By John Reid
Daily News Staff Writer
With every football victory, Stanford’s national stock rises. The Cardinal moved up to No. 8 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls after a 31-14 triumph over Washington at Stanford Stadium on Saturday night as an enthusiastic homecoming crowd looked on. Stanford (6-1, 5-0 Pac-12) has a North showdown at unranked Washington State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
It was a methodical rout by the Cardinal over the Huskies (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12), who have one of the best defenses in the conference.
“Washington is a very underrated football team,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “I’m not saying that because we won the game. They’re a physical team. There is a reason they are one of the best defenses in the conference and in the nation. They don’t give up a lot of big plays. Coach Chris Peterson is doing a phenomenal job there.”
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey finished with 109 hard-earned yards on 23 carries, including a twisting 7-yard TD run with 51 seconds to play in the third period that put the game out of reach. The touchdown had to be reviewed to see if McCaffrey got the ball over the goal line. McCaffrey’s 953 yards rushing ranks him No. 9 in the nation, tied with Matt Breida of Georgia Southern.
McCaffrey was a receiving threat, catching a team-high five passes for 112 yards. McCaffrey’s 50-yard touchdown reception burned two Husky defenders in impressive fashion. His 79 return yards on kickoffs gave McCaffrey an even 300 all-purpose yards. His 259.71 all-purpose yards average leads the nation, keeping the Cardinal sophomore in the Heisman Trophy discussion.
“I’m at the point where I don’t know what else I can say, other than ‘Watch him,'” said Shaw about McCaffrey. “He’s so quick, so explosive. The little guy never gets tired. He gets pounded. He gets hit. He gets blown up on a kickoff return. We want to sub him, take him out just to see if he’s OK. He comes up with a smile on his face and he says, ‘Coach, I’m fine.'”
The win evened the series the Huskies at 41-41-4. More importantly, the sixth win of the year made Stanford bowl-eligible.
Garnett, a legitimate All-American candidate, is one of six Cardinal captains.
“I take a lot of pride in my captaincy,” the 6-foot-5, 321-pound Garnett said. “It’s easy to lead people when we’re winning by 40 or 50 points. After we lost to Northwestern, I took it upon myself to get these guys going again. We have had some success, but like coach Shaw said, ‘There are no awards given out after seven games.’ We have to keep going. We have a good Washington State game to play next week.”
The Huskies’ defensive front gave the Cardinal problems. Stanford entered the game averaging 226.3 yards rushing per game, third in the Pac-12. The Cardinal rushed for 188 yards against the Huskies, 38.3 yards below its average.
“That’s what tough about the Pac-12,” said Garnett, who prepped at Puyallup High in Puyallup, Wash. “Every week you’re going to play someone with a great defensive line, with a great rushing defense. That’s when it comes down to the big guys up front. You have to make plays, make holes. Washington did a lot of movement and they are strong. Washington always puts out big, strong guys who can move. You have to be up to the challenge.”
Garnett’s dad, Scott, played football at Washington before playing four years in the NFL. Garnett’s uncle, Steve, played football at Arizona State.
“I’ll have to send Andrew a text,” Hogan said. “It’s cool. There have been a lot of good running quarterbacks here. It’s funny. Quarterbacks aren’t known for getting rush yards. I just get what I can.”
Hogan was 17 of 24 through the air for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a late interception, his fourth of the year. Hogan’s first touchdown pass came off a creative play, one where he faked a pitch to McCaffrey before drilling tight end Austin Hooper with a pass. Hooper, who was split out wide, muscled his way over the goal line for the 21-yard score.
“That was a play we put in earlier in the week,” Hogan said. “It was executed well. Their safety was in a bind. I tried to put it on him. Hooper is big, physical guy.”
Hogan, who has thrown for 1,576 yards this season, passed Jim Plunkett on Stanford’s all-time passing list, moving to No. 4 all-time. Hogan now has 8,094 yards to Plunkett’s 7,809 (1968-70). Hogan needs 1,255 yards to catch John Elway (1979-82), No. 3 in career passing yards at Stanford.
“Burr-Kirven played a great game,” Quattlebaum said. “There were a lot of people from Sacred Heart Prep here to watch him.”
“It was great to win a game in Pac-12 Conference play,” Martinez said. “We’re excited to go on to the next week. We know we have a target on our back. We have to bring our best each week because everyone else is going to bring their ‘A’ game.”
“I love their little running back,” said Shaw of Gaskins. “He has a chance to be really special.”
