Stanford Dominates California in Pac-12 Clash: Stanford 31, California 10

Stanford Dominates California in Pac-12 Clash: Stanford 31, California 10

Stanford secured a decisive victory over California in a Pac-12 showdown, finishing with a final score of 31-10. The Cardinal's strong performance was fueled by a dominant rushing attack and a timely passing touchdown, while the Golden Bears struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

Key Individual Performances

Stanford's offense was spearheaded by running back Micah Ford, who amassed an impressive 150 rushing yards on 29 attempts, including a touchdown. Quarterback Elijah Brown managed 123 passing yards and one touchdown, connecting with CJ Williams for a crucial score. Williams led Stanford receivers with 76 receiving yards. Defensively, Matt Rose led the way for Stanford with 14 tackles and a sack, while Brandon Nicholson contributed nine tackles and a sack.

For California, quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for 269 yards on 33 completions, but failed to find the endzone. Trond Grizzell was his primary target, hauling in nine receptions for 104 yards. Jacob De Jesus added 96 receiving yards on 14 catches. Luke Ferrelli led the Golden Bears' defense with 10 tackles.

Turning Points

The game's momentum began to shift in the first quarter when A. Murray made a 40-yard field goal, giving Stanford an early lead. In the third quarter, California's struggles continued as E. Kenney missed a 35-yard field goal attempt, but he was successful later in the quarter with a 36-yard field goal.

The fourth quarter proved to be pivotal. Stanford's Elijah Brown connected with CJ Williams on a 34-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead. Soon after, Micah Ford had a 29-yard rush to get Stanford into scoring position. California's offense faced setbacks with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele being sacked for significant losses on multiple occasions, including a 12-yard loss in the fourth quarter, which led to a turnover on downs. Later in the same quarter, Sagapolutele was sacked for losses of 9 and 12 yards further hindering California's offensive efforts. A fumble by California in the third quarter, recovered by Stanford's Matt Rose, also hurt the Golden Bears.

Looking Ahead

Stanford's victory showcased their ability to control the game on the ground and capitalize on key opportunities. The Cardinal will look to build on this performance as they continue their season. California, despite Sagapolutele's high passing yardage, needs to address their offensive struggles and protect their quarterback better. The Golden Bears will need to regroup and focus on improving their execution in future games.