THE AXE MEN
Adebo two big picks help Cardinal keep Axe with ninth in a row over Cal
BERKELEY >> Cal may have the Pac-12’s top-ranked defense, but Stanford had the best defensive player Saturday in the 121st Big Game.
Redshirt freshman Paulson Adebo had two extraordinary fourth-quarter interceptions — a diving one-handed grab in the Stanford end zone and a juggling catch that he returned 43 yards to the Cal 3 — as the Cardinal beat the Bears 23-13 at Memorial Stadium.
“Knowing how much this game means to both schools, the alumni and our seniors, sending them out having never having lost to California was big,” said Adebo, who leads the nation and holds the program record with 23 passes defended in his first season.
Here were the three biggest takeaways as Stanford maintained possession of The Axe:
KINGS OF CALIFORNIA >> Stanford (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) may not have achieved its biggest goals this season, but it clinched a big one at the Big Game: state champs, at least when it comes to the Pac-12.
The Cardinal beat USC in the second week of the season, topped UCLA for the 11th straight time last week, and has won its ninth straight against the Bears (7-5, 4-5), the longest streak in the history of the rivalry.
“I actually looked up pregame when the first Big Game was: 1892,” quarterback K.J. Costello said. “Just to be part of the tradition, it’s an incredible feeling. It means a lot. It’s something we’re going to remember 40, 50 years down the road.”
It’s the third time in four years that Stanford has swept the California Pac12 schools, and David Shaw improved to 29-5 against in-state opponents as the Cardinal coach.
“All that we’ve been through all year, all the injuries, difficult losses, tough road trips, to come back and win your rivalry game,” Shaw said.
All of Stanford’s losses are to Top 20 teams — at No. 3 Notre Dame and No.
10 Washington and at home against No. 12 Washington State and No. 17 Utah. The Cardinal went 8-0 against unranked teams. DEFENSE SHINES >> At the start of the season, opponents tried picking on Adebo, feeling it was a better option than attacking senior Alijah Holder on the opposite side. Then Adebo has 11 pass break-ups in his first four collegiate games.
“He’s got length, he’s got speed, he’s got athleticism,” Shaw said. “He’s very, very smart, he’s very, very coachable, he’s extremely competitive, and he played receiver in high school so he’s got great ball skills. I’d be surprised if there was another (cornerback) better in
our conference.”
Besides Adebo’s two interceptions, the defense caused a third turnover in the second quarter when Bobby Okereke forced a fumble that was recovered by Sean Barton. Stanford improved to 8-0 when forcing a turnover.
With the score still 13-6 early in the fourth quarter, Cal recovered a Bryce Love fumble at the Stanford 19. But the defense forced the Bears to attempt a 36-yard field goal, which missed wide left, ending Cal’s best chance to get back in the game.
Okereke, a senior linebacker, had 13 tackles as Stanford held Cal to two field goals before the Bears
scored a last-minute TD after the game had been decided.
FAST START >> Facing an opponent that allowed the fewest yards per game in the conference (318.5), Stanford gained 148 yards on its first two drives.
The Cardinal went 75 yards on its first drive, and then took advantage of Cal’s aggressive pass rush to score on a 46-yard screen pass to Cameron Scarlett, who was helped by big blocks from guard Brandon Fanaika and receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside.
Stanford had been plagued by slow starts this season, being outscored 8251 in the first quarter before Saturday, when it went up 10-0 and controlled the game from there.
“We started fast and that was something that we practiced a lot, coming out with emotion and the more emotional and physical team was going to win,” Arcega-Whiteside said.
Arcega-Whiteside had five catches for 109 yards, his fifth 100-yard receiving game this season, and Bryce Love had 22 carries for 74 yards on an injured ankle for Stanford, which was missing top tight end Kaden Smith and then lost No. 2 receiver Trenton Irwin with an early injury.
Stanford now awaits its bowl destination, which will be announced this afternoon.