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.