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Cardinal upend Beavers, 36-28
By Tom Zulewski August 28, 2008 |
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The Stanford Cardinal got wrapped up into a real tight ball game as predicted that they would. Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh swore that this team was improved over last year's team and that he assured many that the Cardinal will find themselves in the win column more than last year which they did starting on Thursday night beating the Oregon State Beavers 36-28. Harbaugh was right, the Cardinal did show perseverance at Stanford Stadium after the ball game was tied up three times the Cardinal put together some nice scoring in the third quarter with a field goal and a safety to go up 22-20 and eventually ran away with the game literally. The scoring: The Beavers struck first in the second quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Justin Kahut at 14:55 to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead. Tony Gerhart carried for one yard to get Stanford on the scoreboard at 9:11 to get the Cardinal a 7-3 lead. Still second quarter Aaron Zagory hit a 41 yarder through the uprights at 2:53 to give the Cardinal a 10-3 lead. The Beavers quarterback Lyly Moevao hit Sammie Stroughter for a 55-yard field goal to tie up the ball game at 10-10 at 4:29. At 2:10 in the second quarter the Cardinal's Tony Gerhart carried for 46 yards and got the Cardinal their lead back at 17-10. With 14 seconds left in the first half Moevao threw to Shane Morales for a four-yard touchdown score to tie it up again 17-17. Justin Kahut started the third quarter at 7:35 with a 23-yard field goal to put the Beavers back in the game at 20-17. Third quarter still kicker Aaron Zagory booted for 42 yards and Stanford ties it up at 20-20 at 3:42. With just 14 seconds left in the third quarter Moevao threw for a loss of nine yards and fumbled which turned the game around for the Cardinal as the ball was recovered in the Beavers end zone by Stanford for a safety making it 22-20. Fourth quarter Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard threw to Anthony Kimble for 15 yards to give the Cardinal their biggest lead of the night 29-20 at 14:55. Finally the Cardinal pushed the Beavers over the proverbial football cliff and at 9:36 the Beavers Moevao threw an interception that was picked off by Bo McNally and ran back for a 34 yard return to give Stanford a 16 point 36-20 leg up. The Beavers had the last say on the scoreboard when Moevao threw for 15 yards hitting Stroughter and later Moevao threw for a two yard conversion to cut Stanford's lead to 12 points but it was for not as the Cardinal took the opener at home 36-28. Cardinal notes: It was a tight ball game for much of the way one thing to be said about Oregon State it's an up and coming team. The Beavers pulled off some surprises as you might have witnessed. It was no surprise that this was a wildly entertaining game. This game throughout had the earmarks for a last second finish and a last second field goal. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard who won the starting role for the Cardinal kept this team in much of the game. The third quarter field goal by Oregon State after both teams carried a 17-17 tie was an example of how tight this game was but to show you the poise of the Cardinal they bounced back with a field goal and a safety to take the lead in the third quarter 22-20. While no one will ever be another John Elway, Pritchard kept the Cardinal in the game and had established himself at least for opening night at Stanford and Pritchard maybe able to help Stanford back to respectability. The Cardinal came into this game with a good number of injuries but at the same time have shored up their defense. Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh talked about rebuilding the team this season. The Cardinal who later this season will face Cal for the big game at Stanford Stadium and if they can continue playing competitive football when they get there for the November 22nd game they just might make a game out of it just like they did last season when they won the ax in the big game. The Cardinal are at Arizona State on September 6th. Tom Zulewski is filling in for the vacationing Jeremy Kahn for Stanford coverage for Sportstalk Radio |
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