Stanford held Miami to a tight game but fell apart in the second half.
The Stanford defense held firm in the first half forcing punts and turnover on downs.
“Our defense the last few games against some really good offenses has come out early and stifled offenses,” head coach Frank Reich said.
After a Miami opening drive fell short with a missed field goal, the Cardinal offense aggressively marched down the field to score on a Ben Gulbranson-Caden High connection to start with an early lead of 7-0 in the first quarter.
But this would be the only Stanford score of the game.
Stanford gained 144 total yards of offense with 69 yards of those coming from its first possession. 144 yards is the fewest in a game since Oct. 14, 2006, against Arizona.
“[Miami is] good up front,” Reich said. “Good defense, good scheme. They didn’t really do anything that surprised us. We probably left a couple things out there that we could have executed better, but I give their players and coaches credit for how they performed today.”
Miami responded shortly before the end of the second half to tie the game. Then the floodgates opened. Miami had touchdowns on six of its last seven possessions with the sole stop from a failed fourth down conversion. Capitalizing on two Gulbranson picks, Miami put the game out of reach helped by 106 yards and a career-high three touchdowns from Mark Fletcher Jr.
“[Miami] got after us, they got after us real good in the second half and gave it to us,” Reich said following the game.
By garbage time in the fourth quarter, Stanford started redshirt freshman Elijah Brown, who went 3-of-5 for 39 yards. Ben Gulbranson would finish with 9-of-21 for 50 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Miami improves to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the ACC while Stanford falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the ACC. Stanford hopes to right the ship against ACC conference foe Pittsburgh this Saturday at 12:30pm PST on home turf.
“We’re going to go back to work and find ways to get better and enjoy the process,” Reich said. “That’s the thing with our guys. They’re built different.”
--Sam made me make a signature.