The Cardinal almost came back and won this one, but their ultimate loss makes it four years in a row with a 3-9 record. Two under former head coach David Shaw which finally led to his “retirement,” and two under new head coach Troy Taylor. In spite of his background as a solid quarterback coach and offensive play caller Stanford just seems dead in the water, 111th out of 134 schools in points-per-game at 22.1 and 117th in points allowed at 33.6. In this 34-31 loss to the Spartans they allowed right at their average if you round it up.
The stories of this game book are encased in a hardcover of interceptions—one to start the game and one to finish with another interception and a fumble returned for touchdown in between. San Jose State had a golden opportunity handed to them right at the beginning of the game when Stanford got the ball first and threw an interception just three plays in. But they couldn’t capitalize and with the do-over granted to them by their defense the Cardinal were more successful the second go-around and were able go out to a 3-0 lead on an Emmet Kenny 24 yard field goal 12 plays and 65 yards later. Neither team scored on their next possession but three minutes into the 2nd Qtr the Spartans would come 96 yards down the field in just seven plays to take a 7-3 lead on a 20 yard TD pass by their Junior QB Walker Eget to Senior WR Nick Nash.
Stanford would take the ball and throw up their second interception of the game two plays later just nine yards outside their own red zone. This time San Jose State wouldn’t waste any time or squander the opportunity, scoring on another Eget to Nash TD pass to make it 14-3 with over five minutes left in the half. Fourteen plays and seventy-five yards later the Cardinal would close the gap on a 12 yard TD pass by Junior QB Ashton Daniels to his Freshman WR Emmett Mosley V to make it 14-10 with less than a minute left. The Spartans would use all of it to make it down to the Stanford 28 yard line where Senior Place Kicker Kyler Halverson would connect on a 45 yard field goal with time expiring to make it 17-10 at the break.
The Spartans got the ball to start the second half and just five plays later—aided by Stanford pass interference, offsides, and roughing the passer penalties—would find themselves in the end zone again on another Eget TD pass, this one 19 yards to Senior WR Justin Lockhart to go up 24-10. The Cardinal would close to within a TD on Junior QB Justin Lamson’s 1 yard run into the end zone from a wildcat formation nine plays later to make it 24-17. San Jose State would make it a two score game with a field goal 10 plays and 58 yards later—now 27-17 with five minutes left in the third. At this point it seemed as though the Spartans had this game in hand, especially with all the help they received earlier from Stanford. But with similar help from a different source the worm would turn and Stanford would take a 37-21 lead after a San Jose State fumble returned for TD followed up by an interception on their next possession just 18 yards outside their red zone which turned into another TD just five plays later.
Four points down and sitting 4th and 6 on the Stanford 15 yard line the Spartans went for it but had to turn the ball back over to the Cardinal. With the ball, a four point lead, and well under four minutes to play Stanford was in a position to win the game if they could move the chains and keep possession. Starting at their own 15 yard line Cardinal QB Ashton Daniels kept the ball on first down and ran it for 8 yards. Now 2nd and 2. He ran it on 2nd down as well for no gain. Now 3rd and 2 at their own 23 yard line he attempted a pass that was intercepted by Junior Offensive Back Isiah Revis. Superstitious Note: Never throw near anyone with the last name of Revis—check your football history. Anyway, three plays later San Jose State took a 34-31 lead on an 18 yard TD pass from Eget to Sophomore WR Treyshun Hurry. With under two minutes left the Stanford offense bogged down 4th and 6 at their own 43 yard line and had to turn the ball back over to the Spartans who were aided in running the clock out with a Cardinal unsportsmanlike penalty and automatic first down. No more reviews of Stanford games for me until they head for Hawaii next August.