Late Flurry Helps Stanford Win : Nonconference: San Jose State within 16-7 when onside kick fails, and Cardinal pulls away to a 37-13 victory.

Some defensive wizardry and an onside kick that went backward finally gave the staggering Stanford offense a jump start in Saturday’s 37-13 victory over San Jose State.

Steve Stenstrom’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Justin Armour began a 21-point fourth-quarter flurry that allowed the 19th-ranked Cardinal to pull away for its third consecutive victory and first over the Spartans since 1988.

Stanford smothered a Spartan offense that had scored 77 points in two previous games, registering four sacks and forcing five turnovers, including a career-high three interceptions by Jeff Garcia.

“They were coming after him and they beat him,” San Jose State Coach Ron Turner said. “Stanford has the best pass rush in the country.”

Vaughn Bryant returned the first of the interceptions 28 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter. Eric Abrams also kicked field goals of 33, 28, and 29 yards for Stanford (3-1).

“Defensively, we’re playing as well as anybody in college football,” Stanford Coach Bill Walsh said. “But on offense, we’re continuing to misfire.”

The Spartans (2-2) scored on Troy Jensen’s 95-yard return of Glyn Milburn’s fumble to pull within 16-7 with 10:24 remaining.

San Jose State tried an onside kick, but Joe Nedney’s boot rolled backward. Stanford took over at the Spartan 33, and three plays later Stenstrom passed to Armour over the middle.

Donald Lindsey fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 26, and Milburn finished off a two-play drive with a 12-yard run. Stanford then forced a San Jose State punt, which Milburn returned 33 yards to the Spartan 20. Five plays later, Ethan Allen scored on a five-yard run.