Burns, running backs shine
On the basis of the Cardinal and White spring football game Saturday, it would appear that Ryan Burns has a clear leg up in his duel with K.J. Costello for Stanford’s No. 2 quarterback slot.
It would also appear that the Cardinal are well stocked at running back in the post-Christian McCaffrey era.
Burns completed 10 of 15 passes, including the game’s only touchdown throw, a 38-yarder to Donald Stewart. The 6-foot-4 rising sophomore was originally ruled short of the goal line, but the call was reversed on a replay review, a rarity in a spring game.
Cameron Scarlett, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season, ignited the Cardinal (offense) with a 55-yard touchdown run. Freshman Dorian Maddox followed with a 60-yard TD burst, and the offense came from behind to beat the White (defense) 37-30 at Cagan Stadium.
Scarlett, Maddox and freshman Trevor Speights showed flashes of excellence while starting tailback Bryce Love watched from the sideline as he recovers from an injury.
“Our running backs got us going,” head coach David Shaw said. “I’m excited about all three of those guys. When we get Bryce Love back, I think it’s a phenomenal group.”
Speights scored from 6 and 2 yards out and also had a 33-yard run. Kicker Jet Toner appeared to take major strides toward replacing the graduating Conrad Ukropina, booting field goals of 42, 40 and 47 yards, the last a
game-ending blast that would have been good from considerably farther.
Scarlett, a 6-1, 223pounder, looks like a worthy No. 2 back at this point. His long run was timely. “Especially with the offense being a little stagnant at that point,” Scarlett said. “We started off a little slow.”
Maddox hobbled off with an injury, about which Shaw would say only that it was “not as bad as it could have been.” Otherwise, there were no significant injuries, although Stewart was briefly shaken up on his touchdown catch.
Each series started at the offense’s 35-yard line. The defense was given points for stopping the offense at various points short of the defense’s 30-yard line. The quarterbacks could not be hit, but sacks were awarded at the discretion of the officials.
Safety Brandon Simmons nearly drew a targeting penalty when he smashed receiver Trent Irwin. Shaw called Simmons “a full-speed-contact football player. That’s what I love about him.” But he said the hit was a little high and was close to a penalty.
Besides Love, other starters missing the game with injuries were quarterback Keller Chryst, fullback Daniel Marx and cornerback Alijah Holder.
According to Shaw, Burns is playing better than he did last fall, when he played well early but lost his job to Chryst after a dismal game against Colorado in the seventh week. The offense sputtered in the first three series with Costello under center. Then Burns, a fifth-year senior, provided what Shaw called “a calming presence.”
Costello completed 5 of 13 passes in seven series. Burns’ 10-of-15 passing came over nine series.
Shaw said it is still to be decided where linebacker Joey Alfieri will line up next fall. The rising senior was moved to the inside this spring after spending his college career to that point on the outside. “He’s got some natural instincts (on the inside),” Shaw said.