Cardinal defense continues to shine
No. 9 Stanford extends streak to 10 quarters without a touchdown
STANFORD >> The offense took a while to wake up, but Stanford’s defense continued to dominate in a 30-10 win over UC Davis on Saturday at Stanford Stadium.
Facing an FCS opponent at 11 a.m., the earliest home start in program history, the ninthranked Cardinal (3-0) extended its streak to 10 quarters without allowing a touchdown before giving up a 26-yard score on the final play. UC Davis’s only other points came on a 26-yard field goal after the Aggies (2-1) returned an interception to the Stanford 12.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
DOMINANT DEFENSE >> After giving up a touchdown to San Diego State on the second drive of the season, the first-string defense has allowed just nine points to the Aztecs, USC and UC Davis.
The Cardinal started nine upperclassmen on defense against the Aggies, and that maturity helps the unit keep improving.
“Whatever the problem is the week before – whether it’s missed
tackles, third downs, whatever it is – we’re knocking it out the next week,” said cornerback Alameen Murphy.
Murphy and Thomas Booker had interceptions, Alijah Holder and Paulson Adebo both had three pass break-ups and linebacker Casey Toohill blocked a 44yard field goal. INCONSISTENT OFFENSE >> If you thought facing a lowerdivision opponent that allowed 59 points in its first two games would be enough to get Stanford’s offense on track, think again.
Sure, the Cardinal didn’t have Bryce Love, who was held out with an undisclosed injury. But K.J. Costello threw two firstquarter interceptions on overthrown passes, holding penalties were a constant issue, and an offensive line that had center Jesse Burkett for the first time still didn’t do particularly well in run or pass protection.
The Cardinal started four possessions in Aggies territory and scored nine points on those drives. UNSTOPPABLE ARCEGA-WHITESIDE >> Still, there were bright spots for the offense. Junior Trevor Speights had career highs of 11 carries and 87 yards, Costello shook off the early miscues to finish 17 of 30 for 214 yards and two scores, and junior tight end Kaden Smith had a career-high six catches for 68 yards. But the biggest bright spot was senior JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who once again showed off his basketball lineage by boxing out undersized cornerbacks to catch jump balls in the end zone.
The 6-foot-7 receiver caught 8- and 9-yard touchdown passes in the second quarter, giving him eight TDs in his last four games and 19 in his career, the fifth-most in program history.
“They didn’t give it much to us this afternoon,” Costello said of Arcega-Whiteside facing single coverage. “But when they did, and when anybody does, I know what my answer’s going to be.”
NEW FACES >> Being up 27-3 after three quarters allowed Stanford to empty its bench and let newcomers get experience. Redshirt freshman quarterback Davis Mills played for the first time, true freshman Michael Wilson had a 30-yard punt return and redshirt freshman Osiris St. Brown had the biggest play of the game, getting behind the defense for a 53-yard catch
UNTIMELY END >> With an opportunity to run out the clock, Stanford instead threw an incomplete pass in the final minute. That allowed UC Davis to get the ball back with 15 seconds left and eventually complete a Hail Mary in the end zone, ending a streak of 167 minutes and 38 seconds without a touchdown for Cardinal opponents.
Regardless, Stanford is now 3-0 heading into perhaps its most difficult back-to-back games of the season — trips to No. 20 Oregon and No. 8 Notre Dame.