STANFORD — A rabbit ran onto the field during the first quarter of Saturday night’s tilt between Stanford and Oregon and took its time hopping around, delaying the game for several minutes. Making the development even more interesting, the rabbit scampered into Oregon’s end zone twice during its run, prompting wild cheering from the Stanford fans in attendance.
The rabbit managed to score twice in the quarter, but Stanford’s offense one-upped it, reaching the end zone thrice in the period. That fast start propelled the Cardinal to a dominant 49-7 win over their waddling Pac-12 rivals, who simply could not match Stanford’s offensive output on this night.
Oregon freshman Braxton Burmeister, starting at quarterback for the second straight game in place of the injured Justin Herbert, completed just three of eight passes for 23 yards. In fact, Burmeister had more yards on the ground—31 on nine attempts.
Heisman-contending running back Bryce Love was up to his usual tricks for Stanford, compiling 147 yards rushing on just 17 attempts, including a 67-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second Cardinal drive. Oregon back Royce Freeman did his best to match Love, gaining 143 yards on 18 carries. However, Love, unlike Freeman, had the support of his quarterback, as Stanford starter Keller Chryst turned in perhaps his finest performance of the season.
Chryst, whose status as QB1 has been called into question, passed for 181 yards with an efficient 15 completions in 21 attempts. Despite having platooned with backup KJ Costello in recent weeks, Chryst remained under center for the vast majority of snaps in this game, as Costello and fellow backup Ryan Burns each had just one non-garbage time snap as Stanford’s quarterback. Burns’ snap was a reception, not a pass, as he brought down wide receiver Jay Tyler’s throw off a reverse.
Stanford extended their lead to 28-7 in the second quarter after senior free safety Brandon Simmons scooped up a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown.
Despite his prolific output in the first half, Love carried just once in the second half. He limped off the field with an apparent injury and underwent treatment. He returned to the sideline later in the game, but did not return to game action.
“Bryce was great in the first half, got banged up. No reason for us to put him back in with the score the way it was, so we left him out,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said after the game. “We got a chance to see our young back, [sophomore Trevor Spieghts] get after it a little bit, which is exciting. I thought [junior Cameron Scarlett] had a nice day as well.”
The score was 28-7 when Love left, and the Cardinal scored again on the same drive he departed on, pushing the lead to 35-7.
Speights totaled 61 yards on eight carries, while Scarlett gained 35 yards with an identical pitch count.
Stanford will now have a bye before facing traveling to Corvallis, Oregon to face Oregon State on Thursday, Oct. 26. With their win and losses by Washington and Washington State this week, Stanford now moves to first in the Pac-12 North with a 4-1 conference record against Washington and Washington State’s 3-1.