White Blanks Cardinal 15-0 In Annual Spring Football Game

April 29, 2000

STANFORD, Calif. -- Randy Fasani completed nine-of-13 passes for 107 yards and ran for one touchdown in leading the White team to a 15-0 victory over the Cardinal Stanford's annual Spring Football Game held today at Stanford Stadium.

Fasani, a senior from Del Oro, California, is battling senior Joe Borchard for the starting quarterback spot in 2000. Borchard played the first two quarters of the spring game before changing uniforms for Stanford's baseball game vs. California. Borchard is the team's starting right fielder and today was the second of a three game series with the Bears. Borchard, from Camarillo, California, has split his time between baseball and football the past three weeks during spring football practice.

"We came into the spring with some obvious holes to fill," said Cardinal head coach Tyrone Willingham. "and in some areas we got closer. Today's game was an opportunity for some of our young players to gain experience in a game-like setting. Did we take a step in the right direction - yes. Are we there yet - absolutely not," he said.

Fasani, quarterbacking the White club, led his team to touchdowns on the first two drives of the game. He took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on 11 plays, capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-goal play. Fasani went four-for-four on the drive for 62 yards, including a 43-yarder to sophomore wide receiver Luke Powell (Smyrna, Tenn.)

After the White defense forced the Borchard-led Cardinal to punt after three plays, Fasani then drove his team 47-yards on nine plays. Sophomore running back Justin Faust (Arlington, Tex.) scored on a one-yard run. On the drive, Faust carried the ball four times for 30 yards.

Borchard completed both of his pass attempts for 13 yards, but could not mount a drive against the White defense. He left after two quarters to play in the Cardinal's Pac-10 baseball game with Cal.

"Our depth chart before today's game at quarterback was Borchard, Fasani and (Chris) Lewis," said Willingham. "I think all three showed signs today of their talent. Our decision on who will start is the same process as its been the past fews year s - and that's to find the best guy and put him on the field in our first game. I think Joe got a great deal out of spring practice, despite the fact that he was not there all the time. He was able to to create some opportunities to get some quarterback work. If he was only playing baseball, it would be different," said Willingham.

The only other scoring in the game occurred in the fourth quarter when the Cardinal team, in punt formation, snapped the ball out of the end zone, giving the white team a safety.

"There were five major areas we wanted to improve upon this spring," said Willingham. "We wanted to solidify our offensive line, improve the depth at our receiving corps with the loss of Troy Walters, Dave Davis and Tafiti Uso and improve at linebacker, in our punt game and with our quarterbacks. I think we improved in all areas and made progress. But, we're not there yet," he said.

Defensively, ILB Anthony Gabriel and safety Colin Branch of the Cardinal team led all tacklers with seven tackles each. DE Austin Lee had four tackles and one pass break up for the White team, which also had quarterback sacks by Travis Pfeiffer, Greg Albrecht, Drew Caylor and Matt Leonard.

DeRonnie Pitts, second-team All-Pac-10 a year ago, had three receptions for 13 yards while Powell led all receivers with four catches for 72 yards. Junior Brian Allen carried the ball nine times for 32 yards while sophomore Kerry Carter led all runners with 10 carries for 54 yards.