STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Jay Green and Darrius Davis returned fumbles for touchdowns to help Stanford snap a four-game losing streak in the Big Game with a 31-10 victory over mistake-prone California on Saturday.
The Cardinal (4-7, 3-5 ACC) took advantage of three lost fumbles and 13 penalties by the Golden Bears (6-5, 3-4) to get their first win in the rivalry since the 2020 pandemic season and first at home since 2017.
“It’s truly amazing,” said linebacker Jahsia Galvan, who forced the second fumble return touchdown. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever been part of. True euphoria. This game with so much tradition, so much history to be able to go out and get a W and bring The Axe back to Stanford means the world to everyone that is part of the program.”
The win improved Stanford to 4-1 at home this season under interim coach Frank Reich and gave the Cardinal their most wins in a season since going 4-2 in the shortened 2020 campaign.
Stanford pulled away by scoring three times in a span of just over seven minutes starting late in the third quarter. Emmet Kenney made a 36-yard field goal after missing his first two tries to make it 17-10.
The Cardinal then quickly got the ball back when Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele fumbled a shotgun snap that was recovered by Matt Rose at the Bears’ 20. Micah Ford ran it in from 4 yards out four plays later to the delight of the Cardinal contingent in the rare big crowd of 50,039 at Stanford Stadium.
Elijah Brown then hit CJ Williams for a 34-yard touchdown to make it 31-10 with 10:01 to play.
“There were plenty of opportunities to move the ball and score touchdowns and keep them off the field. We didn’t do it.” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “We just shot ourselves in the foot way too many times.”
The loss comes one game after Cal beat No. 14 Louisville on the road for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2020 and will likley raise more questions about the job security for Wilcox, who hasn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2019.
“I understand their pain,” Wilcox said about the fan base. “I understand the frustration. We’re working as hard as we possibly can to play as good as we can and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Stanford led 14-10 at the half despite gaining only 71 yards and scoring no points on offense. Green returned Jacob De Jesus’ fumble 49 yards early in the second quarter for a TD.
The Cardinal struck again late in the half when Galvan forced a fumble by Kendrick Raphael and Davis returned it 17 yards.
“Scoring two touchdowns, are you kidding me,” Reich said. “We were struggling on offense. It’s one thing for the defense to keep you in the game while you’re struggling. It’s another thing for them to score two touchdowns and go in with a lead and you feel like you haven’t even made a first down. I just think that really kind of injected us with some confidence.”
The Takeaway
California: The Bears tied for their most penalties (13) and had their most penalty yards (128) in a game in nine seasons under Wilcox, along with the three lost fumbles in a sloppy performance.
Stanford: The Cardinal have shown good progress in the first season under general manager Andrew Luck. The win in the Big Game assures Stanford of improving its win total after four straight 3-9 seasons and will set the stage for when the new coach is hired.
Up next
California: Hosts SMU on Saturday.
Stanford: Hosts No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday.
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By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
