Football

Stanford Post-Game Notes vs. USC, October 9, 2010

Oct. 9, 2010

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 1  | Photo Gallery 2 

Nate Whitaker had never made a game-winning kick in his career, either in college or high school. After the game-winning kick he has made his last 15-straight field goals, dating back to last year.

Doug Baldwin set his career-high for receptions (6) with the TD catch in the fourth quarter (9:27), his second TD of the game and his team-high fifth of the season. It was his second two-TD game of the season (also Sacramento State), a career-best.

• This is the second time Andrew Luck has led Stanford to victory after being tied or trailing to start the fourth quarter. (Notre Dame in 2009, down 31-27 entering fourth). It was 21-21 entering tonight's fourth quarter.

• It was just the third PAT missed by Nate Whitaker all season. He had made the first 66 in his two-year career, before missing two against Wake Forest. He is 28-of-31 this season.

• The fourth quarter kickoff return by Chris Owusu, a 88-yard run (10:59), was his longest of the season and third longest of his career (also 94 yards for a TD against San Jose State and 91 yards versus Washington for a TD in 2009).

• At 14-14, it is the first time this season Stanford has not led at the half. (38-0 Sacramento State; 10-0 at UCLA; 41-10 Wake Forest; 16-6 at Notre Dame; 31-24 at Oregon). They had outscored opponents 139-47 in the first half prior to tonight's contest.

Stepfan Taylor has now rushed for a TD in three of the last four games, including the third quarter score. Freshman Anthony Wilkerson tallied his second career TD in the first half.

• The sellout crowd of 51,607 is a new Stanford Stadium record (since 2006). The fourth sellout since the stadium was renovated.

• Stanford is off to its first 5-1 start since 2001. It is the first back-to-back wins over USC since 1999-01. Stanford is now 3-0 at home this season, and 14-2 over the last 16 games dating back to 2007.

• No Stanford quarterback has throw four TD's for a game three times in a season. John Elway has the school-record with five (1980, 1982), while Randy Fasani (2000-01) and Jim Plunkett (1968-69) had three in their careers. Luck previous threw four against Sacramento State and Wake Forest this season.

• This weekend has also saw the Cardinal water polo team today beat UC 5-3, and the No. 1-ranked women's soccer team beating the Women of Troy 2-1 and the No. 1 women's volleyball team beating USC 3-1, both on Friday in Los Angeles.

 

•It was the first game-winning field goal for the Cardinal since Mike Biselli kicked the game-winner against Notre Dame in 1999, his sophomore season.