Love helps Stanford beat ASU
STANFORD — On a record-setting day for Bryce Love, Stanford coach David Shaw had a difficult time deciding which of the junior running back’s runs was his favorite.
There was the 61-yard touchdown in the first quarter on Love’s second carry of the afternoon, followed up not long after by a 43-yard score in the second. Or the 59-yard burst through the middle in the third.
“Take your pick,” Shaw said. “I’ve never seen anything like that, ever.” Shaw isn’t alone. No player in Stanford history has ever had the type of day that Love did on Saturday when he set a singlegame school record for 301 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help the Cardinal beat Arizona State 3424.
Love entered the day leading the nation in rushing and padded his total with another big day on the ground. Stanford’s junior running back had scoring runs of 61, 43 and 59 yards. He has 1,088 yards overall this season, the third player since 2004 to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in his team’s first five games.
“I’m not saying he’s the best one that’s been through here, I’m not starting that argument,” Shaw said. “But at the same time I’ve never seen anything like what happened today. That was unbelievable.”
Love repeatedly gouged the Sun Devils for big gains but did some of his best running late after Arizona State pulled within 31-24 following Demario Richard’s second touchdown, a 2-yard run, with 8:02 remaining.
Love, who broke Christian McCaffrey’s year-old record of 284 yards, helped Stanford secure the win with a series of clock-draining runs that set up Jet Toner’s 22-yard field goal.
“I’m definitely not the biggest guy out there and it’s easy to overlook it I feel like,” Love said. “But I take pride in being able to go out there and make those type of plays and being able to pick up the yards after contact.”
Oregon hit by injuries in 45-24 win over California
EUGENE, Ore. — The adversity came at the Oregon Ducks fast.
Quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Royce Freeman and receiver Dillon Mitchell were all injured in the first half of Oregon’s 4524 victory over California on Saturday night. Backup QB Taylor Alie was knocked out of the game in the final quarter.
“I’ve never been a part of that many,” first-year Ducks coach Willie Taggart said. “Whew, that was crazy.”
Ross Bowers threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns for the Golden Bears (3-2, 02). Kanawai Noa caught seven passes for 126 yards and a score. Cal finished with just eight net rushing yards for the game.