Stanford quarterback Randy Fasani, the eighth-rated passer in the country prior to Saturday’s game at Autzen Stadium, was 7-of-11 for 141 yards in the first quarter against the Ducks, leading the Cardinal on two touchdown drives.
Then Fasani injured his right knee and backup quarterback Chris Lewis injured Oregon’s hopes of a national championship.
Lewis was just 3-of-10 in the second quarter, but threw two touchdown passes in the second half to dissolve Oregon’s 23-game home-winning streak. Similarly, Lewis led the Cardinal to an upset win over then-No.6 Texas last season.
“It’s just like Texas,” Lewis said. “We gotta do it whenever we’re on the field and count on everyone out there, even if they’re new.”
As much as Lewis’ upstart secured the 49-42 win, the Stanford special teams play proved critical.
On consecutive drives early in the fourth quarter, Stanford (4-1 overall, 3-1 Pacific-10 Conference) blocked punt attempts by Oregon’s Jose Arroyo. After the second block, by Amon Gordon, Lewis hit receiver Luke Powell for a 24-yard touchdown, bringing the Cardinal within seven of the Ducks, 42-35.
From there, the game belonged to Kerry Carter.
The Stanford running back scored four touchdowns in the game, including the final two, the last coming at the 1:10 mark of the fourth.
“The Oregon streak had to end sometime; today was just our day,” Carter said.
Stanford benefited from four straight fourth-quarter drives that began in Oregon territory, two inside the Oregon 20. Carter’s last score, the game winner, was set up by a critical third-and-one failure by the Ducks.
Ahead 42-41 after Seth McEwen blocked an extra point attempt, all Oregon needed to do was run out the clock with four minutes remaining. On the Oregon 31, Harrington went back to pass and was hit by Stanford’s Tank Williams as he began to throw. The ball fell into the arms of a diving Marcus Hoover at the Oregon 33-yard line.
The rest is history.
“We didn’t steal this win, we took it,” Stanford wide receiver Teyo Johnson said. “We looked them straight in the eye and took it.”
Stanford was ranked 22nd in the nation prior to a 45-39 loss to Washington State. After the win over Oregon, the Cardinal are again ranked 22nd in the coaches’ poll.
Stanford faces its second straight fifth-ranked opponent this week at UCLA.