Takeaways: Stanford relies on freshmen to finish upset of Washington

STANFORD – Midway through the third quarter in Stanford’s 23-13 win over No. 15 Washington Saturday night, senior right guard Harry Hattis was carted off the field and replaced by true freshman Jake Hornibrook.

There would be no easing into the game. On Hornibrook’s first play, Stanford running back Cameron Scarlett ran behind the freshman as Hornibrook helped move defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and then linebacker Brandon Wellington on Scarlett’s four-yard touchdown run.

It was indicative of the Cardinal’s effort, despite being two-touchdown underdogs. For one game at least, Stanford overcame its injuries and execution issues and put together a vintage performance – dominant run game, punishing defense, opportunistic passing, and no critical mistakes.

Despite finishing with third-string quarterback Jack West and three true freshmen on the offensive line – Hornibook, the brother of former Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook, was joined by classmates Walter Rouse at left tackle and Barrett Miller at left guard– the Cardinal imposed their will with former workhorse back Tyler Gaffney looking on from the sideline.

“Called Tyler Gaffney this week and told him I wanted him up here,” Cardinal coach David Shaw said. “This was going to be an attitude game, and couldn’t think of a better person to come talk to the team and he was awesome, and our guys played like that. And I recounted, you know, coaching Tyler with our guys, and talked about doing your job, but playing with some confidence and swagger also.”

Here were the biggest takeaways as Stanford evened their record at 3-3 (2-1 in the Pac-12) heading into an open week and kept Washington (4-2, 1-2) winless on The Farm since Jake Locker led the Huskies to victory in 2007.

SCARLETT BREAKS THROUGH

After running for 97 yards against both Northwestern and Oregon and 92 against Oregon State, Scarlett crashed through the 100-yard barrier for the first time, running for 151 yards on 33 carries.

“Yeah, I knew today was going to be the day,” Scarlett said. “I’ve been sick and tired of rushing for 90 yards, the 92, 97; I see that. I wanted to get over a hundred for sure.”

Even when the Huskies knew he would get the ball late in the fourth quarter, he carried nine straight times for 29 yards, gaining two critical first downs and running more than five minutes off the clock.

“Cam Scarlett just played a lot like Tyler today,” Shaw said. “Not that he has to be like him. He’s his own man. He’s gotten better and better. He’s playing the best football of his career right now. Just hand the ball to him repeatedly against loaded boxes when they knew we were running the ball. Broke tackles. Finished runs physically.”

And Scarlett’s best play may have been one when he didn’t even get the ball. On Stanford’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko, Scarlett picked up a safety blitz to allow the play to develop.

“Can’t say enough about where Cam Scarlett is right now,” Shaw said. “Just playing such great football.”

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE

The days of giving up 45 points to USC and Central Florida seem long gone. Despite playing without linebacker Jordan Fox, who showed up on the sideline Saturday with his left leg in a boot, the defense got good pressure on the quarterback and didn’t give up big plays in holding Washington to a season-low 13 points.

They also helped set the offense up for success. Gabe Reid sacked Washington QB Jacob Eason for an 18-yard loss on third down in the third quarter, forcing a punt and getting Stanford the ball at the Washington 47. The Cardinal eventually scored a touchdown to go up 20-10.

In the fourth quarter, pressure by linebacker Curtis Robinson forced a desperation throw by Eason that freshman Kyu Blu Kelly picked off at the Washington 40 for his first collegiate interception. That led to a Jet Toner field goal that made it 23-13 with 8:04 remaining.

Paulson Adebo shook off a long completion against him on the first drive of the game to finish with four pass break-ups, including a critical break-up on a fourth-and-2 slant pass from the Stanford 13 with the Cardinal only up 13-10.

QB CAROUSEL

Hattis appeared to suffer Stanford’s most serious injury. But quarterback Davis Mills also was unable to finish the game, coming out midway through the fourth quarter to ice his left leg. Mills has a history of knee injuries, and Shaw didn’t have an update immediately after the game.

It was a premature end to an otherwise great game for the redshirt sophomore, who was making his third career start in place of starter K.J. Costello, who was out for the second straight week with an injured thumb.

Mills went 21 for 30 for 293 yards and a touchdown, showing comfort in the pocket and avoiding mistakes. He ran three times for 26 yards and didn’t commit a turnover or get sacked.

He connected with nine different receivers but his favorite targets were Michael Wilson (six catches for 51 yards) and Fehoko (three catches for 91 yards). The 42-yard touchdown pass five minutes into the second quarter was a career-long for both players, and was the freshman receiver’s first score.

Redshirt freshman Jack West played the final 10 minutes. He didn’t throw a pass, though Shaw said that was because Stanford was nursing the lead and not because he wasn’t confident in his quarterback.

CONFIDENCE BUILDER

Stanford’s 10-year bowl streak appeared to be in jeopardy during the first three-game losing streak of the Shaw era. But a last-second game-winning field goal at Oregon State last week was a step in the right direction, and now Saturday’s win shows Stanford is capable of beating anyone left on its schedule.

“We knew that people wouldn’t understand that we could take the field against a good team like this with the confidence that we had but we know what we’re capable of,” Shaw said. “We just haven’t reached it yet on game day.”

Now Stanford gets to rest before hosting 1-5 UCLA on a Thursday night game on Oct. 17.

“It’s satisfying but by no means are we satisfied,” Scarlett said. “It felt good to get the win – we’ll celebrate it for the night. We needed that. We’re going to build on it and start stacking wins.”