Top 10 Special Teams Plays of David Shaw EraTop 10 Special Teams Plays of David Shaw Era
Football

Top 10 Special Teams Plays of David Shaw Era

#10 - September 2, 2016 vs. Kansas State
Christian McCaffrey Amazes on Punt ReturnChristian McCaffrey totaled 210 all-purpose yards in a 26-13 victory over Kansas State, but he could have had much more, as what would have been a 97-yard punt return was called back due to a penalty. Coasting backward to field the kick at his own 3-yard line in the first quarter, McCaffrey was immediately hit by three defenders. As he was spun by a defender low, McCaffrey bounced off two others and sprung free. Hit again at the 5, McCaffrey again bounced free, and did so again at 10, side-stepped a defender at the 15 and sprinted up the left sideline and into the end zone.

2018 Sun Bowl (Pitt)
Jake Bailey Punt Pins Pitt LateWith the Cardinal leading 14-13, Jake Bailey delivered a 37-yard punt that pinned Pitt at its 4-yard line with just 3:49 remaining in the game. The punt set up a defensive stand for the Cardinal that ultimately handed Stanford the Sun Bowl victory.

#9 - October 14, 2017 vs. Oregon
Brandon Simmons Returns Curtis Robinson Blocked Punt for TouchdownCurtis Robinson got his hand on a second-quarter Adam Stack punt on fourth-and-4 from the Oregon 28 and Brandon Simmons recovered for the touchdown to help Stanford overpower the Ducks 49-7.

#8 - November 24, 2012 at No. 15 UCLA
Usua Amanam Scoops and Scores Alex Debniak Forced FumbleLeading 21-10 over UCLA, the Cardinal broke the game open by scoring twice in a 13-second span midway through the third quarter. After Stepfan Taylor's 1-yard touchdown run, Alex Debniak forced a fumble by Kenneth Walker on the ensuing kickoff and Usua Amanam picked up the fumble for a scoop-and-score 11-yard touchdown.

#7 - October 12, 2013 at Utah
Ty Montgomery 100-yard Kickoff ReturnTy Montgomery amassed more than 200 all-purpose yards for the second straight game, highlighted by a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The scamper, which started five yards deep in the end zone, tied a Stanford record and gave Montgomery his second return for a touchdown in as many games.

#6 - November 21, 2015 vs. California
Christian McCaffrey Kickoff Return for a TouchdownFollowing a Cal field goal with 51 seconds left in the first half, Christian McCaffrey took the ensuing kickoff, shook a tackle at the Stanford 25-yard line, and burst up a well-protected alley down the right sideline for a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the first of his career.

#5 - September 22, 2018 at No. 20 Oregon
Jet Toner Field Goal Forces OvertimeTrailing 31-21 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Stanford scored a touchdown and recovered CJ Verdell's fumble on the Cardinal 40 with 51 seconds left. K.J. Costello passed for a pair of first downs on the ensuing drive, setting up Jet Toner's 32-yard field goal to tie it and send the game into overtime at No. 20 Oregon.

#4 - October 5, 2013 vs. No. 15 Washington
Ty Montgomery Opening Kickoff Return for TouchdownTy Montgomery gained a Stanford-record 204 yards on kickoff returns, including a 99-yarder for a touchdown on the opening kickoff, to finish with 290 all-purpose yards and guide Stanford to a 31-28 victory over No. 15 Washington. Montgomery found an alley up the right seam on the opening kick, and was sprung by key blocks from Jackson Cummings and Joe Hemschoot.

#3 - 2016 Rose Bowl Game (No. 6 Iowa)
Christian McCaffrey Punt Return for a TouchdownChristian McCaffrey returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown in the opening minute of the second quarter, helping to propel No. 5 Stanford to a 45-16 victory over the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes. McCaffrey would finish with a Rose Bowl record 368 all-purpose yards.

#2 - November 17, 2012 at No. 1 Oregon 
Jordan Williamson Game-Winning Field GoalPlaying on the road at top-ranked Oregon, Jordan Williamson made good on a second chance to down the Ducks, hitting a 37-yard field goal in overtime to hand the Cardinal a thrilling 17-14 victory.

#1 - November 28, 2015 vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
Conrad Ukropina Game-Winning Field GoalStanford engineered a drive from the 27-yard line with 20 seconds remaining to set up Conrad Ukropina's 45-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Cardinal over No. 4 Notre Dame 38-36. The game-winner provided the eighth and final lead change of the contest, including the sixth of the second half.

Honorable MentionOctober 8, 2011 vs. Colorado
Max Bergen Returns Blocked Field Goal for Touchdown
Colorado lined up for a 29-yard field goal on the game's opening drive, but Will Oliver's attempt was smothered by Max Bergen coming up the middle. Bergen retrieved the ball on the run and completed a 75-yard return for a 7-0 lead.

September 8, 2012 vs. Duke
Drew Terrell 76-Yard Punt Return for a Touchdown
After the Cardinal held Duke to a three-and-out on the game's opening series, the ensuing punt was fielded by Drew Terrell at the Cardinal 24-yard line. Terrell ran right to avoid a would-be tackler and found a seam where he got a smothering block that enabled him to burst untouched down the right side to the end zone. The play covered 76 yards and set the tone for the 50-13 blowout victory.

November 7, 2013 vs. No. 2 Oregon
Jeff Trojan Recovers Two Onside Kicks
After a 12-yard fourth-down touchdown pass from Oregon cut the Stanford lead to 26-20 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Oregon attempted an onside kick that was snagged out of the air by Jeff Trojan for his second onside kick recovery of the game. The recovery allowed Stanford to run out the clock and sealed the victory over the second-ranked Ducks.

2014 Foster Farms Bowl (Maryland)
Dallas Lloyd Blocked Punt
With Stanford leading 35-7 in the third quarter, Dallas Lloyd broke through the line and blocked a Nathan Renfro punt that the Cardinal recovered at the Maryland 24. The Cardinal would go on to post a resounding 45-21 victory in the 2014 Foster Farms Bowl.

November 25, 2017 vs. No. 9 Notre Dame
Brandon Simmons/Jordan Fox Forced Fumble on Kickoff
After a Curtis Robinson interception led to a Stanford touchdown, the Cardinal forced another crucial turnover from No. 9 Notre Dame on the ensuing kickoff when Jordan Fox and Brandon Simmons hit C.J. Sanders and forced a fumble that was recovered by Malik Antoine at the Irish 18-yard line.

September 30, 2017 vs. Arizona State
Jake Bailey Fake Punt
With Stanford leading 31-17 and facing a fourth-and-3 at the Arizona State 45-yard line in the third quarter, Jake Bailey faked a punt and rushed for 17 yards and a Cardinal first down in a 34-24 victory.

December 1, 2018 at California
Jake Bailey 84-Yard Punt
Jake Bailey punted six times for 298 yards, including delivering an 84-yard punt in the waning seconds of the third quarter, as Stanford defeated California 23-13 in the 121st Big Game.

September 28, 2019 at Oregon State
Obi Eboh Blocked Field Goal
With Oregon State looking to get on the board with a 38-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, Obi Eboh burst through the line and got a hand on the kick. The Cardinal would take over at the 20-yard line and mount a touchdown drive that extended the lead to 14-0, and the blocked kick proved crucial as the Cardinal held on for a 31-28 victory.

October 17, 2019 vs. UCLA
Brycen Tremayne Recovers Spencer Jorgensen Blocked Punt for Touchdown
Trailing 14-3 nearing the end of the first quarter, Spencer Jorgensen got a hand on a Bruin punt and Brycen Tremayne recovered in the end zone to cut into the deficit