Fresh off a stunning 30-20 home win against the Boston College Eagles, Stanford traveled to Charlottesville looking to upset another conference foe. However, the usually stalwart Stanford defense could not contain an explosive Virginia offense.
“Wasn't our best outing defensively. I know we’re better than that,” interim Stanford head coach Frank Reich admitted. “There were plays there to be made defensively that I think we would normally make.”
A week after scorching FCS school William & Mary with a program-record 700 total offensive yards, the Cavaliers offense gashed the Cardinal for 590 yards.
Virginia wide receiver Trell Harris caught three touchdown passes in the first quarter to blow the lid off the game. The high-powered Cavaliers offense—now averaging more than 45 points and 564 yards per game—moved the ball at will, scoring so many points that the stadium ran out of fireworks for touchdowns.
“We knew they had a dynamic offense coming in," Reich added. "They put up a zillion yards in the last few games. A lot of points. Running the football at a high level. Hadn’t given up a sack. Quarterback is dynamic."
While Virginia held sophomore rushing phenom Micah Ford to 44 yards on 13 carries, Ben Gulbranson had his best game of the season so far. The sixth-year transfer completed 20 of his 29 for 286 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Receivers Bryce Farrell and C.J. Williams each had more than 100 receiving yards, and Stanford’s offense showed explosive-play promise with two touchdown passes of more than 60 yards to the speedy Farrell.
“We got opportunities to make big plays down the field, and we have to capitalize when we get those. And I thought we did a good job of that tonight,” Reich said. “And that wasn’t a surprise to me because [Gulbranson] has been throwing the deep ball great in practice.”
Stanford struggled in the trenches against an experienced Virginia defensive line. The Tunnel Workers Union could not open holes and gave up five sacks to the veteran Cavaliers front seven.
“I still think the protection needs to be better, and obviously the run game has to be more consistent,” Reich said. “We can't come into a game and not run the ball and run the ball as poorly as we did today.”
Stanford will return home to prepare for the San Jose State Spartans in the Bill Walsh Rivalry Game this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT.
“We just got to look at the tape, figure out ways to get back on track defensively and then build on the positive things,” Reich said.
--Sam made me make a signature.