Defense carries Stanford to 37-14 win at Notre Dame
So, about that offensive shootout...
The final score might not show it, but the Stanford defense keyed today's 37-14 win, which snapped a 7-game losing streak in South Bend. The Stanford defense and Nate Whitaker's right leg, to be more precise. Whitaker, a former Notre Dame walk-on, booted a career-high five field goals on five attempts.
Andrew Luck had a shaky (by his standards) afternoon. The junior redshirt sophomore threw his first two interceptions of the season--both on tipped passes--after a hot start, but the Cardinal defense kept the Fighting Irish out of the end zone until the game was well in hand.
Shayne Skov was an absolute beast in the first half, Chase Thomas made a huge fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter when the outcome was still in doubt, and two-way standout Owen Marecic scored a pair of touchdowns--on a 1-yard run and an interception return--13 seconds apart to seal the win.
Check back later tonight for more thoughts on this one. In the meantime, go celebrate Stanford's first 4-0 start in 24 years!
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Not to nitpick but Luck is still considered a RS Soph isnt he?
Kudos to both OL/DL lines………All the ST Units…….and Taylor.
Just imagine if the Red Zone offense was better………….It coulda been 51-14 or so.
June Jones is my daddy.
by norcaliangelsfan on Sep 25, 2025 4:31 PM PDT reply actions
Thanks, fixed.
Let’s hope he uses at least one more year of that eligibility after this season.
by Scott Allen on Sep 25, 2025 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Gaffney
Didn’t get to see the game. Had to follow it on gametracker on my bberry while in Austin watching my Horns (my grad school) get trounced. Were there any injuries today? I noticed Gaffney’s name didn’t come up much as the game went on. Just riding Taylor’s hot hand?
by cardhorn on Sep 25, 2025 4:42 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Gaffney had an ankle issue I think.........
didnt matter though Taylor had the hot hand to pick up the slack.
June Jones is my daddy.
by norcaliangelsfan on Sep 25, 2025 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't celebrate yet
Not as long as the Axe is in the hands of Cal weenies who don’t know the joy of spelling Stanford correctly or admit when their player’s knee was down, even if he did get away with it. Before Harbaugh arrived, I had to turn my back on my feelings about this. But now, slowly I turn, and the Axe soon will go right in their resentful necks once more, at least in the fantasy world of 19th-century cheers. Thanks, Jim. Thanks, Herbert Hoover. You’re not all my kind of people, but you are family. I went to Stanford on full scholarship, you Cal weenies. Your resentful stereotypes just proclaim your ignorance and pettiness.
At Stanford, no one is petty about doling out revenge. It’s either absolute forgiveness or a real pounding, don’t spare the 2-point conversion. The boys need the practice. That’s the Stanford way. I like it. Every insult from Cal trolls just makes “The Dirty Golden Bear” go off in my head. What a great song. Maybe I’ll post the lyrics when I’m ready to celebrate.
I can wait and see if Harbaugh really is the best Stanford coach I’ve ever seen, which starts with John Ralston, assuming he doesn’t run off to another job. If he does, I might try voodoo. There’s only so much one can forgive.
by playingwithinmyself on Sep 25, 2025 6:05 PM PDT reply actions
Jeez I thought you guys were analyzing your win over ND?
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Sep 25, 2025 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Really happy with the defense
especially through the air. It’s good to see that this team doesn’t need to be carried by one side of the ball.
A's Fan in Sweden
"Some of us know him as the a-hole who piled into Ray Fosse in an All-Star game (it's why Ray is the way he is folks)" - OptimistPrime
by travdog6 on Sep 25, 2025 6:45 PM PDT reply actions
You know, this wasn’t Luck’s most impressive game, but he still looked damn good overall. If he doesn’t convert some of those 3rd and longs early on, the Irish could’ve hung on for a lot longer… the whole momentum of the game could’ve been different. I still thought this was a very impressive outing for him.
But the defense was definitely the shining star of the game… well, the defense and Owen Marecic anyway. And the UCLA win at Texas makes the Stanford smackdown of the Bruins at the Rose Bowl look a lot more impressive. Wouldn’t be a shock at all if the Cardinal shot up the rankings this week.
Random thought of the game: Teo, at times, looked like the best player on the field for the Irish… I wonder if he regrets that he chose South Bend over Palo Alto? I know I would…
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Sep 25, 2025 7:20 PM PDT reply actions
Well all I know is the defense is gonna have to bring this "A" effort against the Ducks........
thats one dang good offense.
Plus a solid running game and Luck on point wouldnt hurt either. :-)
June Jones is my daddy.
by norcaliangelsfan on Sep 25, 2025 11:05 PM PDT reply actions
An amazing win
Considering the passing offense looked a bit off, to thrash them so handily is truly amazing. Let’s hope Gaffney and Michael Thomas come back soon. Both would be a huge loss. One article I saw estimated 3 weeks for R. Whalen.
by Gus Zernial on Sep 26, 2025 4:47 PM PDT reply actions
Well done
Not out of conference loyalty, but out of entertainment at any team giving Notre Dame a good working over.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
by DC Trojan on Sep 26, 2025 10:33 PM PDT reply actions
I support this notion...
and still wish y’all would have dropped 50 on them.
"It's like a World Cup game out there with the fans and the injuries." --Chip Kelly re:ASU
by M. Fletcher on Sep 26, 2025 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions
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