Pacific 10 Roundup : Stanford Rallies From 17-0 Deficit, Defeats Oregon in Final Seconds

Denny Green’s first victory as head coach of Stanford, a last-second upset of 22nd-ranked Oregon at Stanford, was as sweet as any he had with his last team, the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.

Sure, it was only the third game of the Pacific 10 season. But after losing his first two games on the road, getting the 18-17 victory on a 37-yard field goal by John Hopkins had Green gushing. The Cardinal had trailed, 17-0.

It was Stanford’s biggest comeback since the 1978 Bluebonnet Bowl, when the Cardinal recovered from a 22-0 first-half deficit to beat Georgia, 25-22. Green was an assistant under Stanford Coach Bill Walsh in that game, their last at Stanford before going to the 49ers.

“If there’s ever a time for a homecoming to a place you love, this is it,” Green said. “Everybody needs a game like this. There is nothing like letting the clock tick down to those final seconds--and winning.”

Stanford’s revival began when Brian Johnson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Gary Taylor with 7 minutes 19 seconds left.

After stopping Oregon, Stanford mounted a 61-yard touchdown drive despite a shoulder injury to Johnson that forced him to leave the game.

Johnson had taken the Cardinal to the Oregon 24 when he was hurt on a sack. Redshirt freshman Steve Smith, who had lost his starting job to Johnson this week, ran for 11 yards, completed three passes and leaped over from inside the one for a touchdown.

Smith then lofted a pass to Scott Eschelman for a two-point conversion that cut Oregon’s lead to 17-15.

On the kickoff, Hopkins bounced an onside kick that Stanford’s Cory Booker recovered on the Cardinal 49.

Smith took the Cardinal to the Oregon 20, and Stanford let the clock run down to five seconds. As the seconds ticked away, Smith took the snap and held for Hopkins, who kicked the 37-yarder.

Washington State 29, Wyoming 23--Paul Carr’s two-yard touchdown plunge with 49 seconds to play capped a furious comeback by the 19th-ranked Cougars, who escaped with a victory at Laramie, Wyo.

The victory kept Washington State perfect through four games. Wyoming fell to 1-3.

California 20, Wisconsin 14--A fake punt by California in the fourth quarter propelled the Golden Bears to a victory in their home opener. Clinging to a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, Cal lined up to punt, but Brad Edgar snapped the ball to tight end Brent Woodall, who ran 18 yards for a first down.

On the next play, Woodall caught a 21-yard pass from quarterback Mike Pawlawski, and the Bears scored on a three-yard run.

Oregon State 37, Boise State 30--Oregon State’s Nick Schichtle hit wide receiver Jason Kent with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 remaining to cap a 93-yard drive in the closing minutes of a game at Boise, Ida.

The Big Sky’s I-AA Broncos, guided by reserve quarterback Mike Virden, had rallied to tie the game with 3:57 remaining.

Virden, who came on in the third quarter, threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 290-yard passing performance in his 22 minutes of playing time. His 15-yard touchdown pass to running back David Kingstad closed the deficit to 30-28 and a two-point run by Darrin Lyle tied the score.