STANFORD, Calif. – Receiving spirited play on both sides of the ball, Stanford wrapped up spring practice on Saturday with the annual Cardinal and White Spring Game watched by a near capacity crowd at sun-drenched Cagan Stadium.
The White team (defense) emerged with a 20-14 win against the Cardinal (offense) in a contest shown nationally on Pac-12 Networks.
Each possession started on the Cardinal 35-yard-line. Six points were awarded for offensive touchdowns and the defense earned seven points for interceptions and two or three points for 3-and-outs and defensive stops.
Sophomore cornerback Paulson Adebo picked up where he left off at the end of last season by pilfering a K.J. Costello pass on the first possession and nearly grabbed another. The junior quarterback quickly atoned by hitting freshman wide receiver Simi Fehoko in the right flat for a nicely-timed 19-yard scoring pass.
The defense had its way until the final possession when freshman Dylan Plautz – the fourth signal caller to see action – led a sustained drive capped by junior running back Trevor Speights' 2-yard run.
"Collectively, we got better and better," said David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, said of the spring session. "Now the challenge is we can't go backward."
Costello, freshman Jack West, junior Jack Richardson and Plautz all took snaps, a big change from last year, when only Richardson was available. Costello went 8-for-15 for 85 yards.
A stable of running backs will battle for playing time with the departure of Bryce Love. Senior Cameron Scarlett, junior Dorian Maddox, freshman Justus Woods and freshman Cameron McFarlane are battling for playing time, and all but Scarlett carried Saturday. McFarlane gained 26 yards on seven carries and Speights added 20 on six.
Freshman Michael Wilson and Fehoko paced a talented group of young wide receivers that includes sophomore Connor Wedington, sophomore Osiris St. Brown, junior Donald Stewart and freshman Brycen Tremayne. Wilson caught two passes for 23 yards to lead the way.
Defensively, the Cardinal collected four sacks, two by freshman end Trey LaBounty.
The live session was preceded by 7-on-7, special teams and group drills.
Following the game, players signed autographs at Sunken Diamond.
Fall training camp begins Aug. 1st. Stanford opens the 2019 season by hosting Northwestern on Aug. 31.
STAT LEADERS
PASSING
Costello: 8-15, 85 passing yards, 19-yard TD to Fehoko
RUSHING
McFarlane: 7 carries, 26 yards
Speights: 6 carries, 20 yards, 1-yard TD run
Maddox: 2 carries, 6 yards
RECEIVING
Wilson: 2 receptions, 23 yards
Parkinson: 2 receptions, 13 yards
10 different players caught a pass
DEFENSE
INT: Adebo
PBU: Adebo, Eboh
Sacks: Booker, Miezan, LaBounty (2)
