Stanford Proves Too Much for Punchless Oregon, 33-13

To Stanford Coach Dennis Green, it was great defense. To Oregon Coach Rich Brooks, it was lousy offense.

Whatever the reason, Stanford kept its bowl hopes alive and Oregon’s season continued its downhill slide Saturday as the Cardinal beat the Ducks, 33-13.

“Our defense really set the stage for us,” Green said. “Oregon challenged us and we met that challenge. We’re pleased about that.”

Steve Stenstrom passed for three touchdowns and Oregon’s punchless offense managed only a pair of field goals until the final 44 seconds as the Cardinal won its fourth in a row.

“We just keep making too many negative plays,” Brooks said. “We are our own worst enemy it seems.”

Stanford, 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference, broke the game open with two touchdowns in a 2:35 span in the third quarter.

Oregon (3-5, 1-4) had kept the game close with strong defense, but Stenstrom and flanker Jon Pinckney combined for a 54-yard scoring play to make it 19-6 with 6:46 left in the quarter.