cardinal have to an offensive leader. The 6’7″ tight end is fast and a natural, downfield target for quarterback K.J. Costello, who at least early in this season, could use all the help he can get.

Parkinson was asked earlier this week about his matchup with the Oregon secondary, and he gave an honest assessment, and hardly scathing as billboard material goes:

“Their DB’s are not nearly as sizeable as UCF’s, but they are very athletic and we played against them before and they’re a bunch of good guys.  But there’s a bunch of opportunities to make plays and like I said, we just need to go out there and do what we have done 1,000 times before,” Parkinson said.

Well, it turns out that the Ducks’ secondary got wind of Parkinson’s comments, and Saturday night at Stanford Stadium wasn’t anything like what’s transpired 1,000 times before. This time, Oregon was the patient, methodical squad in the matchup of Pac-12 opposites, and they ground up Stanford, winning 21-6.

For Stanford, turning 234 yards of total offense and 13 first downs into a possibility of an upset was a near impossible task. The Ducks seized control by building a comfortable 14-3 halftime lead, and protecting it, not by building an avalanche of points their program has come to be known for. Consequently, Stanford Stadium remained quiet throughout, as Stanford failed to make any headway offensively.

Stanford punter Ryan Sanborn, with six, effective punts, did as much as anyone to keep Stanford close. So did Cameron Scarlett, an efficient runner with 97 yards rushing on 16 carries. But Stanford failed on 11 of 16 third down conversions, and did little when big moments arose.

“The game boils down to five or six plays, and the score will look like we’re not evenly matched, but when we watch the film, we’re going to see that we are,” coach David Shaw said afterwards.

Defensively, Oregon gave Costello fits with its heralded pass rush, then backed it up in the secondary. Last season, Costello may have played his best game, engineering a 38-31 upset of the Ducks in Eugene with Parkinson making the game-winning touchdown catch in overtime. This time, Oregon afforded Costello little time to throw, and without an elite receiver outside of Parkinson, the Ducks clamped down on all of Stanford’s short to immediate routes. Michael Wilson and Conor Weddington were limited to one catch of 15 yards or more each, just as telling as Parkinson being shut out.

“I don’t know how many pressures we had or how many sacks we had. Five sacks?” asked Oregon coach Mario Cristobal. “Thank you. To stop that, not only our straight rush but twists and our stunts, our disguised coverages, just switching the leverages of some of our back end guys really affected the quarterback, and something that, again, great job by our defense.”

Stanford’s opening gauntlet of a schedule ends with the Cardinal 1-3, 0-2 including the surprisingly lopsided losses to Central Florida and USC. The Cardinal were far more competitive this week against Oregon, but they’ll welcome an ease in their schedule regardless. The Cardinal travel to Corvallis next weekend to face Oregon State. The Beavers are 1-2 after losses to Oklahoma State and Hawaii, followed by a feel good win over Cal Poly.

The Cardinal figure to get better, fast, but Shaw was regretful that the improvement couldn’t have come this week.

“Trust the character of this football team, trust our work ethic, trust our resilience. We’ve been down before,” Shaw said.

Stanford prepares for #16 Oregon on Saturday

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By Ana Kieu

Obviously, it’s no surprise that true freshmen are getting to contribute for the Stanford football team. Last year, the NCAA adopted a new redshirt rule that allows them to play in four games without losing a year of eligibility.

Typically, freshmen are spoon-fed and sprinkled into the lineup. Due to injuries, the process has been ramped up. At UCF last Saturday, 13 played in the game.

“It’s very exciting,” said frosh running back Austin Jones, who scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 35-yard run. “The fact that we can go in there and make plays and have fun, that’s what I want everyone on this team to do.”

Walter Rouse, a top offensive line recruit, figured he would receive playing time this season, but not this quickly. When starting left tackle Walker Little was lost for the season late in the game against Northwestern, Rouse got the call and has started the last two games.

“I was the next man up and you have to take it head on,” Rouse said.

Rouse’s first start came at USC under the lights in a nationally televised game.

“I’ve just been taking it day by day,” said Rouse. “My teammates and coach (Kevin) Carberry have been helping me along and each day I’m trying to learn and get better. I’m getting more comfortable being out there and I’m starting to play more instead of just thinking.”

Jonathan McGill, a safety, made a big play last week, scooping up a fumble and returning it 28 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.

“It was just a freaky accident,” McGill said. “I was really supposed to be closer to the line of scrimmage. Right before the quarterback snapped the ball, I came into the box and the ball started bouncing. I just sprinted to it and the ball tipped my way, so I picked it up and ran to the end zone. That was a pretty fun moment and I wish it would have come sooner.”

McGill attended the same high school (Coppell) as former Cardinal standout Solomon Thomas, now a San Francisco 49er. As a group, McGill said the freshmen are embracing their early playing time.

“Coming in this summer, we had a group chat and were talking about potentially playing with the redshirt rule, so we knew we were probably seeing the field once or twice,” said McGill. “Injuries happen and it’s the next up mentality.”

“The upperclassmen did a really great job of introducing us to the system and we had player-led meetings that helped us grasp the system. They really helped us out and gave us the confidence to get on the field.”

The first time McGill stepped on campus and met his future teammates, he felt something special.

“The vets took us under their wing and set the standard,” McGill said. “We really came in just wanting to learn. I think what really separates Stanford from a lot of schools is that the upperclassmen don’t distance themselves from the younger guys. They’ve done a great job helping us out.”

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The freshman class is tight and took pride in seeing Jones score last Saturday.

“Everybody on the sideline was going crazy,” McGill said. “But it meant a little more to us seeing one of our guys make a huge play.”

Although Stanford (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12) hoped for a better start against a challenging schedule, veteran players are appreciative of what the freshmen have done and expect more good things on Saturday against No. 16 Oregon (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12).

“I’ve been really impressed how they have stepped up, some in pretty big roles,” said junior tight end Colby Parkinson. “I think it’s a testament to how hard they worked during the summer. I know the older guys wanted to bring them up to speed as fast as we could. It’s cool to see.”

Added junior center Drew Dalman: “The whole mentality this offseason was getting everybody ready, not just the freshmen. We know these seasons take everybody, especially on the offensive line, which is a position where sometimes people get dinged up so guys have to be ready to play. They’ve been awesome.”

Jones has leaned on fifth-year senior Cameron Scarlett and senior Dorian Maddox for advice.

“Austin and Nate (Peat) have been like sponges trying to soak up as much as they can,” Scarlett said. “We’ve just tried to instill some of the things Coach G (running backs coach, Ron Gould) teaches us like being physical, running with a purpose, breaking tackles, being great with our eyes and being calm in the chaos.

“I told them you’re going to get your opportunity. When you do, capitalize and make the most of it.”

Jones did against UCF. He gained a team-high 65 yards on seven carries. The touchdown is still a blur.

“Surreal moment,” said Jones. “When I came off the field, I celebrated with my teammates, but I didn’t really realize I had scored. It didn’t really sink in until I walked out to kick off and I was like, ‘Man, I just scored my first college touchdown.’ It was like a dream come true for me.”

The moment wasn’t too big, thanks to mentoring from Scarlett and Maddox.

“Cam and Dorian have been a big help,” Jones said. “They’ve been telling me everything I need to read on the plays and to just be yourself and play your game. Once you get on the field, be you.”

In Dalman’s mind, they are no longer freshmen.

“The people on the field are the guys we trust, regardless of age or experience,” said Dalman. “If you’re in a Stanford jersey, we’ve got to trust you and we will.”

INJURY UPDATE: Help could be forthcoming for the Cardinal. Following Wednesday’s practice, David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, said junior starting right tackle Foster Sarell is “probable,” senior offensive guard Dylan Powell is “doubtful,” and senior starting inside linebacker Andrew Pryts is “really close” for Saturday against the Ducks. He previously announced that freshman Branson Bragg is out indefinitely.

TIGHTEN UP: In three games, Stanford has surrendered 18 plays of 20 yards or more.

“That’s not us,” Shaw said. “We’re built to be better than that.”

The defense will be tested by Oregon, sparked by senior quarterback Justin Herbert and a list of playmakers.

“He’s got pure talent,” said Shaw. “He’s a great college quarterback and will be a great quarterback at the next level.”

Stanford must make Herbert uncomfortable and limit big plays. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns and hasn’t been intercepted in his last 150 attempts, dating back to last season.

“Our job is to keep them out of the end zone,” Shaw said.

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NEAR MISSES: The Cardinal offense has had chances to make big plays in every game and looks to cash in Saturday.

“It is definitely frustrating,” said junior wide receiver Connor Wedington. “It is also a part of the game. Practice makes perfect. At the end of the day, getting more reps before practice and after practice is what is going to make things click.”

Added senior quarterback K.J. Costello, “Nobody knows what we can do on offense because we haven’t done it yet.”

OVERTIME SHOCKER: Parkinson caught the game-winning touchdown from Costello in overtime last year in Eugene to lift Stanford to an improbable 38-31 comeback victory against Oregon. The Cardinal trailed 24-7 at halftime and was down by 10 points with 90 seconds left in regulation.

“Not necessarily the game itself but more the atmosphere and how we felt as a team in the second half,” Parkinson said, when asked what he recalled most. “The belief and no-doubt feeling that we were going to come back. It’s something that we draw on a lot. The feeling of unity in the second half was second to none.”

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Dream realized that Costello is still smiling after meeting Tiger Woods last Saturday at the UCF game.

“It was so cool,” said Costello, who competed in junior golf and is a scratch player. “I’ve been a fan my entire life. He was probably the first athlete that I adored. Just the way he walked around. I remember going to junior tournaments wearing the same (Sunday) red.”

SET THE EXPECTATION: Saturday’s theme is Sexual and Relationship Violence Awareness. Additional themes include New Student Orientation, Hall of Fame recognition and presentation of the Capital One Cup.

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EXTRA POINTS: Shaw described the Tuesday and Wednesday practices as “spirited” … Under Shaw, the Cardinal is 20-7 coming off a loss and 5-0 after consecutive losses … Stanford has won the last three meetings against Oregon … The Cardinal hasn’t allowed a first quarter touchdown in five of the last six games … Parkinson leads Stanford with 17 receptions, followed by Wedington with 15 … The Cardinal has been outscored, 31-14, in the first quarter … Former Stanford head coach John Ralston, who guided the program to Rose Bowl wins in 1971 and 1972, will be recognized. He passed away last week.

QUOTE: “We’ve got to do what we do and play our style of football.” — Senior outside linebacker Jordan Fox

Stanford Cardinal news and notes

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By Ana Kieu

Stanford football’s only win came at home versus Northwestern on August 31. Since then, Stanford has dropped its last two games settling for a 1-3 record, but hey, they’re slightly better than my alma mater, San Jose State, so there’s nothing to complain about.

Here’s the latest Cardinal news and notes, courtesy of GoStanford.com.

September 16
Saturday seems to be an exciting day on The Farm. Women’s volleyball welcomes No. 13 BYU to Maples Pavilion at noon. This will be followed by football hosting No. 15 Oregon in a pivotal Pac-12 North battle at 4 p.m. inside Stanford Stadium.

All general parking lots (4, 8, 9, 13) will open at 11 a.m. for event attendee parking. Women’s volleyball match attendees will receive free parking in these lots with their ticket to the match vs. BYU. Parking in Maples, Galvez, Track, Sunken Diamond and Lot 2 is permitted only for football parking pass holders of those respective parking lots, or those with a valid ADA placard (parking in Maples and Sunken Diamond).

Football season parking passes will provide access to their respective parking lots beginning at the times listed below:

Lot 2 — 6 a.m. (overnight pass holders Sept. 19 at 3 p.m.)

All other parking lots — 11 a.m.

Stanford Athletics has partnered with Wells Fargo to bring half-priced ($15) general lot car parking to all Cardinal fans for Saturday’s football game against Oregon. This discount is only eligible for parking passes purchased online in advance.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your cooperation and flexibility. For any questions, please contact a dedicated account executive at (800)-STANFORD (option 1) or email athleticstickets@stanford.edu.

September 13
Redshirt junior Kodye Pugh has been ruled out for the 2019-20 season due to injury. A Maryland native, Pugh was injured in Stanford’s 58-34 victory over Sam Basket Massagno on Aug. 25 in Switzerland. The 6’8″ forward has played in 38 games for the Cardinal over the last two seasons.

Pugh’s statement:

“To my Stanford family and friends, I regret to inform you that I will be out for the upcoming basketball season due a knee injury while playing in Europe this summer. I decided that it was best for my career to pursue the needed surgery quickly, in order to start the rehabilitation and healing process.”

“While I was saddened by the injury, I am hopeful that I will be ready to continue my basketball career next year, and I’m excited for my upcoming senior year. As a leader on the team, I will continue to cheer on and encourage my teammates from the sideline, and support them and the staff in any way possible.”

“I want to thank everyone for your continued support throughout this entire process and over the years. I am looking forward to a great season. I know that everything happens for a reason and I’m trusting God.”

John Ralston (1927-2019) once coached the SJSU Spartans

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By Ana Kieu

John Ralston was one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular and beloved college and professional sports figures and passed away peacefully in Sunnyvale, Calif., on September 14, 2019.

Ralston’s impact on the Bay Area sports scene spanned 60 years from his days as a linebacker on the 1947 through 1950 University of California, Berkeley football teams playing for legendary coach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf” into the 21st century as a special assistant to the athletics director at San Jose State University.

HIS FOOTBALL COACHING CAREER: Ralston was best known as a football coach with a positive approach to life that took Utah State University, Stanford University and the Denver Broncos to unprecedented success.

Ralston began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at San Lorenzo (Calif.) High in 1953 and spent two seasons at Mt. Diablo High before returning to Cal. He returned to the University of California in 1956 as an assistant football coach and was on the staff for the 1958 Golden Bears’ team that played in the 1959 Rose Bowl.

Ralston was the head coach at Utah State (1959-62), Stanford (1963-71), Denver Broncos (1972-76), Oakland Invaders (1983-84) and San Jose State (1993-96). Combining his college and pro head coaching records, his teams amassed a 140-126-7 win-loss record.

Ralston’s Utah State teams played in the 1960 Sun Bowl and 1961 Gotham Bowl and his Stanford squads won consecutive Pacific 8 Conference championships and Rose Bowls following the 1970 and 1971 regular seasons. The Broncos’ first winning season in franchise history was in 1973, his second as a NFL head coach.

Ralston’s coaching tree included former NFL head coaches the late Bill Walsh, Dick Vermeil, Jim Mora, Sr., Mike White, the late Rod Rust, the late Jack Christiansen and college head coaches the late Roger Theder, the late Tony Knap, Ed Peasley and Rubin Carter.

Ralston’s best-known players included 1970 Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett at Stanford and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Merlin Olsen at Utah State.

MORE THAN A FOOTBALL COACH: Ralston’s football experiences extended beyond coaching players and his assistants. He was the Broncos’ general manager and head coach. He was a Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach to Vermeil in 1978. He was the vice president of the San Francisco 49ers during the 1979 and 1980 seasons. He was the president of the Portland Breakers in 1984 and 1985.

Ralston scouted for the Seattle Seahawks in 1988 and 1989 and served three years — 1990 through 1992 — as the coordinator for Operation Discovery, a search for foreign-born football players of the World League of American Football. His search took him to the Soviet Union and a short-lived position as head coach of the Moscow Bears, the U.S.S.R’s first pro football team.

Ralston, a one-time Dale Carnegie Courses instructor, also served as an administrator for Major League Volleyball, a pro women’s volleyball league, and the general manager of the Sacramento Capitols team tennis franchise.

Ralston, a Oakland, Calif. native, was born on April 26, 1927, and spent parts of his youth in Norway, Michigan. He graduated from the University of California in 1951.

A World War II veteran, Ralston served in the Marine Corps, achieving the rank of corporal. He was stationed mainly on the S.S. Little Rock in the South Pacific.

SOME HONORS & ACCOLADES: Ralston’s lengthy list of accolades includes induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1996, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, the San Jose Hall of Fame in 2001; and the Sports Halls of Fame for San Jose State, Stanford and Utah State.

As a coach, Ralston was named Stanford’s “Coach of the Century” when the university celebrated its centennial anniversary of football in 1991 and the 1973 United Press International’s American Football Conference “Coach of the Year” in his second season with the Broncos.

Ralston is survived by his daughter, Terry (Ralston) Zaffonato, four grandsons, two granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. He was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Patty (Ward) Ralston; a son, Larry; a daughter, Sherry (Ralston) Brown, the twin sister of Terry; and Virginia Fanelli, his life partner following the passing of Patty.

A celebration of life for Ralston will be announced in the near future.

No. 17 Central Florida routs Cardinal 45-27

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gostanford.com photo: Stanford Cardinal running back Austin Jones (20) finds day light on this carry against the UCF Knights Saturday September 14, 2019.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, September 14, 2019

Stanford’s football trip to Orlando, Fla., was less than satisfying on Sept. 14, as No. 17 Central Florida routed the Cardinal 45-27. It was the Knights’ 28th win in their last 29 games.

Freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns in his second start for UCF (3-0). Gabriel completed 22 of 30 passes; his TD throws were 28 yards to Marlon Williams, 38 yards to Tre Nixon, 38 yards to Gabriel Davis and 1 yard to Jake Hescook.

Greg McCrae gained 109 rushing yards and a touchdown for UCF.

In addition, the Knights scored 30-or more points for the 29th straight game – the longest streak since 1936 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Cardinal (1-2) surrendered four touchdowns in the first quarter and 413 total offense yards in the first half alone.

Offensively for the Cardinal, K.J. Costello completed 21 of 44 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception that led to a Knights score. Costello sat out the USC game with a head injury.

Cardinal running back Austin Jones scored from 35 yards out and led Stanford with 65 rushing yards.

UCF’s domination included scoring on six of its seven possessions while building a 31-point halftime lead.

This was the first regular season game Stanford has ever played in the state of Florida. The Cardinal have appeared in three bowl games in the Sunshine State – the 1986 Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson), the 1993 Blockbuster Bowl (vs. Penn State) and the 2011 Orange Bowl (vs. Virginia Tech).

Next week, the Cardinal return home to host No. 15 Oregon on Saturday.

Stanford kicks off against #17 UCF on Saturday

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By Ana Kieu

Backing up two of the most accomplished players in program history wasn’t easy for fifth-year senior and team captain Cameron Scarlett. Well, at least not for a guy who ran for nearly 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns his last two seasons at Central Catholic High in Portland, Oregon.

“When I was behind Christian (McCaffrey) and Bryce (Love), I was just trying to absorb everything I could,” said Scarlett. “I knew they had this out-of-this-world talent and were going to have crazy years. My biggest thing was just trying to fit in where I could and make plays for the team.”

Scarlett became a short-yardage specialist and workhorse in the fourth quarter, helping preserve leads. Last year, he excelled on kickoff returns, his 1,008 return yards ranking first in the Pac-12 and second in the nation. Scarlett brought back 12 kicks for 30 or more yards — the top figure in the country — nearly breaking several.

“I was trying to return every kick for a touchdown knowing that I didn’t have that big of a role,” Scarlett said this week, as the Cardinal (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12) prepares for Saturday’s nationally-televised game against No. 17 UCF (2-0) in Orlando, Florida.

Through two games, Scarlett has rushed for a team-best 179 yards on 39 carries (4.6 average) and recorded a career-high 97 in the opener against Northwestern. Named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, he has 233 all-purpose yards, second-most on the team.

A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection who earned his degree in science, technology and society last June, Scarlett weighed his options after the 2018 season. His older brother Brennan came to Stanford from Cal in 2016 as a graduate transfer and now serves as a starting outside linebacker with the Houston Texans.

“There were some question marks,” said Scarlett. “It just came down to talking to my family and figuring out what was going to be best for my future. I still felt like I had a lot to prove here. I’ve had some ups and downs, but I’ve never had the opportunity to take over and be the guy. That was my goal when I came here.”

Once Scarlett made the decision to return, he was all in.

“I knew I was going to have to take on more of a leadership role,” Scarlett said. “The offense goes as the running backs go. I changed my mindset of leading by example and being more vocal. Being one of three fifth-year guys, I knew people were looking up to me.”

David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, has been impressed by Scarlett’s work ethic and mentoring with the younger running backs.

“Once he made the decision to come back, he’s pushed himself,” said Shaw. “He’s in phenomenal shape, he’s quicker than he’s ever been, he’s explosive, and he’s taking a lot of pride in it.”

Scarlett, however, is hardly satisfied.

“Just assuming that role as the No. 1 back has given me more confidence,” Scarlett said.

“I put more stress on myself to make plays. I’ve left a lot of yards out there and want to keep improving.”

INJURY UPDATE: Shaw announced Tuesday that quarterback K.J. Costello will return to the starting lineup. He’s missed the last six quarters after taking a late hit against Northwestern.

Junior starting left tackle Walker Little, injured late in the game against Northwestern, won’t return this season.

“We look forward to him coming back full go,” Shaw said.

Freshman Walter Rouse will start for the second straight game in his absence.

“Walter played really well last week,” Shaw said of his showing against USC. “Not perfect, but really hard. He’s only going to grow and improve.”

Additionally, junior right tackle Foster Sarell is doubtful against UCF. Freshman offensive tackle Barrett Miller saw action against USC and is in the mix for Saturday.

The good news is that Stanford has depth on the offensive line and the roster includes five talented freshmen. Shaw won’t make any decisions on his starters until later in the week and will likely rotate players in the hot and humid conditions.

“More young guys are going to get playing time,” Shaw said.

Promising sophomore inside linebackers Ricky Miezan and Jacob Mangum-Farrar are unlikely to play. Miezan is sidelined indefinitely and Magnum-Farrar is doubtful.

SERIES HISTORY: In the only previous meeting against UCF in 2015, Stanford rolled to a 31-7 home victory as Kevin Hogan passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns and McCaffrey had 166 all-purpose yards and scored on a pass reception. Love, a freshman, dazzled the home crowd with a 93-yard catch-and-run, a glimpse of things to come.

CHALLENGING CONDITIONS: The last time Stanford played in Florida was on Jan. 3, 2011, when they beat No. 12 Virginia Tech, 40-12 in the Orange Bowl in Miami. Saturday’s forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms and a high of 85 degrees and 73 percent humidity.

“There are a lot of variables,” said Shaw. “When they line up to play on Saturday, we want to make sure they are properly rested, have proper nutrition and are properly hydrated. And the guys have to buy in and be active participants.”

The team will bring 80 players — the same as a Pac-12 game — and departs Thursday. Stanford will conduct a light, non-contact workout on Friday at UCF’s indoor practice facility.

Given the climate, extra day of preparation and likelihood of rain, the training staff shipped an extra palette of Gatorade earlier this week. The equipment staff packed extra practice gear, rain gear and doubled the balls they usually take, bringing 24.

“You’re packing for a bowl game, but instead of a week it’s two days,” said equipment director Greg Valenzisi. “The biggest thing is if you don’t have it, you’re not going to get it.”

Extra staff will make the trip to distribute water.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS: “They’re very fast and very confident,” Shaw said of UCF. “They’re very aggressive and do a lot on the defensive side. A lot of different coverages and blitzes. This will be the quickest tempo team we’ve played in years. The biggest thing is you have to communicate quickly and get lined up.”

UCF’s no-huddle offense doesn’t give opponents a chance to substitute on defense.

“The guys who are out there have to stay out there,” said Shaw. “But we have to give different guys series’ so they can stay fresh and I think we’re deep enough to be able to do that.”

ELIMINATING ERRORS: Penalties have hampered the offense and Shaw expects the group to reduce them going forward, especially up front.

“Always harping on that,” Shaw said. “We want to go the whole game without saying their names. That’s something we have addressed many times and will continue to address because we don’t want penalties erasing big plays.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

PLAYING TIME: Through two games, eight players have made their first collegiate starts: Henry Hattis (right guard), Houston Heimuli (fullback), Davis Mills (quarterback), Rouse (left tackle) and Sarell (left tackle) on offense, and J.J. Parson (nickel back), Andrew Pryts (inside linebacker) and Curtis Robinson (inside linebacker) on defense. In addition, Ryan Sanborn has handled the punting duties.

FROSH CONTRIBUTORS: In the early stages, 10 first-year student-athletes have contributed: wide receiver Elijah Higgins, running back Austin Jones, safety Brock Jones, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, cornerback Zahran Manley, safety Jonathan McGill, Miller, running back Nathaniel Peat, Rouse and Sanborn.

NOTES: Under Shaw, Stanford is 20-6 coming off a loss … The Cardinal has forced five turnovers in two games and ranks No. 14 nationally … Brock Jones has made two tackles on special teams … The coaching staff will take advantage of the trip to watch potential recruits and visit with counselors in Florida, Georgia and other regions on Friday … Stanford will host Oregon at 4 p.m. PT next Saturday on ESPN. It will mark the fourth contest played before the autumn quarter starts on Sept. 23. Game themes include Hall of Fame Recognition, Set the Expectation and New Student Orientation.

QUOTE: “We have to try and find a way to raise our level of expectations in all three phases against a team that doesn’t give games away.” — David Shaw

Stanford receiver Connor Wedington named to 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

Junior wide receiver Connor Wedington was named to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on Thursday. Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the news. A total of 22 student-athletes and one honorary coach were selected to the team after 137 were nominated.

“Because being a student-athlete is about more than their performance on the field, we’re honored to share the stories of these deserving young men who embody the ‘good’ in college athletics,” said John O’Donnell, president of Allstate’s Western Territory. “At Allstate, we are inspired by their positive impact and we unite in this passion to serve local communities.”

Wedington has made an impact in the community through his organization, Hope Given By, that he helped start in January of this year. Hope Given By is a nonprofit organization that aims to foster relationships between Stanford students and San Francisco’s homeless population. Wedington was integral in organizing members of the team to go to the city each weekend during the offseason to provide basic necessities and items to the homeless such as food and clothing items like socks, shoes, pants and jackets.

Hope Given By’s outreach team has been able to serve and connect with more than 1,000 members of the homeless community of the Tenderloin, San Francisco, with many of the items donated and collected by the Stanford football team.

“I’ve had the privilege of not only being a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, but also witnessing firsthand how these young men are able to inspire and ultimately change the lives of those around them,” said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion and former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member. “Each year, I’m impressed by the way that Allstate and the AFCA share the important stories of these players’ ‘good works,’ and I’m honored to be part of such a special program that has become a source of inspiration in the college football community.”

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be invited to the 2020 Allstate Sugar Bowl and will join Tebow and Allstate volunteers to give back to New Orleans through a special community service project. Allstate will recognize the team during the halftime show.

Fans are invited to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain once per day, now through Nov. 22. The team captain will be honored at the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN later this season.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was selected by an esteemed voting panel, which includes Tebow, Herbstreit and O’Donnell, along with Zaid Abdul-Aleem (Duke, 1994 team), Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1997, 1998 teams), Brian Brenberg (St. Thomas, 2001 team), Mike Proman (Amherst, 2002 team), Wes Counts (Middle Tennessee State, 1999 team), media members Blair Kerkhoff (Kansas City Star), and Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY), Frank Solich, 2019 AFCA President and Ohio University head coach, and Joe Taylor, 2001 AFCA president and athletic director at Virginia Union University.

“This is the 12th year that Allstate has partnered with the AFCA to help honor deserving football student-athletes on the Good Works Team,” AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said. “This award embodies what is great about the human spirit, football student-athletes and coaches from all parts of the country dedicated to one thing, giving of their time and energy to make a difference in their communities.”

Stanford MBB announces 2019-20 schedule

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

Stanford men’s basketball’s complete conference slate and television selections were announced by the Pac-12 Conference on Thursday.

For the first time in 36 years, Stanford will play nine nonconference games at Maples Pavilion during the regular season, including a Dec. 29 matchup with Kansas. The home conference slate opens on Jan. 2 against Cal and also features Maples Pavilion visits from Washington (Jan. 9), Oregon (Feb. 1), Arizona State (Feb. 13) and Arizona (Feb. 15).

Season tickets are on sale now by calling 800-STANFORD (option 2).

After playing more road games than home contests in one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules a year ago, Stanford will be at home the first five weekends of the season, including a season-opening six-game homestand.

Stanford will also play in the inaugural Al Attles Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Cardinal will face San Diego as part of a quadruple header, scheduled for Dec. 21 at the new home of the Golden State Warriors. Tickets in the Stanford section for the first session of this quadruple header are available here.

In addition to its television broadcast schedule, every Cardinal game this upcoming season will again be carried via GoStanford.com‘s audio stream with Scott Reiss on play-by-play and John Platz returning as the analyst.

Here’s the complete schedule:

2019-20 Stanford Men’s Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time TV
Nov. 1 Sonoma State (Ex.) Stanford, Calif. TBA —
Nov. 6 Montana Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 9 Cal State Fullerton Stanford, Calif. 8 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 12 Long Beach State Stanford, Calif. 6 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 16 Santa Clara Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 19 UMES Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 21 William & Mary Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Nov. 25 Oklahoma Kansas City, Mo. 6:30 p.m. PT ESPN2
Nov. 26 Butler/Missouri Kansas City, Mo. 4/6:30 p.m. PT ESPN2/News
Dec. 1 UNC Wilmington Stanford, Calif. 1 p.m. PT P12N
Dec. 14 at San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 4 p.m. PT CBSSN
Dec. 17 San Francisco Stanford, Calif. 6 p.m. PT P12N
Dec. 21 San Diego San Francisco, Calif. Noon PT P12N
Dec. 29 Kansas Stanford, Calif. Noon PT TBD
Jan. 2 Cal Stanford, Calif. 8 p.m. PT P12N
Jan. 9 Washington Stanford, Calif. 6 p.m. PT FS1
Jan. 11 Washington State Stanford, Calif. 3 p.m. PT P12N
Jan. 15 at UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Jan. 18 at USC Los Angeles, Calif. 3:30 p.m. PT P12N
Jan. 26 at Cal Berkeley, Calif. 3 p.m. PT ESPNU
Jan. 30 Oregon State Stanford, Calif. 8 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 1 Oregon Stanford, Calif. 3 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 6 at Utah Salt Lake, City, Utah 7 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 8 at Colorado Boulder, Colo. 3 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 13 Arizona State Stanford, Calif. 8 p.m. PT ESPN2/U
Feb. 15 Arizona Stanford, Calif. 7:30 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 20 at Washington Seattle, Wash. 7 p.m. PT P12N
Feb. 23 at Washington State Pullman, Wash. 5 p.m. PT ESPNU
Feb. 26 Utah Stanford, Calif. 7 p.m. PT P12N
March 1 Colorado Stanford, Calif. 3 p.m. PT ESPNU
March 5 at Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. 6 p.m. PT P12N
March 7 at Oregon Eugene, Ore. 8 p.m. PT FS1

Mills amazes on big stage in Stanford game against USC

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By Ana Kieu

The last time Davis Mills started was in the state title game during his senior year at Greater Atlanta Christian in 2016 when he sustained a knee injury. Rated the top recruit in Georgia by several publications and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect in the country, he threw for 6,290 yards and 66 touchdowns.

On Saturday night, Mills received his first college start under the bright lights on a big stage in front of a national television audience, quarterbacking No. 23 Stanford (1-1, 0-1 Pac-12) against USC (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12). After missing all but one contest the last two seasons due to knee injuries, the junior held his own in the 45-20 defeat to the Trojans.

“It felt great to get back out there,” said Mills. “It has been a long time. I struggled with a couple injuries my first year out here but getting back on the field always feels great … unfortunate result.”

Replacing injured senior K.J. Costello, Mills completed 22-of-36 passes for 237 yards, the most by a Cardinal signal-caller in their first career start since Kevin Hogan in 2012 (254). Composed and comfortable most of the way, despite a crowd of 62,109, Mills was sharp and tossed his first collegiate touchdown on a perfectly executed screen pass to junior wide receiver Connor Wedington in the first quarter.

Mills missed a few throws and was intercepted once, but he showed confidence, command and fight. He’ll grow from the experience.

“I thought we did pretty well at some things,” Mills said. “Definitely some things we can improve on going into the next couple of weeks. It’s a long season and we have a lot to work on.”

Arguably, Mills’ most impressive pass came on the first series of the third quarter, when he avoided the rush, stepped up and alertly shuffled the ball with is right hand to fifth-year senior running back Cameron Scarlett on third-and-long to prolong the drive.

David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, saw the positives in Mills’ performance.

“I thought he played well,” Shaw said. “It’s just about not missing those opportunities. But I think he’s going to be outstanding. He’s got a great mind for the game. He’s athletic, has a great arm, he’s accurate. He’s going to be really, really good.”

Costello provided input on the sideline.

“He was in my ear pretty much between every possession,” Mills said. “I could bounce some stuff off him because he has all the experience. He was great helping me out throughout the game.”

WORK TO DO: Leading 20-10 with 7:57 remaining in the second quarter, Stanford surrendered 35 unanswered points.

“Honestly, we didn’t come out there and execute,” said fifth-year senior outside linebacker Casey Toohill. “That hurts to say. You never, ever want to look back and realize it was completely on your own execution, that it was completely in your control, but it was. We just didn’t have a good game, didn’t execute.”

Toohill expects the Cardinal to bounce back.

“We got a lot of games left — a lot of football left to be played after this,” he said. “After this, we’ve got to look hard at the film, look at our performance and improve from there. Next week is a new opportunity, a new week, and that’s what we look forward to.”

Photo credit: gostanford.com

PLAYMAKERS: Wedington, Scarlett and Colby Parkinson had big nights. Wedington produced a career-high 197 all-purpose yards, catching five passes for 67, ran once for 17, and returned three kickoffs for 103 yards, taking one 60 yards.

“At the end of the day, we had the lead, we just need to play like it’s 0-0 and not get complacent,” Wedington said.

Wedington called his touchdown was a group effort.

“It was a quick screen behind a great block by (junior) Foster (Sarell) on the edge,” Wedington said. “Great toss by Davis, too, and I had great blockers out there.”

Parkinson caught seven passes for 89 yards, while Scarlett ran hard for 82 yards on 17 carries.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

SPECIAL TEAMS: Wedington’s long return and a fumble recovery by sophomore outside linebacker Tobe Umerah on a USC kickoff return forced by junior outside linebacker Thunder Keck were highlights.

Senior kicker Jet Toner converted two field goals but missed from 39 yards and another attempt from 47 yards was tipped. The Trojans came close to blocking freshman Ryan Sanborn’s first punt.

DECEIVING STATS: In the third quarter, Stanford possessed the ball for 11 minutes and didn’t score. The Cardinal finished with a nearly seven-minute time of possession advantage and each team recorded 23 first downs.

Using a new Air Raid, no huddle offense, USC piled up 492 yards behind freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis and a host of talented playmakers. Stanford struggled to generate a pass rush and missed a lot of tackles.

“It didn’t have to do with the air raid or anything, it has to do with us rushing the passer,” said Shaw. “We’ve just got to beat guys one-on-one. We got to him a couple times, but not enough.”

Junior cornerback Paulson Adebo led the Cardinal with eight tackles and broke up two passes.

BROTHERLY LOVE: Stanford junior wide receiver Osiris St. Brown played against his brother, USC sophomore receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and both had their moments. Osiris caught two passes for 19 yards and displayed his athletic ability by leaping over a Trojan defender. Amon-Ra had his way with the Cardinal secondary, grabbing eight receptions for 92 yards and two scores.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

UP NEXT: The Cardinal travels to Orlando, Florida next Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. PST game at Spectrum Stadium (44,206) against No. 17 UCF. The Knights (2-0), who play in the American Athletic Conference, have beaten Florida A&A (62-0) and Florida A&M (48-16).

UCF is 27-1 the last three years and lost to LSU, 40-32, last season in the Fiesta Bowl.

True freshman Dillion Gabriel recorded his first start at quarterback on Saturday and threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. The UCF ground attack eclipsed 300 yards for the second straight week.

NOTES: Costello’s status for Saturday will be determined during the week … Freshman Walter Rouse received his first start at left tackle, becoming the second true frosh to earn the distinction since Walker Little in 2017 … Sophomore strong safety Kendall Williamson equaled his career-high with seven tackles … Freshman running back Austin Jones made his first career reception and caught two passes for 19 years … Stanford has not allowed a first quarter touchdown in five games … The Cardinal continues to hurt itself with holding penalties and mistakes. After two games, Stanford leads the Pac-12 in penalties with 16 for 160 yards … USC compiled 10 tackles for loss … Wedington ranks No. 1 in the conference in kickoff returns (32.0), No. 3 in all-purpose yards (140.5) and No. 5 in receptions (12/136) … Adebo ranks first in the Pac-12 with five passes defended … Toohill rates No. 2 in tackles for loss and No. 4 in sacks … Gene T. Sykes, MBA ’84, managing director at Goldman Sachs, served as the honorary captain. He has been a member of the Stanford Board of Trustees since 2014 and is member of the GSB Advisory Council.

Photo credit: gostanford.com

QUOTE: “It’s definitely going to test us. It’s our first loss of the season, not something we expected. We just have to drive it back, watch the film and keep going.” — Connor Wedington