Late picks lift Stanford
STANFORD, Calif. — Wayne Lyons intercepted two passes from Tommy Rees late in the fourth quarter, and No. 8 Stanford held off No. 25 Notre Dame 27-20 on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Cardinal (10-2) overcame two interceptions from Kevin Hogan and a penalty that wiped away another touchdown to win their 16th consecutive home game.
Stanford will play for its second consecutive Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl berth next week when it faces No. 12 Arizona State in the conference championship game.
Stanford handed the Sun Devils their only league loss this season.
The final tuneup for that game turned out to be another tough test.
Tyler Gaffney ran for189 yards and a touchdown, and Hogan threw for 158 yards and touchdown pass to Devon Cajuste to help the Cardinal take a 21-6 lead in the third quarter.
Rees nearly rallied the Fighting Irish (8-4) by throwing two touchdown passes later in the quarter. But interceptions on Notre Dame’s final two drives dashed Notre Dame’s come back.
Stanford relied on its power running game to control the tempo throughout, but blew several chances to pull away.
Gaffney plowed through the Irish line from a yard out to give the Cardinal a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The bunched formation was similar to the one Notre Dame stopped Stepfan Taylor on last year to win in overtime, a stinging loss that the Cardinal regrouped from to roll off eight consecutive victories, including the Pac-12 title and the Rose Bowl.
Backup Anthony Wilkerson capped the opening drive of the second half in similar fashion. He ran for a 20-yard touchdown run on third and 9 to put Stanford ahead 21-6.
Notre Dame drove deep in Stanford territory on its first and final drives of the first half before settling for field goals each time.
With Stanford seemingly ready to turn the game into a rout, Rees rallied the Irish by throwing touchdown passes to T.J. Jones and DaVaris Daniels late in the third quarter.
Rees finished 16-for-34 passing for 199 yards.
He passed Jimmy Clausen (60) for second on Notre Dame’s career list with 61 touchdown passes, behind only Brady Quinn (95).