Sept. 16, 2000
Final StatisticsQuotesNotesStanford Snapshots!STANFORD, Calif. - DeRonnie Pitts cartwheeled into the end zone aftercatching a 15-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Chris Lewis with 1:12to play as Stanford rallied to beat No. 5 Texas 27-24 on Saturday night.
Stanford led 20-9 with 10 minutes left but allowed two touchdown drives ledby Texas quarterback Major Applewhite, who was ineffective until the game'sfinal minutes.
The Cardinal then made a frantic four-play, 59-yard drive in just 43seconds. It ended when Pitts caught a short sideline pass, broke Joe Walker'stackle at the 10, leaped for the goal line, was flipped into the air byRoderick Babers and landed in the end zone.
Texas' final drive died when Brandon Healy dropped a fourth-down pass fromApplewhite with 33 seconds to play.
With former Stanford golfer Tiger Woods cheering on the sideline, Lewis leda dramatic comeback in place of starter Randy Fasani, who injured his left kneewhen he was sacked by Maurice Gordon just seven minutes into the game.
After the Texas offense was stymied all evening by an inspired Stanforddefense, Applewhite hit B.J. Johnson for a 71-yard touchdown strike with 9:29to play. Applewhite then hit Victor Ike over the middle for a 38-yard scoringplay with 5:44 left to give Texas a 24-20 lead.
Fasani appeared to injure his left knee when he was sacked. Lewisimmediately keyed a 77-yard touchdown drive for the Cardinal's first points,throwing a 37-yard TD pass Luke Powell on his second pass of the game and thefifth of his college career.
Fasani, his knee in a brace, stood on the sideline on crutches to cheer onLewis, a freshman who holds the California high school record for career TDpasses. Lewis' previous college experience consisted of three passes againstWashington State two weeks ago.
Lewis was just 12-of-33, but he threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns.Tight end Russell Stewart had three catches for 82 yards, and Pitts had threereceptions for 62 yards.
Lewis' 17-yard TD pass to Pitts gave Stanford a 13-9 lead at halftime. Aminute into the third quarter, the Cardinal scored again when Emory Brock, theson of baseball great Lou Brock, blocked Kris Stockton's punt, grabbed theloose ball and scored.
Most of the game was a defensive battle, with both teams combining for 23frustrating punts. The Longhorns' frustration showed in a hat-throwing tantrumby Texas coach Mack Brown after a penalty in the third quarter.
The game bore no resemblance to Texas' 69-17 thrashing of Stanford in Austinlast season. Both Applewhite and backup Chris Simms had trouble against aStanford defense that looked nothing like the lackluster unit that allowedlowly San Jose State to score 40 points last week.
The Longhorns couldn't run - Mitchell had just 52 yards on 19 carries - andcouldn't pass until the game's final minutes. Applewhite was 18-for-40 and wasintercepted twice, while Simms was 3-of-6 and played sparingly in the secondhalf.
Applewhite started the game but gave way to Simms after two ineffectiveseries. Taking over after the Texas defense recorded a safety, Simms capped theLonghorns' only scoring drive of the first three quarters with a 38-yard passto Roy Williams.
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer