SANTA CLARA, Calif. – USC linebacker Su’a Cravens is a special athlete.
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McCaffrey was the spectacular and enormous difference in seventh-ranked Stanford’s 41-22 victory that will send the Cardinal to the Rose Bowl.
Stanford’s 12 games against Power Five conference competition had the Cardinal in the playoff conversation despite carrying two losses.
In the second quarter of the Pac-12 Championship on Saturday, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey surpassed Barry Sanders’ all time all-purpose yards record that has been unbreakable for 27 years.
Not that it was a total success for Stanford coach David Shaw. “I don’t know if there is any question”. “There is nobody in the nation doing what he’s doing”. He said. “It’s not even a debate”.
McCaffrey was named the game’s most valuable player after he rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, threw a score to quarterback Kevin Hogan and returned the favor by connecting with the fifth-year senior for one in the air. Stanford will either play in the Rose Bowl as Pac-12 champion or possibly make the four-team playoff if No. 1 Clemson loses the ACC championship. “We’re not in charge of that”.
The Trojans received the opening possession of the second half and capitalized, driving 65 yards in seven plays for a one-yard touchdown connection between Kessler and Jaheel Pinner to slice the deficit to 13-9. After blowing an early 13-point lead, the Cardinal faced a third-down in their own territory.
Yeah, Deshaun Watson is good and Derrick Henry is nothing to sneer at, but it’s the forgotten running back from the West Coast who is the most outstanding player in college football this season, and it’s not close. Kessler was sacked by Blake Martinez forcing a fumble that led to a defensive touchdown by Solomon Thomas for 34-yards making it a 27-16 game. “He catches the ball in the back field, makes guys miss, and takes it to the house, and rush the ball inside and on the edge and really score with any play they draw for him”.
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.
McCaffrey collected 155 rushing yards and 244 all-purpose yards in the first half, which ended with Stanford leading 13-3.McCaffrey even led the Cardinal in passing yardage in the first half with 11 yards, and Hogan was the Cardinal top receiver with 11 yards.
McCaffrey had 461 all-purpose yards en route to beating the single season NCAA record previously held by Barry Sanders, while the Stanford defense was just as stout through most of the night.
“That’s a guy I had posters on my wall of growing up”, McCaffrey said. “But he definitely has a chip on his shoulder that people don’t take him as seriously as he deserves”.
After being thoroughly outplayed for the first 25 minutes, the Trojans got right back into the game with three straight scoring drives.
Stanford leads USC, 13-3, at the half.
Cody Kessler threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for the Trojans (8-5, No. 20 CFP), who lost in their first game since removing the interim tag from coach Clay Helton. In the Pac-12 Championship Game, he took it to a whole new level by racking up over 100 yards rushing, receiving and returning along with a touchdown rushing, receiving and passing. Meanwhile, the defense looked superb, holding Stanford to just a field goal after keeping them out of the end zone during a tough goal line stand.
Helton earned the job in part because of a return to physical football, but the Trojans were steamrollered by Stanford in the first half.
Yes, McCaffrey contributed here too with a touchdown pass on a reverse to Hogan.
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“That’s a huge honor”, McCaffrey said. “Those are the scariest ones when he’s that wide open you’re praying that you can get it to him”.
