Stanford rallies back, holds off Oklahoma in the fourth quarter for marquee win
It looked like it was going to be a blowout as Oklahoma went down the field and scored in less than ninety seconds on the first possession and then scored on the second play of their second drive to go up 14-0 on Stanford.
Stanford coach Bubba Mack said after the game he knew his team would respond, just like they did last season in the playoffs against the eventual national champions, rallying back from a 38-17 deficit to be a two point conversion away in the fourth quarter from making it a one score game. Stanford would lose that game and with it, it season. A moral victory and valiant effort wasn't enough this time, they needed to finish it through.
Trumaine Lasike had a 61-yard touchdown run and Rodney Cookus had a 77-yard touchdown catch in the second half as Stanford completed the comeback effort and was able to hold off Oklahoma this time around, downing the Sooners 48-42 on Saturday night.
"We never blinked, we never faltered, we never wavered," said a visibly emotional Mack in his on-field interview, "Our guys stuck together, got in tight and made plays when we needed them."
The Cardinal were able to withstand the early onslaught to climb back into the game thanks to a pair of Lasike touchdown runs and a late field goal to cut the deficit to four at halftime. Stanford got the ball first and went down the field, scoring a touchdown to take the lead and their defense would hold Oklahoma scoreless in the second quarter after forcing just two stops in the first half as Stanford went up 41-28 after Lasike's 61-yard run.
The defending champions didn't go quietly, forcing a punt when Stanford had the ball and a chance to put the dagger early in the fourth quarter and Sean Cheeseman completed all five of his passes to get the ball deep in Stanford's territory where Amar'e Klecko, who missed last year's game with an injury, found the edge for the touchdown to make it a one score game.
Stanford would respond with a 77-yard strike to Cookus on third and seven from quarterback Alex Rowe who escaped the pressure and delivered a strike on the run where Cookus did the rest, pulling away from defenders for the score with eight minutes left.
Cheeseman would lead another drive to the Stanford sixteen yard line where they would go for it on fourth and two with a handoff to Klecko who was stopped short. The Cardinal then ran seven straight running plays to get io the Oklahoma 42-yard line but on fourth and three, instead of pinning Oklahoma deep, they opted to go for it on a completion to Crouse that was stopped short.
Five plays later, on fourth down, Vince Madison got behind the defense for a fifty-nine yard touchdown and his fourth of the day to make it a six point game with two minutes left but Oklahoma was unable to stop the Stanford running game who picked up five and twelve yards to convert a first down and when the Sooners sold out for the run on the other side of the two minute warning, Rowe found receiver Kyle Morrison on a simple screen pass to seal the win with a thirteen yard pickup.
The loss puts Oklahoma's playoff hopes and their chance to repeat on the ropes as they'll likely fall outside of the top fifteen heading into conference championship weekend. Scoring Summary Quarter 1 Vince Madison 2 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (10:32) Vince Madison 57 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (7:32) Trumaine Lasike, 1 Yd run (1:10)
Quarter 2 Johnny Hawkins 3 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (10:46) Anthony Masifilo, 8 Yd run (6:12) Trumaine Lasike, 1 Yd run (4:44) Vince Madison 28 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (3:07) Ben Hall, 34 Yd FG (0:51)
Quarter 3 Rashawn Course, 42 Yd run (10:33) Ben Hall, 31 Yd FG (7:09) Trumaine Lasike, 61 Yd run (2:54)
Quarter 4 Amar'e Klecko, 26 Yd run (9:12) Rodney Cookus 77 Yd pass from Alex Rowe (8:12) Vince Madison 59 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (2:10) Player Stats QB Sean Cheeseman (R-Jr): 36-48, 455 yards, 5 TD, sacked twice QB Alex Rowe (R-Soph): 16-25, 291 yards, TD, sacked once
Sports • Football The Victory Lap: Build the statue already, Florida State can't get a clue and Penn State is leaving with something Stanford running back Trumaine Lasike celebrates after one of his twenty-two touchdowns this season. (Photo: Irene Bronner/DS Photos) By Anthony Metcalf Published Dec. 4, 2030, 2:27 p.m., last updated Dec. 4, 2030, 3:03 p.m.
John Elway is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word. Toby Gerhart is a record holder. Andrew Luck is a legend. They all have their place and their own respective argument for being the best player in Stanford football history. When it's all said and done, they might pale in comparison to Trumaine Lasike.
Lasike's performance on Saturday was the latest in a long line of reasons why Stanford fans of a certain age are always going to remember him and bring up his name, even when they need a cane or are in a retirement home.
It's easy to forget that Lasike is a transfer and entered last year as the third string running back and was an afterthought for most people. He's already eclipsed last year's total where he rushed for an impressive 1,640 yards and seventeen touchdowns.
Even with those gaudy numbers, an invite to New York isn't likely which is utter woke nonsense as the current Heisman betting favorites all receivers and running backs. Instead of that tiny, bronze statue, Stanford should take matters into its own hands and erect a statue of the Olathe, Kansas native on campus, making sure his legacy never dies.
Let's also give a shoutout to receiver Richard Cookus who, even before his long touchdown, blocked three (3!) players on Rashawn Crouse's touchdown run and to linebacker Manu Toomer who had three straight pass breakups in the fourth quarter on one of those key drives that kept Oklahoma out of the endzone.
We're going to miss you, 5 and 6, and hopefully 1 returns as a redshirt junior next year.
Florida State eyeing Bubba Mack as top candidate once more
He's just not that into you, Florida State.
Mack turned down the Seminoles the first time around when he left Kennesaw State for The Farm but that's not stopping Florida State from once again tagging Mack as their top candidate to replace fired head coach Tosh Lupoi.
On3 reported last week that Stanford has an extension on the table for Mack and his staff and its widely expected that he will re-sign. Does the SEC factor maybe make it more interesting than last time? Perhaps as the future of the program is a bit uncertain at the moment. Do they stay in the ACC, somehow get the Big Ten to reconsider their stance on adding them or go back to the Pac-12 which is what the non-football sports are leaning towards?
There doesn't seem to be much smoke as Mack didn't even interview with them last time but it'll be something to monitor if nothing else.
Penn State get their get back with Ramon Creed
Stanford had fared well against Penn State in recent weeks on the recruiting trail, edging them out for four-star running back Trevon Winbush, four-star offensive tackle Carl Shakir and four-star center Jeffrey Redman.
The Nittany Lions got one, landing the pledge from four-star linebacker Ramon Creed who was a major priority for the Cardinal and their top linebacker target. The Cardinal will likely have to pivot to the transfer portal at linebacker to be able to land some high impact players to replace the loss of Toomer and Isaiah Lanovoi.
(11-1, 7-1 ACC, No. 5 CFP)
Vince Madison 2 Yd pass from Sean Cheeseman (10:32)
Trumaine Lasike, 1 Yd run (1:10)
a statue of the Olathe, Kansas native on campus, making sure his legacy never dies.