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.

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.

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.

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.

Stanford Champions of NCAA National Title 54-53

Reining Champions of Women’s NCAA basketball the Stanford Cardinal hold up the Championship Trophy going all the way defeating the Arizona Wildcats at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Sun Apr 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Stanford women took on the Arizona Wildcats in search for a championship: the first ever all Pac-12 NCAA basketball title game. Stanford coming off a wild game that went right down to the buzzer winning over South Carolina who had a real shot at winning the game. That score was 66-65. One thing you could say about the Cardinal they kept it close again edging out the Wildcats for a 54-53 Championship victory in the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Stanford was able to pull off the win but the Cardinal will need everyone on board for the title game. Arizona has made a lot of noise beating No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 4 Indiana and No.1 Connecticut.They have the title in their sites. Aari McDonald & Co. will be ready for this one and will be gunning for the No. 1 overall seed Stanford.

The Cardinal will need Kiana Williams totally onboard for the game. She has struggled the past few games and her team will really need her to step up in this one. Haley Jones had an amazing game against South Carolina and hopes to pick up right where she left off on Friday in the Final Four. Ana Wilson will bring her defensive prowess along with Lexie Hull and Ashsten Prechtel who was great off the bench.

Stanford won both of their regular season matchups and got the third win against the Wildcats in the Championship Tournament. If trends prove true, it is especially difficult to beat a team three times in one basketball season. Both of those games were one-sided. Arizona has made great strides to come into this game with outstanding defense and was considered extremely dangerous.

Stanford was looking for their third national title under Head Coach Tara VanDerveer who won titles in 1990 and1992.

At the half Stanford led by the score of 31-24. They had been able to keep Aari McDonald under wraps allowing only five points. The high score for Arizona came off the bench from Shaina Pellington with seven points.

Lexie Hull had eight points for the half followed by Ashten Prechtel who again had a great first half off the bench. Every starter for Stanford turned in points in the half for a well-balanced first half. They were two quarters away from a national title.

Arizona outscored Stanford in the third and fourth quarters but came up just shy with Stanford winning another blockbuster game 54-53. These girls just hung in there and willed themselves to win giving Tara VanDerveer her third national title.

Aari McDonald came up with a big 22 points in the loss. Shaina Pellington had 15 points off the bench in a terrific outing for Arizona. The Wildcats had a great game coming up just short as time expired.

Stanford had some great numbers from their starters. Haley Jones had 17 points, Lexi Hull with 10 and Cameron Brink also with 10 points. The ever consistent Ashten Prechtel had seven off the bench.

It has been an amazing season for Tara VanDerveer and her team as they celebrate their third title. They played an awesome tournament withstanding a lot of pressure and rising to the occasion in every game. A big congrats to Stanford Women’s basketball and we all look forward to next season.

Stanford Holds On To Defeat South Carolina 66-65

Stanford Cardinal women celebrate winning the Final Four against the South Carolina Gamecocks in San Antonio to advance to the Women’s Championship on Sunday Apr 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday afternoon the Stanford Cardinal Ladies took on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four. One team had a far easier time advancing while the other had to make quite a comeback. South Carolina was able to get past sixth-seeded Texas who went cold as ice at the worst possible time.

On the other end of the spectrum Louisville had a great shot at beating Stanford but the Cardinal Ladies had a different scenario in mind. Struggling the start the game, Stanford mounted a comeback that Louisville was unable to squelch. Stanford had an amazing second half in that game that cemented the trip to the Final Four. The final score was 78-63.

Now it was on to the Final Four for Stanford in search of a berth in the National Finals against a very tough South Carolina team that is well-balance offensively and defensively. After the first quarter Stanford again had a bit of a slow start when South Carolina went on a 11-2 run. The Cardinal turned that slow start around real quick and by the end of the quarter Stanford and South Carolina were locked at 15. This game would be a fight to the end with two extraordinary offenses and defenses.

South Carolina has some very tough shot blocking which did give Stanford some problems although with two minutes left in the half Stanford led by a slim margin 26-25. As the half came to an end Stanford had extended their lead 31-25. The slow start by Stanford to start the game was long forgotten. Haley Jones had the high score in the half with nine points followed by Lexie Hull with eight, and Ashton Prechtel had seven points off the bench.

South Carolina’s Zia Cooke had double digits with twelve points. She shot two three-pointers in the half and she was proving to be a handful for the Stanford defense. Through the first half the Cardinal defense were holding their own against Cooke, proving that they were up for the task.

Stanford’s Haley Jones picked up where she left off in the second half as the Cardinal ladies continued to lead in the third quarter. South Carolina was having none of it as Cooke continued her rampage. With three minutes left in the third quarter the score was tied at 43. As the third quarter came to an end, Stanford led 52-49. Stanford’s Haley Jones had shot twenty points while South Carolina’s Zia Cooke led her team with twenty-three points.

It was a wild fourth quarter with a heart-breaking conclusion for South Carolina. With 6 seconds left on the clock Carolina had a clear shot that simply failed giving Stanford the win 66-65. It could not have been a closer or well-played game by either teams. Haley Jones would finish with 24 points followed by Hull with 18 points. Lexie Hull had an amazing 13 rebounds. South Dakota’s Zia Cooke scored 25 points in the loss.

Sunday the Stanford Cardinal will play for the National title. They have achieved their goal for a berth in the finals and now await their opponent. They will either play Arizona or UConn. The time for this game is still to be determined.

Stanford Cardinal/Final Four podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Stanford knows South Carolina no joke

Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink is jubilant after the Elite 8 win over Louisville Cardinals on Tue Mar 30, 2021 at the Alamodome in San Antonio (gostanford.com photo)

#1 The two number ones gather for the Women’s Final Four on Friday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio the No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks (26-4) who bring in a seven game win streak most recently defeated No.6 Texas (21-10) and that game wasn’t even close 62-34. Will South Carolina’s defense have to be something to be concerned about for No.1 Stanford Cardinal (29-2).

#2 The Cardinal are coming off a come back win against the Louisville Cardinals 78-63. The Cardinal were behind by 12 points at half time but bounced right back in the third and fourth quarters to get the 78-63 win.

#3 For Louisville their only scorer to finish in double figures was guard Dana Evans with 24 points for Evans it had to be tough doing all the lifting against a solid Stanford defense in the second half.

#4 The second half of Tuesday night’s game was the difference and the fourth quarter the Cardinal allowed the Cardinals to score only 13 points once again the Cardinal defense shutdown their opponent and got them in the next round.

#5 So it’s South Carolina and Stanford in the Final Four always exciting to get there and the Cardinal and head coach Tara VanDerveer have been itching to win a Final Four how do you like Stanford’s chances against South Carolina on Friday night.

Jerry Feitelberg podcasted Stanford basketball for the 2020-21 season for http://www.sportradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal/Final Four podcast with Jerry Feitelberg Thu Apr 1, 2021 by Sports Radio Service (soundcloud.com)

 

No.1 Stanford crushes No.5 Missouri State 89-62

Stanford Cardinal women advance to the Elite 8 the opponent to be determined on Tue Mar 31, 2021 (@StanfordWBB image)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the NCAA Women’s Sweet Sixteen saw the top-ranked overall Stanford Cardinal (28-2) take on the No. 5 Missouri St. Lady Bears (23-3). Both teams were looking to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight. The Lady Bears had a huge task trying to contain the offense of the Cardinal. It wasn’t even close as the Cardinal won it by 27 points 89-62 to advance to the next round on Tuesday.

The Stanford offense, an ever evolving team thanks to the legendary Tara VanDerveer, presented the biggest problem for Missouri St. VenDerveer never settles, and continues to become better and better striving for excellence year after year.

The Stanford offense took an eight point lead after the first quarter 23-16. The Lady Bears fought hard trying contain the lethal offense of the Cardinal but they would be overwhelmed in the first half. Stanford’s offense and defense was up for the task managing the game beautifully.

The second quarter saw the Cardinal amp it up yet another level in complete control of this game. As the clock ran down on the quarter the Cardinal were firing on all cylinders knocking down three’s left and right. Stanford led 49-26 at the half. We have seen Missouri fall behind in past games only to come back and win but the stellar offensive and defensive execution of the Cardinal would challenge the Lady Bears in the second half.

Both Kiana Williams and Anna Wilson, little sis of quarterback Russell Wilson, scored ten points in the first half. Haley Jones had eight points and Lacie Hull with nine points. It was a great offensive effort for Stanford in both quarters.

Stanford was a runaway freight train in the third quarter pushing their lead to 71-37 denying Missouri at every turn. The Lady Bears had only allowed 45 points in their previous game but they were facing the best of the best, something they had not faced all tournament. This was total domination by the Cardinal.

A game is not typically called to start a fourth quarter but the writing was indelibly carved on the wall in this one. The final score was 89-62. To their credit, the Lady Bears continued to fight in this game and actually outscored Stanford in the fourth quarter 25-18.

Stanford’s Hannah Jump had an amazing 17 points off the bench with Williams finishing with 16, Wilson with 13 and Jones with 11.

Stanford now moves into the Elite Eight Tuesday, March 30, their opponent TBD.

Stanford Cardinal/March Madness podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cardinal No.2 to meet No.11 Missouri State on Saturday for round three

Stanford Cardinal guard Anna Wilson sets up to hit a three pointer against Oklahoma State Cowgirls during round two of the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio TX on Tue Mar 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 The Stanford women will meet the Missouri State Lady Bears this Saturday March 27th in the Sweet 16 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The Cardinal are coming off two straight big wins against Utah Valley State and more recently Oklahoma State how much will momentum be a factor for Stanford going into Saturday’s action.

#2 The Cardinal are moving into their third round but they’ve been considered a heavy favorite going into the tournament and no really doubts what they can do here in March Madness.

#3 Jerry, talk about the plays, the strategy the work that Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer takes going into Saturday’s game against Missouri.

#4 For VanDerveer a career March Madness Tournament win loss record of 60-23. Oddsmakers say this should be the Stanford women’s year to get and win the Final Four and VanDerveer is the coach that can get them there.

#5 Jerry, the Cardinal are getting some top scoring from guard Haley Jones, guard Kiana Williams, forward Cameron Brink, and guard Ann Wilson all whom finished in double figures in their last game against Oklahoma State.

Jerry will do the Stanford Cardinal podcasts throughout the March Madness Tournament each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal Advance in NCAA Women’s Basketball; Defeat Oklahoma State 73-62

Guard Kiana Williams (23) of the Stanford Cardinal takes a shot over Oklahoma State guard Neferatali Notoa in the second half of the second round at San Antonio Tx of the NCAA Tournament (AP News photo)

 Stanford Cardinal Advance in NCAA Women’s Basketball

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the No.1 seeded Stanford Cardinal took on No.8 Oklahoma State in the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. Stanford advanced to the second round via a dominating win over 16-seed Utah Valley 87-44.

Oklahoma State earned a spot in the second round beating No. 9 seed Wake Forest 84-61 giving them a shot at upsetting the number one seed and playing in the sweet sixteen. Only losing two regular season games the Cardinal would be tough to get by, even to a determined Oklahoma State, which they managed to do with a 73-62 win to advance to the next round on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma State did not get off to the best start but they more than made up for it trailing by a single point as the first quarter came to an end 17-16. Making up a 8-0 deficit in the early goings they came on strong in the waning minutes of the quarter.

Stanford extinguished the fire that Oklahoma State had finished the first quarter with leading at the half 42-27. The Cardinal had come unleashed in the second quarter denying any chance for the Cowgirls to get back in this game. After two quarters the Cardinal Anna Wilson led the scoring with 11 points and Kiana Williams had nine points to finish the half.

Stanford took up right where they left off in the first half taking a hefty lead in the third quarter. They were on fire from deep, hitting 11 of 15 mid-way through the quarter. As the quarter came to an end the Cowgirls pulled off a 10-0 run getting to within ten points after trailing by 20.

Going into the fourth quarter Stanford led by the score of 50-61. When it looked as if Stanford had taken complete control of the game Oklahoma State showed that they were capable of giving Stanford a lot of trouble.

Stanford had a bit of a letdown in the early minutes of the fourth quarter but always managed to come up with timely buckets to keep a significant lead and keeping Oklahoma State under control. The Cowgirls continued to fight trailing by 11 points as half of the final quarter had expired. Five minutes stood between the Cardinal and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.

The number one overall seed; the Stanford Cardinal would advance for the 13th consecutive time. Stanfords’ Jones would finish the game with 17 points, Williams with 13, Wilson with 12 and Brink shooting 11.

Oklahoma State fought hard in this game, their high score coming from Notoa with 14 followed by Mack with 13.

Stanford will now take on the winner of Missouri State or Wright State in the Sweet Sixteen.