by Jerry Feitelberg
Here we go- it’s the start of the football season for the fourth ranked Stanford Cardinal. Stanford is coming off a great season in 2012 winning the Pac-12 championship and representing the Pac-12 in the Rose Bowl and, just to refresh your memory, Stanford beat Wisconsin to win the Rose Bowl game for the first time in 40 years. They opened the season Saturday night against the Spartans of San Jose State. Although the Cardinal has had their way with the Spartans the last few years, they cannot take this team lightly. The Spartans nearly upset Stanford last year but this a new year and the Spartans have a solid team with a terrific quarterback, David Fales. Stanford easily beat the Spartans by a final score of 34-13.
The Cardinal got off to a great start. San Jose State got the ball first but could manage just one first down. The Cardinal defense stopped the Spartans and the Cardinal got the ball on their own 33 yard line. Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan then took the Cardinal on a 67 yard drive in six plays. The touchdown was a 40 yard strike from Kevin Hogan to Devon Cajuste. It took just 2 minutes and 42 seconds for Stanford to score to take a 7-0 lead. The Spartans came back after the kickoff and marched 62 yards before the drive stalled and they settled for a 30 yard field goal. Stanford led 7-3 with 3:26 left in the first quarter and that’s the score at the end of the first 15 minutes of play.
The Cardinal scored their second touchdown of the game with 12:33 left to play in the first half. The Cardinal went 75 yards in 13 plays. The key play was a 16 yard run by Tyler Gaffney for the score.
14-3 in favor of Stanford. The Spartans could do nothing after the kickoff and were forced to punt. The punt was partially blocked and Stanford had great field position. The Cardinal went 19 yards in 4 plays and had to settle for a 40 yard field goal as they now lead 17-3 with 8:54 left in the first half.
The Spartans took the kickoff and marched down the field at will but the Stanford defense rose up and stopped the Spartans at the 5 yard line. The Spartans made the field goal and trail 17-6 with 3:43 left to play. The drive took 5:11 off the clock. Stanford missed a 52 yard field goal attempt at the end of the half . Stanford up by a score of 17-6.
Stanford’s Kevin Hogan was 8 for 15 passing for 94 yard and one touchdown. Tyler Gaffney had 8 carries for 53 yards and a TD. David Fales was 14 for 19 for the Spartans for 92 yards.
The Cardinal got the ball to start the second half and went on an 11 play 44 yard drive but the drive stalled and Jordan Williamson made a 48 yard field goal to put the Cardinal ahead 20-6 with 10:17 left to play in the third period. On the next series, Stanford’s defense forced the Spartans to punt from deep in their territory. The Cardinals got the ball in good field position and they marched 47 yard in 9 plays. The key play was a 17 yard pass from Kevin Hogan to Ty Montgomery for the score. Stanford leads 27-6 with 5:34 to go in the quarter. The Spartans then went on a 9 play 65 yard drive to score. The key play was a 13 yard pass from David Fales to Noel Grigsby for the touchdown. The drive was aided by a defensive holding penalty that kept the drive alive for San Jose State. The Spartans trail 27-13 late in the third period.
Stanford fumbled to start the fourth quarter but the Cardinal got the ball back when the defense put pressure on David Fales and that resulted in Ed Reynolds making an interception. Stanford then went 52 yards in 5 plays. The key plays on the drive was a 42 yard pass from Hogan to Ty Montgomery to put the ball on the six yard line. Tyler Gaffney ran for four to put the ball on the two and then Gaffney bulled his way into the end zone for the score. Second touchdown of the game for Gaffney and Stanford has a commanding 34-13 lead.There was no more scoring and Stanford wins the opener.
Game notes- Kevin Hogan was 17 for 27 for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Gaffney had 20 rushing attempts for 104 yards and two scores. Overall Stanford had 404 total yard on offense.
The Spartans’ David Fales was 29 for 43 for 216 yards and one TD. Jason Simpson was the Spartans leading rusher gaining 43 yards on 11 attempts. The Spartans had 251 total yards on offense.
Stanford travels back east to West Point to play Army.
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