Stanford knocks UCLA from ranks of unbeaten, 24-10

UCLA can forget about that outside chance of playing for a national championship. The ninth-ranked Bruins won’t be a top-10 team as of Monday, either.

Stanford throttled the Bruins’ highly regarded offense and put shackles on UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley in a 24-10 victory in Palo Alto on Saturday afternoon.

Coming off a loss at Utah, No. 13 Stanford improved to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in Pac-12 Conference play as running back Tyler Gaffney ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns in 36 carries.

UCLA fell to 5-1 overall, 2-1 in Pac-12 Conference play.

UCLA had 265 yards in offense. The Bruins came into the game averaging 45.8 points and 547 yards a game.

Hundley had a big third quarter, but otherwise was held mostly in check. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown, with the Cardinal intercepting two of his passes.

Both Stanford interceptions came in the second half by Jordan Richards.

The Bruins also had no ground game. Fourth-string running back Malcolm Jones was the leading rusher with five carries for 30 yards. The Bruins had 74 yards rushing in 27 carries.

Stanford had 419 total yards, with quarterback Kevin Hogan completing 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, with one interception.

The score was only 3-0 at the half. The only points were put up on a 32-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina with 1:08 left in the first quarter.

The score would have been lopsided had the half not been bookended by generous breaks for the Bruins.

Stanford receiver Ty Montgomery dropped a sure 51-yard touchdown pass on Stanford’s first drive.

The Cardinal was on the move again at the end of the half. Hogan found a wide open Devon Cajuste at the UCLA six-yard line. Cajuste went to the ground for the catch, only to have the ball bounce off his hands and into the arms of Bruins cornerback Ishmael Adams with 31 seconds left.

UCLA plays at No. 2-ranked Oregon next Saturday.

Here’s a recap of the game:

Stanford 24, UCLA 10 (1:42 left in fourth quarter)

Tyler Gaffney scored on a four-yard run, putting a dagger in just about any UCLA hopes of a comeback win.

Gaffney isn’t flashy, but he’s a tough, straight-ahead runner. You don’t think much of him until you look down at your stat sheet and see that he has 171 yards in 36 carries.

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Stanford’s Jordan Richards is catching more than his fair share of Brett Hundley passes of late.

His diving interception -- his second pick of the game -- has given the Cardinal the ball at the UCLA 32 with 2:40 to play in regulation.

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UCLA doesn’t go far in three plays, which is followed by a 34-yard punt that got a good percentage of its distance from bounces.

Stanford’s ball at its own 32 with 5:32 left in regulation.

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It’s still a one possession game in Palo Alto after Stanford’s Conrad Ukropina isn’t even close on a 46-yard field-goal attempt.

Stanford leads, 17-10, with 6:24 left in regulation.

Stanford 17, UCLA 10 (14:56 left in fourth quarter)

UCLA scraps back, with quarterback Brett Hundley doing the work.

Hundley was sacked for a loss of eight yards on the first play of the drive. He then completed all eight of his passes for 75 yards, the last a three-yard touchdown strike to Shaquelle Evans.

Hundley also scrambled for six yards on a third-and-three play.

Stanford 17, UCLA 3 (3:33 left in third quarter)

Jordan Richards returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. It was wiped out by a holding call on the return.

No problem for the Cardinal

Devon Cajuste made a leaping 34-yard catch to the two-yard line on a third-and-six play. Tyler Gaffney barely made the goal line when he reached out for a one-yard touchdown run on a third-and-goal play.

UCLA has been out-cored, 14-0, in third quarter. The Bruins had outscored opponents, 71-0, in third quarter in their previous five games.

Stanford 10, UCLA 3 (7:27 left in third quarter)

The Cardinal comes right back on the will of its receivers.

First, Ty Montgomery makes a 29-yard reception, carrying six Bruins the last eight yards. Montgomery was injured on the play. No problem. His backup, Kodi Whitfield, makes a diving, one-handed 30-yard touchdown catch two plays later.

It’s the first points UCLA has given up in the third quarter this season. The Bruins had outscored opponents, 71-0, in the third quarter this season.

UCLA 3, Stanford 3 (11:08 left in third quarter)

Ka’imi Fairbairn nails a 38-yard field goal. But it could be a costly drive.

The Bruins lost two left tackles: Simon Goines and Connor McDermott were both injured on the drive.

The drive was more a two-play deal. Brett Hundley scrambled for 30 yards. The sophomore quarterback then ran 14 yards on a draw.

Stanford 3, UCLA 0 (early third quarter)

Injuries are taking a toll on the Bruins.

UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks has been taken to a Stanford hospital for tests on his kidney. Kendricks was injured in the first half.

Tackle Simon Goines has left the game with what appears to be an injured right knee. Connor McDermott, Goines replacement, has also left the game.

Stanford 3, UCLA 0 (halftime)

UCLA players walked off the field at halftime trailing Stanford, 3-0, and had to feel lucky.

It could have been much, much worse.

The Cardinal’s only score came on a 32-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina with 1:08 left in the first quarter. It came at the end of a drive during which quarterback Kevin Hogan had 25 yards rushing and 45 yards passing. The Cardinal’s momentum was disrupted by 10-yard loss on a bad pitch after getting to the UCLA 10-yard line.

The first half was bookended by generous breaks for the Bruins.

Receiver Ty Montgomery dropped a sure 51-yard touchdown pass on Stanford’s first drive. The Cardinal was on the move at the end of the half. Hogan found a wide open Devon Cajuste at the UCLA six-yard line. Cajuste went to the ground for the catch, only to have the ball bounce off his hands and into the arms of Bruins cornerback Ishmael Adams with 31 seconds left.

UCLA had only 84 total yards in the half. The Bruins were one for six on third-down conversions.

Hogan completed 12 of 18 passes for 118 yards.

Stanford 3, UCLA 0 (early second quarter)

UCLA Coach Jim Mora just passed on a 52-yard field-goal attempt from the left hash mark. He’s playing for field position. Stanford now has the ball on its own four-yard line after the punt.

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 52-yard attempt from left hash at the end of the Pac-12 Conference title game last December. Stanford won, 27-24.

Stanford 3, UCLA 0 (1:08 left in first quarter)

Which quarterback is trying to establish his Heisman Trophy credentials?

Stanford’s Kevin Hogan had 25 yards rushing and 45 yards passing on a drive that ends in a 32-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina. The only thing that stopped Stanford was a bad pitch that cost the Cardinal 10 yards on a first-and-goal play from the 10-yard line.

UCLA is fortunate not to be down by two touchdowns. Receiver Ty Montgomery dropped a sure touchdown pass on Stanford’s first drive, which resulted in a punt.

Pregame

UCLA, ranked ninth, faces No. 13 Stanford in a stratosphere game today on Foster Field at Stanford Stadium.

The last the Bruins played in a game when both teams were this highly ranked was 2005. No. 1 USC beat No. 11 UCLA, 66-19. The last time UCLA won a game where the two teams were this highly ranked was 1998, when the No. 2 Bruins beat No. 11 Oregon, 41-38, in overtime.

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn tried two kicks from the left hash mark from 53 yards out during warmups. He made both.

Fairbairn missed a 52-yarder in the rain from that same spot in the Pac-12 Conference championship game last season. Stanford won, 27-24.

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