PALO ALTO – Stanford will go into its first ACC convention recreation coming off its first blowout and first house win of the Troy Taylor period.
The Cardinal broke open a surprisingly tight recreation in opposition to FCS-level Cal Poly with 34 unanswered factors en path to a 41-7 win Saturday at Stanford Stadium.
Ashton Daniels accomplished 19 of 23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and highly-touted freshman Elijah Brown threw a landing cross on his first possession. Stanford’s protection dominated apart from one trick play that resulted in Cal Poly’s solely rating, and the particular groups additionally got here by. Sophomore receiver Tiger Bachmeier turned the primary Cardinal since Christian McCaffrey to return a punt for a landing, linebacker Tristan Sinclair ran 6 yards for a primary down on a faux punt and 6-foot-7 defensive deal with Aristotle Taylor blocked a 41-yard subject objective.
The consequence was anticipated — Stanford got here in as a 35-point favourite. However the recreation was tied deep into the second quarter earlier than Stanford lastly pulled forward.
A fumbled change between Daniels and freshman operating again Micah Ford on the primary possession was recovered by Cal Poly on the Stanford 38, however Taylor’s block on the following subject objective stored the sport scoreless.
On the ultimate play of the primary quarter, Daniels hit junior Mudia Reuben on a crossing route for a 5-yard TD that put Stanford up 7-0. Cal Poly responded with a large receiver cross from Michael Briscoe to a wide-open Jake Woods for a 22-yard rating to tie the sport.
The Cardinal went forward to remain on a two-minute drill earlier than the tip of the half. Beginning at its 27 with 1:32 left, Stanford wanted solely six performs and short-yardage QB Justin Lamson scored on a 2-yard run.
Stanford blew open the sport within the third quarter, first on Bachmeier’s 90-yard punt return after which on a fourth-and-goal cross from Daniels to tight finish Sam Roush after Collin Wright’s interception set Stanford up in Cal Poly territory.
Brown then entered within the fourth quarter. On his first possession, he accomplished all 5 passes for 80 yards, together with a 51-yarder to operating again Sedrick Irvin and a 12-yard landing to Ismael Cisse.
Stanford completed 3-9 in Taylor’s first season, however the three wins have been by a mixed 19 factors, and the staff misplaced all seven house video games, together with one in opposition to FCS-level Sacramento State.
The Cardinal have an off week earlier than back-to-back street video games in opposition to Syracuse and Clemson.
