BERKELEY, Calif. — Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and led No. 6 Stanford to scores on all eight possessions he played as the Cardinal beat California 48-14 for its most lopsided victory in the Big Game in 80 years.
Luck came into this rivalry game looking to avenge the worst performance of his career in last year’s loss against the Golden Bears, when he completed 10 of 30 passes and threw a game-sealing interception deep in Cal territory with just over a minute left.
Boy, did he do that, giving Stanford (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) just its second victory in the past nine games against Cal (5-6, 3-5). The Cardinal did it in emphatic fashion, 28 years to the day after being stunned on this same field by The Play.
Luck made sure there would be no dramatic finishes this time. He carved up the Pac-10’s top-ranked defenseand tied Cal’s record set in 1975 for the most points scored in the rivalry.
Luck led the Cardinal on touchdown drives of 95, 86, 90 and 61 yards in the first half. He threw touchdown passes to Zach Ertz and Doug Baldwin and bowled over safety Sean Cattouse on a 58-yard run that set up Stanford’s first touchdown.
Luck also engineered touchdown drives on the first two drives of the second half, then led the Cardinal to a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Luck completed 16 of 20 passes for 235 yards and added 72 yards on the ground.
In another game, Ryan Katz threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns while Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 128 yards and another touchdown to lead Oregon State (5-5, 4-3) to a 36-7 victory over visiting Southern California (7-4, 4-4). Mitch Mustain (Springdale) took over for USC in the second half after starterMatt Barkley sprained his left ankle. He finished 8 of 17 passing for 60 yards and had three carries for seven yards rushing.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Wyoming wins shutout
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Alvester Alexander rushed for a school-record five touchdowns and 147 yards on 23 carries as Wyoming beat Colorado State 44-0 in the Border War rivalry game on Saturday.
Wyoming (3-9, 1-7 Mountain West) snapped a six-game losing streak.
The Rams (3-9, 2-6) were held to 162 yards of offense. Wyoming defensive end Josh Biezuns had 3 1/2 sacks.
The Cowboys led 23-0 at halftime thanks to two Alexander touchdowns, a scoring run by quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels and a field goal.
In another game, Jake Heaps threw two touchdown passes to Cody Hoffman and ran for another touchdown as host BYU (6-5, 5-2) earned bowl eligibility with a 40-7 victory over New Mexico (1-10, 1-6).
WESTERN ATHLETIC Nevada wins rout
RENO, Nev. - Vai Taua ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and scored a third on a 79-yard pass to lead No. 18 Nevada past New Mexico State 52-6.
Colin Kaepernick completed 15 of 27 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third for the Wolf Pack (10-1, 4-1 WAC).
Freshman Andrew Manley completed 19 of 39 passes for 220 yards for the Aggies (2-9, 1-6). But Nevada’s defense held New Mexico State to 89 yards rushing, had six sacks and two interceptions. The last one was returned 90 yards for a touchdown by Khalid Wooten with 5:17 left in the game.
In another game, Eric Greenwood scored two touchdowns in the first half and Deonte Jackson (Warren) scored twice in the second half to push visiting Idaho (5-6, 2-4) past Utah State 28-6. Derrvin Speight ran for 83 yards to lead the Aggies (4-7, 2-4).
Sports, Pages 34 on 11/21/2010