“Second of all, really…the biggest difference…was just the knowledge of all the blocking schemes, of all the plays, and knowing who he is reading”, Shaw said. They claimed there would be no bowing down to the Cardinal, no giving in against Stanford’s methodical and bruising ways.
Advertisement
McCaffrey and Stanford did everything Saturday but shut the lights out at Levi’s Stadium.
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan prepares to pass against Southern California during the first quarter of a Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif.
McCaffrey rushed 32 times for 207 yards, including a 50 yard run. He has three Rose Bowl appearances and also led the Cardinal to the Fiesta Bowl.
USC scored one more time on a 12-yard keeper by Kessler with 12:29 to play, bringing the Trojans within 27-22, but USC’s own attempt to throw to the quarterback failed on the 2-point conversion.
“He’s a mismatch nightmare”, Helton said. It was not until the USC game week three that Stanford realized the potential of McCaffrey.
“What doesn’t he do?” USC linebacker Su’a Cravens said rhetorically.
Any time somebody is saying you’ve broken records set by players named Reggie Bush and Barry Sanders, you know you’re special. “In my opinion, he should win the Heisman”.
David Shaw, Stanford coach, your thoughts on an 8-team playoff? “It’s not even a debate….What Christian has done is phenomenal…He could still play another quarter if we had to”. With the wide receivers coach considered an up-and-coming prospect and exceptional recruiter, the possibility of him leaving USC for a promotion elsewhere could be blocked with the offer of a promotion in Los Angeles.
Palmer won the 2002 Heisman Trophy at USC, where he set 21 school and conference records. “I would love to go”.
On Saturday, McCaffrey ran for a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass and caught a touchdown pass, and his 67-yard reception in the third quarter was the pivotal play of the game.
“We were out of our element (emotionally)”, he said. “We don’t come out fast at the beginning of the game and then sometimes it’s just too late”. In those two games the Cardinals averaged less than 20 points per game.
That something is a USC effort that withstood an early Stanford barrage with two goal-line stands, keeping the score at 13-0 when a blowout was on the brink.
“I reminded them in that locker room just to remember what this pain feels like, because it’s our goal next year to be right back here next year, and I want them to remember how bad this hurts”, Helton said.
Michigan State 16, Iowa 13: In essentially a playoff play-in game, the Spartans embarked on an epic 22-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up 9 minutes and 4 seconds before scoring the winning touchdown on L.J. Scott’s 1-yard run with 27 seconds left.
Blake Martinez, playing with a bum ankle, then sacked Kessler and caused a fumble on the next possession that Thomas scooped up and ran in for the score that made it 27-16.
“Defensively we knew we were going to have to make a game-breaking play”.
Kessler answered by running for a touchdown that cut the deficit to five points before McCaffrey all but sealed the victory with another touchdown catch.
Advertisement
“You see that flash of lightning and the kid explodes through the hole”, Shaw said.
