UCLA gets past Stanford 35-24; Bruins QB Robinson-Thompson throws for 2 TD passes

UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns to defeat the Stanford Cardinal on Sat Sep 25, 2021 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto (AP News photo)

UCLA Gets Past Stanford 35-24

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Stanford Cardinal hosted the UCLA Bruins in a highly anticipated Pac-12 match up. The Bruins came in to the game favored. Both teams have identical records at 2-1. Stanford has a lengthy list of players out for this game.

Although Stanford won the toss and elected to receive, it was UCLA that scored first when they returned a punt for 58 yards to set up the touchdown. UCLA had three first and goal attempts on the Stanford two yard line. The Bruins quarterback Thompson-Robinson scored the first touchdown of the game for an early 7-0 lead.

Stanford would go back to work. Tanner McKee had trouble in their first set of downs throwing three incomplete passes two of which were almost intercepted. After three possessions Stanford was having a lot of trouble moving the ball.

The Bruins were controlling the running game and the Cards were having a lot of trouble containing them. Already up by seven points the Bruins were threatening as the first quarter began to wind down. With 15 seconds left in the quarter UCLA scored for a second time now leading 14-0. Stanford did not have a single first down in the first quarter.

At 7:30 in the second quarter Stanford had their first first down of the game. Stanford was fighting through the UCLA defense which had so far controlled the game. With a second and 19 Stanford quarterback McKee found Brycen Tremayne in the end zone for their first touchdown of the game trailing the Bruins 14-7. The running game as well as the passing game had come to life for Stanford.

As the second quarter came to an end UCLA quarterback Thompson-Robinson found the end zone for the second time in the game and at the half the Bruins led 21-7. They would open the second half with the ball.

Stanford scored at 5:30 in the third quarter off a McKee to Elijah Higgins pass for 56 yards. The Cardinal defense and offense had really picked up the pace in the second half. Still trailing 21-14 the Stanford defense was putting the ball back into the hands of the offense as the fourth quarter got underway.

In the fourth quarter quarterback McKee found Bryce Farrell for 52 yards and a touchdown in an explosive drive from the Stanford offense. The game was now tied at 21-21 and it was a new ball game.

UCLA answered right back with a Thompson-Robinson pass to Kyle Phillips for 75 yards and a touchdown taking back the lead 28-21.

Stanford stalled on the ensuing possession and was forced to attempt a 48 yard field goal which was good. They now trailed 28-24 with 9:10 left in the fourth quarter.

With 2:30 left in the game quarterback Thompson-Robinson found Kyle Phillips despite a very sore shoulder for the touchdown that finished the game for the Bruins 35-24.

McKee would finish with 19 of 29 passing and 185 yards. Nathaniel Peat had 41 yards and Elijah Higgins had 78 yards receiving for Stanford. The Bruin stats were impressive with 212 yards for Thompson- Robinson and 19 of 30 passing. With 209 yards rushing by Zach Charbonnet and 111 receiving yards from Kyle Phillips the Bruins were just too hot to handle for the Stanford Cardinals.

Next up for Stanford will be the #4 ranked Oregon Ducks on Saturday October 2nd. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 ET.

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Oklahoma holds off Nebraska 23-16; Michigan State blows past Hurricanes; plus more

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler (17) lead the Sooners to a 23-16 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-16 on Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Football podcast with Michelle:

#1 Number 3 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-16 on Saturday. The Sooners just got by the Cornhuskers in the first quarter the Sooners outscored the Cornhuskers 7-3 after that the Cornhuskers matched the Sooners in the second quarter a 0-0 shutout, in the third quarter the Sooners outscoring the Cornhuskers 9-6 and in the four quarter a 7-7 score.

#2 Michelle how shocked were you to see #1 Michigan State Spartans defeat #2 Miami Hurricanes 38-17. The Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne was 18-31 for 261 yards and threw a lot of touchdowns four of them in the win.

#3 No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated No.11 the Florida Gators 31-29 in a close contest. The Gators scored six in the fourth quarter but came up short by two to tie it and the Crimson Tide remain perfect at 3-0. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young went 22 for 35 for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Michelle’s Final thoughts

Michelle does the NCAA Football podcasts each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Vanderbilt no match for Stanford in 41-23 win

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee prepares to throw downfield to a receiver against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Sat Sep 18, 2021 in Nashville (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Stanford Cardinal (2-1) quarterback Tanner McKee scored three touchdowns one of the touchdowns McKee ran in for a keeper as Stanford defeated Vanderbilt Commodores (1-2) 41-23. McKee was 19-29 for 218 yards and threw for two touchdowns.

The Cardinal concludes their three game road trip as they prepare to host the UCLA Bruins. Home field for Vanderbilt has not been the friendly confines the loss to Stanford on Saturday is Vanderbilt’s eighth consecutive hone loss. The last time they won a home game was way back on Nov 23, 2019 some four months before the Covid 19 epidemic kicked in.

The second quarter the Cardinal’s Jimmy Wyrick intercepted Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seal’s pass that gave the Cardinal good field position as McKee handedd off to running back Brycen Tremayne who ran it for a touchdown with 40 seconds to spare in the first half of the game.

The Commodores were forced to punt on a first and three and the Cardinal’s Casey Filkins returned the punt to the Vanderbilt 22 yard line. The Commodores had to move back further after an illegal formation play was called the ball was spotted on the 17 and Stanford kicker Joshua Karty hit a 35 yard field goal and the Cardinal took a 27-14 halftime lead into the dressing room.

The second half the Cardinal scored twice in the third quarter at 11:18 wide receiver Jay Symonds caught a five yard pass from McKee and at 1:44 left in the game EJ Smith carried for one yard to score making it 41-17. For Symonds 2 receptions 31 yards, and one touchdown. For Smith five carries, 26 yards and one touchdown.

The Cardinal host the UCLA Bruins this Sat Sep 25th at Stanford Stadium for the home opener kick off is 3:00 PM PDT.

It’s a shootout Cal bests Sacramento State 42-30

Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers passes against the Sacramento State Hornets at Cal Memorial Stadium during the home opener at UC Berkeley on Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips and Michael Duca

Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers lead Cal to the Bears first victory of 2021 with a convincing 42-30 win over the visiting Sacramento State Hornets at Cal Memorial Stadium. Garbers had himself an afternoon throwing 22-34 for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears offense dominated in the first half 21-6 and the Hornets made it interesting in the second half outscoring the Bears 24-21 but the Bears hung on for the 12 point win.

The Bears Nikko Remiglio returned a second half kick off for a touchdown. Bears head coach Justin Wilcox said that winning in college football is not an easy task and he’s not taking the Bears first win of the season for granted, “You never minimize a win. It’s hard winning in college football, regardless of who you’re playing. … It’s good to get a win. But we all know that we need to be much, much better.” said Wilcox.

The Bears upon returning back to Berkeley and a full season schedule wanted to avoid going 0-3 for the first time since 2001 and in the abbreviated season of six games in 2020 the Bears lost the first three games of the season.

The Bears offense has improved over the last two games, Garbers didn’t waste anytime contributing to getting the Bears on the scoreboard on the first two drives Garbers gave to Bears running back Damien Moore who carried twice for four yard touchdowns. Moore had 87 yards in Saturday’s game.

Cal wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter caught a Garbers pass for a 45 yard touchdown. Hunter would come away with five receptions for 78 yards and the one touchdown. The Bears Trevon Clark scored a 12 yard touchdown in the third quarter and carried for a 16 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“Each and every week we have gotten better, we have taken steps forward. As the season goes on and weeks go on, we’ll keep taking that next step.” said Garbers. Remiglio’s kickoff return to open the second half a 99 yard return really set the tone and the Bears confidence carried the rest of the game.

It’s off to Seattle and the Washington Huskies next Sat Sep 26th the Huskies got a huge win this Saturday against the Arkansas Redwolves 52-3. Huskies quarterback Dylan Morris went 23-39, 367 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas.

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Don’t call him Neon Deion call him coach; Buckeyes shocked by Ducks; Mich St blows out Youngstown

Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) threw for 236 yards against the Ohio State Buckeyes in NCAA action on Sat Sep 11, 2021 in Columbus (photo from Yahoo Sports)

On the NCAAF podcast with Michelle:

#1 Former NFL great and Hall of Famer and current head coach at Jackson State Deion Sanders insists that everyone call him coach that includes media, alumni, fans, and especially his players. Sanders said that doctors, nurses, and other have earned their title and so has he. Sanders even walked out on a media scrum when a reporter who refused to to address him as coach. Is Sanders correct on insisting that he be called coach?

#2 Michelle, how surprising is it that the Ohio State Buckeyes ranked #3 lost to #12 Oregon 35-28. The Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown threw 17 for 35 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks scored for 14 points in each of the second and third quarters and the Buckeyes just couldn’t get any offense going.

#3 For Michigan State Spartans (2-0) no contest on Saturday as they upended Youngstown State Penguins (1-1) 42-14. The Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne was throwing all day the only time he got any rest was when his back up Anthony Russo came in at the end of the game to give him a rest. Thorne was 15 for 21 for 280 yards and had four touchdowns.

Michelle’s Final Thoughts

Join Michelle for the NCAA podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford’s big 2nd and 3rd quarters route USC 42-28 in the Southland

The Stanford Cardinal cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly makes an acrobatic lunge into the end zone after returning a 31 yard interception off USC Trojan quarterback Kedon Slovis in the second half of Sat Sep 11, 2021’s game at USC in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Stanford Cardinal (1-1) quarterback Tanner McKee threw for two touchdowns, went 16-23 for 234 yards in the Cardinal’s first win of the season over their Southern California opponents the USC Trojans (1-1) 42-28. The Cardinal scored 14 points in each of the second and third quarters that helped lead them to victory.

The Cardinal were coming off a opening day loss from last Sat Sep 6th to Kansas State 24-7 and wanted badly to make amends. They shocked the oddsmakers who had USC favored and who were ranked No.14. The Cardinal’s wide receiver Nathaniel Peat had 115 yards and caught a 87 yard touchdown pass from McKee and the Cardinal Kyu Blue Kelly picked off a USC quarterback Kedon Slovis pass for 31 yards for a touchdown that sparked and inspired the Cardinal in the victory.

Stanford head coach David Shaw had his team prepared this week after the Cardinal took that tough loss to Kansas State and the taste of that game was still in their mouths from opening week and the improved offense on Saturday night against the USC defense made things just a little bit satisfying for Shaw and McKee.

McKee had some good looks from the Kansas State opener after starting quarterback Jack West struggled to start that game. McKee did himself well against USC throwing for touchdowns to receivers Elijah Higgins and Brycen Tremayne in the fourth quarter that put Stanford ahead of USC by 29 points.

This was the Cardinal ninth win out of the last 14 games with the Trojans and the Cardinal defense kept the pressure on Slovis all night who went 27-42 for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. USC running backs Keaontay Ingram and Darwin Barlow each carried for a touchdowns but the effort was far short with McKee and the Cardinal pouring it in on offensively all night.

The loss snapped the Trojans nine game winning streak which carried over from last season, the Trojans won their opener on Sep 6th handling a very talented San Jose State team 30-7. That Trojan win looked as if it was going to set the tone for Saturday night’s game against the Cardinal but the Cardinal defense held Slovis and the Trojans offense from any developing opportunities and the Cardinal came into this game after studying film from the Trojans last game.

It was so bad for the Trojans that they even had their kicker Parker Lewis ejected from the game on the opening kick off for targeting his tackle. Despite that back up kicker Alex Stadthaus wound up kicking two field goals and two extra points flawlessly.

Next week USC will head to Pullman and face the Washington State Cougars at 12:30 pm on Sat Sep 18th and Stanford will conclude this three game road trip at Vanderbilt (2-1). The Commodores are coming off a close 24-21 win against Colorado State Saturday. Kickoff between Stanford and Vanderbilt is 5:00 pm PDT Sat Sep 18th.

TCU edges Cal 34-32; Horned Frogs Johnston catches 2 TDs

Quentin Johnston (1) wide receiver of the TCU Horned Frogs makes for the end zone out pacing the Cal Bears linebacker Evan Tattersall (54) for one of his two touchdowns this one coming in the second half at Fort Worth in week 2 of the NCAA season (AP News photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

It was a close contest in Forth Worth on Saturday but the Cal Bears (0-2) couldn’t hold off the TCU (2-0) Horned Frogs and Quentin Johnston who scored two touchdowns as TCU edged Cal 34-32. TCU quarterback Max Duggan threw three touchdown passes was 17-31 for 234 yards and threw only one interception.

Duggan hit Johnston for the go ahead score in the fourth quarter to give TCU the two point advantage. In the fourth quarter both Cal and TCU scored 13 points each the difference was earlier in the game when the Horned Frogs scored 14 points to make it 19-14 Cal in front by five at the half. That lead was erased when the Horned Frogs scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead 21-19.

The Bears with the loss are winless through the first two weeks of the season after they lost to the Nevada Wolfpack last Sat Sep 6th 22-17. Johnston made the fourth quarter catch with 9:53 left in the ball game a 45 yard catch under pressure Johnston twisted away from one Cal defender at the 30 yard line and another Bears defender missed taking down Johnston falling at the 10 and Johnston ran home free the rest of the way.

Johnston ran for 95 yards after making five catches he made every catch count in very close knit game against the Golden Bears “I think I speak for the whole team when I say this … we were very excited when he caught it,” said running back Zach Evans. Johnston said that he’s more than a tall lanky receiver but a threat to the defense that can down field and score and he did three times.

The Bears quarterback Chase Garbers threw 16-27 for 309 yards, and two touchdowns good enough to win most ball games but TCU just got enough scoring to get by the Bears. Garbers had a decent first half for Cal Berkeley throwing for 234 yards in the first half of action.

Garbers in four plays in the first half had 199 yards out of the 234 yards going for 49, 54, 28 and 68 yards. Garbers moved the ball so well in the first half the Bears scored six in the first quarter, 13 in the second quarter to take that 19-14 first half lead and they made it close in the fourth quarter matching TCU with 13 points each but fell short.

The Bears go back to the drawing board as they prepare to host the Sacramento State Hornets (1-1) in their home opener. The Hornets are coming off a tough loss to Northern Iowa on Saturday night in Sacramento. Kick off on Sat Sep 18th at Cal 1:00 pm PDT

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Oklahoma and Penn State in close game wins; Kiffin test positive in breakthrough case

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) threw for 304 yards and a touchdown against the Tulane Green Wave on Sat Sep 4, 2021 at Norman Oklahoma for the opening day win (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Football podcast with Michelle:

#1 Close game on Saturday Michelle as the Oklahoma Sooners just got by the Tulane Green Wave 40-35. It was a contest both schools were tied after the first quarter 14-14 but the Sooners broke it wide open with 23 points in the second quarter for a 37-14 lead. The Green Wave defense held the Sooners just to a field goal in the second half but fell short for a win.

#2 The Penn State Nittany Lions defense held back the Wisconsin Badgers 16-10 it was all defense in the first half as the score was 0-0 at the half. Third quarter each team scored seven for a 7-7 tie. Fourth quarter the Nittany Lions would score 9 to the Badgers 3 for the win. Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford threw for 247 yards and one touchdown.

#3 University of Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin test positive for Coronavirus and will not coach on Monday against Louisville in Atlanta. Kiffin who is vaccinated tested positive is experiencing mild symptoms and said he is thankful that he is vaccinated. Kiffin said no other players and coaches tested positive.

Join Michelle for the NCAA Football podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Strong effort leads Wolfpack to victory over Bears in season opener 22-17

Nevada Wolfpack quarterback Carson Strong threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns against the Cal Bears is seen here in the second quarter at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkley on Sat Sep 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

The Nevada Wolfpack lead by quarterback Carson Strong picked up a season opening win at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley 22-17 against the Cal Bears. Strong threw for two touchdowns Saturday night and let it fly in this contest totaling 312 yards.

The Wolfpack wasted no time answering Cal down 14-0 on the scoreboard after the first quarter scoring for 13 points in the second quarter for a 14-13 halftime score. Strong who is from Northern California and lived just an hour away from Memorial Stadium threw a touchdown to receiver Romeo Dobbs and got two field goals from kicker Brandon Talton for the 13 points in the second quarter.

Strong wanted to always play for Cal but he suffered an knee injury in his high school senior year in Vacaville and the Bears didn’t recruit him and Strong then chose to go to the Nevada Wolfpack. Strong said he always wants to win but winning at Cal was pretty sweet for Strong.

The pass to Dobbs in the second quarter was for 43 yards, Strong said this game will be memorable for him. The Bears in the first quarter didn’t waste anytime scoring in their first two drives. Then things didn’t go as plan for the Bears on offense in four offense drives they failed to execute on three and out.

The Wolfpack took advantage on offense scoring 22 unanswered points. The Wolfpack scored nine points in the third quarter and the Bears would only kick a field goal in the fourth quarter to lose by five points.

In the second half third quarter for the Wolfpack Strong executed a impressive offensive series to score a touchdown. On third and 17 Strong throwing for 17 yards to Cole Turner to get a first down, then a 46 yard pass to Tory Horton on third and nine, then the 43 yard touchdown pass to Dobbs.

Nevada head coach Jay Norvell said that Strong exhibited ability and was able to perform the key scoring plays early in the game, ““He’s just a super competitor,” Norvell said. “He was amazing tonight, just his will and his aggressiveness to wanting to go after these guys and stay on them. I just appreciate him so much in that regard.”

The Bears are back to the drawing board and head to Texas for their next game at TCU on Sat Sep 11th. TCU one the most traditional schools are no easy task the Bears will be studying film and making plans to execute scoring on this rugged opponent.

Stanford nearly gets shutout in opener 24-7

Stanford Cardinal running back Ethan Bonner (13) can’t catch up to Kansas State Wildcats running back Deuce Vaughn (22) and who is cheered on by Wildcats wide receiver Malik Knowles (4) for a first half touchdown on Sat Sep 4, 2021 in Arlington (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson scored two touchdowns on two carries against the Stanford Cardinal in the season opener in Arlington on Saturday. Thompson who missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury show no signs of anything amiss throwing for 144 yards.

The Wildcats opened up their regular season with a 24-7 win and got help from running back Deuce Vaughn who ran for 59 yards for a touchdown and finished the day running for 124 yards the most running yardage all day.

With the score 24-0 in the fourth quarter Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee saved the Cardinal from being shutout throwing a touchdown pass to Brycen Tremayne for 14 yards with 3:16 left in the game on what would be the Cardinal’s last offensive play of the game avoiding being shutout.

The last time the Cardinal were shutout was Nov 4, 2006 against the USC Trojans convincingly 42-0. Last season the Cardinal started the season at 0-2 but won the last four games of the season to finish 4-2.

For Thompson who injured his right shoulder on his throwing side last season in only the third game was out for the remaining three games. Thompson pushed hard to return to football he was dedicated to Kansas State and to return to the program and his first game back on Saturday against Stanford he had to be pretty satisfied with the results.

Stanford used both of their quarterbacks McKee went 15-18 for 118 yards and one touchdown and Jack West 8-12 for 76 yards, West threw for two interceptions. McKee and West couldn’t find receivers and convert much in the red zone all day.

It’s try, try, try all over again as the Cardinal head to the Southland to face the USC Trojans in their next attempt to get in the win column Sat Sep 11 for a 7:30 pm PDT kick off.