Buddy Teevens' Stanford Cardinal proved this afternoon they are tough, competitive, more mature, and an authentic threat to the country's #1 football team, the USC Trojans. While USC beat Stanford 31 - 28, USC had to earn it.
National champions always get tested, and today was USC's day. The Stanford University Cardinal made a run at them.
Stanford did not win the game, today. But they did win respect from the USC Trojans, from their coaches and from all of their fans, nationwide.
Going into today's game, Stanford's record was 2-0.
The USC Trojan's Record: 3-0.
If the game ended with 6:17 left in the 4th Quarter, Stanford would have beaten the #1 team. Unfortunately for Stanford, the game lasts a full sixty minutes and, in the end, USC proved itself the superior team.
1st Quarter Highlights
Four minutes into the game, USC made two attempts to put the ball in the end zone. But Stanford's defense was too tough. Stanford's Oshiomogho Atogwe (Windsor, ONT) came up with the hit, nearly causing an interception. Stanford's Michael Craven (La Quinta, CA) nearly caught the ball. On third down, USC's Holmes dropped the ball, forcing USC to make a field goal.
Despite the three points on the board, Stanford scored a moral victory.
USC 3 - Stanford 0
2nd and 1 with 5:52 to play in the 1st Half, Stanford's Trent Edwards (Los Gatos, CA) threw his first interception of the year to USC's Kevin Arbet (Stockton, CA), who took it down to the 1 yard line. Moments later USC's Smith caught a two-yard touchdown pass.
USC 10 - Stanford 0
With 50 seconds left in the 1st Half, Stanford had possession of the ball. On 2nd and Goal, Trent Edwards threw the ball in the corner pocket to 6'7" Evan Moore (Brea, CA). Moore's catch put the first points on the board for Stanford.
USC 10 - Stanford 7
2nd Quarter Highlights
With 6:20 left on the clock in the 2nd Quarter, Stanford's Evan Moore, performed again by setting up the next touchdown. His short catch put the bal on the 1 yard line.
On the next play, Stanford's Patrick Danahy (Sarasota, FL) caught a short pass in the end zone, his second reception and first touchdown of the year. This gave Stanford their first lead in the game.
USC 10 - Stanford 14
Three minutes later with three minutes left in the second half, Stanford faked a field goal, and Stanford's Kyle Matter (Newhall, CA) ran with Alex Smith's (Denver, CO) block and brought the ball into the end zone, just bairly.
By the looks of his determination, you would never know Matter just had surgery on his shoulder.
USC 10 - Stanford 21
Fran and Andy Edwards, Trent's mom and dad were in the stands along with Trent's sister to witness Stanford's magnificent first half run against USC.
When TBS asked Trent's dad what he thought so far, Edwards responded by saying, "He's just having a good time, and playing football -- the way he likes to play it."
Trent's mom chimed in, "It's a team effort, the whole way. These guys are doing great."
His sister, who is a math teacher, was asked what she thought about the third down conversions and her brother's percentage rate. She said, "The team is playing really well right now. I'm sure he is just thrilled to be out there, able to give the team a little run for their money." "We'll see what happens," she added. "It's a team effort all the way, and he knows that."
USC got the ball with just over two minutes left and sliced through Stanford's defense like a hot knife through butter, with Reggie Bush capping the drive with an 18 yard tocuhdown scamper with with 52 seconds left in the half.
USC 17, Stanford 21
Just when you thought Stanford was content to run out the clock, they succeeded at doing that, but not before Stanford's J.R. Lemon (Fayetteville, GA) ripped off an 82-yard touchdown.
What a way to go into the locker room. Coach Teevens said it was a nice way to finish off the half. He said, "We're playing solid football in all areas." When asked if he would change anything in the second half, he said they would play harder.
From the press box, people were talking about this being the best game Stanford had played in five years. The one word heard over and over by fans: "Wow!"
At halftime, Stanford was leading the the #1 team in the nation by eleven points.
USC 17 - Stanford 28
Third Quarter Highlights
When Stanford's T.J. Rushing (Pauls Valley, OK) took the opening kickoff to the USC 46 yard line, things continued to look bright for The Cardinal.
Stanford moved the ball to the USC 32 yard line before a holding penalty set Stanford back ten yards. That holding penalty turned out to be a turning point in the game. Had Stanford scored either a touchdown or a field goal on the drive, USC might have had too tall a mountain to climb. As it was, USC pushed Stanford back to the fifty yard line and forced a punt.
USC and Stanford exchanged punts in the next two series. When USC got the ball back, it put together a nice drive and scored on a short run with 3:06 left in the third quarter.
Although USC was still behind, the momentum had clearly shifted.
USC 24 - Stanford 28
Another key point in the game came at the end of the third quarter. As USC attempted to run a screen pass, Stanford defensive lineman, Julian Jenkins (Atlanta, GA), nearly intercepted the ball with nothing but daylight between him and the goal line. Unable to make what would have been an incredible play, Jenkins watched the ball tumble harmlessly to the ground.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
USC moved the ball deep into Stanford territory, but had to settle for a short field goal attempt that missed wide right. At that point, it seems as if the chips might be falling right for Stanford.
Once again the USC defense stopped Stanford cold. On the ensuing punt, USC's Reggie Bush, making moves like Barry Sanders, returned the ball 33 yards to the Stanford 41 yard line. USC made quick work of the final 41 yards, scoring the game-winner on a short run with 6:16 left on the clock.
USC 31 - Stanford 28
In the end, the USC defense once again stuffed Stanford's offense on a desperate fourth down attempt in Cardinal territory. After that, USC graciously ran out the clock to end the game.
Stanford played a great first half, but was completely stifled by a superior USC in the second half. A case in point: USC held Stanford to just thirty-six yards in the second half.
After the game, Coach Teevens was succinct, "We just didn't play a full sixty."
If Stanford plays a "full sixty" next week against Washington, the final score might be 60-0.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "full sixty" living!
~ Jennifer King , co-publisher, Rugged Elegant Living
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