Takeaways: Stanford finds offense with return of K.J. Costello

STANFORD – K.J. Costello is back. So is Stanford’s offense.

Costello completed passes to 12 different players and produced Stanford’s first 300-yard passing game of the season as the Cardinal defeated Arizona 41-31 Saturday afternoon at Stanford Stadium

The Cardinal (4-4, 3-3 Pac-12) entered Saturday averaging 20.0 points per game, 115th in the FBS. But Costello returned for the first time since injuring his thumb five weeks ago against Oregon, completing 30 of 43 passes for 312 yards and three TDs.

Stanford broke a 31-31 tie midway through the third quarter on a 14-yard fade pass from Costello to Simi Fehoko, and added a 21-yard field goal by freshman Ryan Sanborn with 6:18 to play to beat Arizona (4-4, 2-3) for the fifth straight time.

After the first three-game losing streak of the David Shaw era, the Cardinal have now won 3 of 4 heading into an open week, followed by a game at Colorado on Nov. 9.

“People outside our building can panic,” Shaw said. “Fans can panic. Alumni can panic. That’s fine. We don’t. We trust what we do. It’s been very, very successful here.”

Here is what was successful against Arizona:

COSTELLO RETURNS

A game-time decision, Costello was given the start after he was able to grip the football and throw during pre-game warmups.

“It seems like it’s been an eternity, man,” Costello said.

He didn’t show any rust, hitting Fehoko for a 39-yard catch on the first series and leading the Cardinal to the end zone on four of Stanford’s first five possessions. And it wasn’t just Costello’s play on the field. The two-year captain also fired up the Cardinal with his presence.

“Felt his energy, felt his passion, pushing guys, talking to them, giving us great feedback coming from the field,” Shaw said. “Can’t say enough about the juice that he gave us as a player and as a leader for us.”

OTHER PIECES

An offensive line with three true freshman starters kept a clean pocket and ensured Costello wasn’t sacked, while Cameron Scarlett had 19 carries for 102 yards and two TDs.

“We didn’t think their line was going to be that good,” Arizona linebacker Tristan Cooper said. “They came out balling. They’re better on the field than they are on film.”

A 6-3 receiver who has been clocked at 4.3 seconds in the 40, Fehoko had a breakout game, adding a 44-yard touchdown from a quarterback he first played with at the Army All-American Bowl when they were high school seniors.

“During the season I’ve rushed myself, but today it finally slowed down,” Fehoko said.

Redshirt freshman Brycen Tremayne had a 1-handed catch in the back of the end zone – both of his career receptions have been for touchdowns – and Connor Wedington (seven catches, 61 yards), Michael Wilson (six catches, 45 yards) and Colby Parkinson (five catches, 68 yards) consistently got yards after contact.

“I felt that when we, our offense, was playing the best football in the last two years, it was taking what the defense gives us,” Costello said. “Being able to run the ball is big time, but also being able to dink and dunk and go over the top, kind of have a full complexion of an offense is what we want to do.”

Sanborn, who was replacing the injured Jet Toner, connected from 33 and 21 yards in his first collegiate field goal attempts, while also handling kickoffs and keeping his regular punting duties.

DEFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS

Khalil Tate threw for 205 and ran for 103 yards for Arizona (4-4, 2-3), which scored touchdowns on four of its first seven drives but was held scoreless for the final 24 minutes.

The biggest change in the second half came from junior cornerback Paulson Adebo, who received a game ball from Shaw for the first time.

Arizona tied the game at 31-31 on the first drive of the third quarter when Drew Dixon caught a back-shoulder throw over Adebo for a 9-yard touchdown. But Adebo responded with two fourth-quarter interceptions, doubling his season total and providing the only two turnovers in the game.

“That’s what big time corners do,” Shaw said. “You take too many chances on them, they’re going to get in position, and they’re going to make plays, and he was big time today.”

Adebo’s first interception came when he anticipated an out route and stepped in front of the receiver, and the second came in the Stanford end zone in the final minute when he didn’t bite on a double move.

Arizona was also kept off the board in the fourth quarter when, on third-and-11 from the Stanford 22, backup QB Grant Gunnell was pressured by tackle Michael Williams and stripped by end Thomas Booker, resulting in a 24-yard loss.

LOOKING AHEAD

It’s easy to wonder what would have happened if Costello didn’t suffer an apparent head injury in the season opener. Still, Stanford is back on pace for a postseason trip, needing two wins against Colorado, Washington State, and Cal – teams that entered Saturday with a combined conference record of 3-10 – followed by the annual meeting with Notre Dame.

Stanford’s offense has a good chance to continue its momentum against Colorado (3-5, 1-4), which has allowed every opponent to score at least 30 points this season.