With just 2:05 left in the fourth quarter and hanging onto a 13-9 lead, the UCLA Bruins had a 90 percent chance of winning Saturday’s game in the Rose Bowl.
But don’t tell that to Stanford head coach David Shaw.
After electing to punt the ball with just over four minutes to go in the game and down 13-9, Shaw trusted that his defense would get the job done. They didn’t let him down as the offense got the ball back and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 24 seconds to play to give the 7th-ranked Cardinals a 22-13 victory.
With the win, Stanford beat UCLA for the ninth consecutive time.
With no timeouts, Stanford quarterback Ryan Burns —who completed 13 of 25 passes for 137 yards on the night — led the game-winning drive by slicing up the Bruin secondary to set up his only touchdown pass of the night.
With the ball on the 8-yard line, Burns threw a fade to wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who jumped up and and made an acrobatic catch to give the Bruins a 16-13 lead.
JJ Arcega-Whiteside's GAME-WINNING touchdown scores @StanfordFball 's #12Best moment! pic.twitter.com/O4RtJ3cNKL
— #FirstTo500 (@Pac12Network) September 25, 2016
The Bruins had one last chance near midfield with just four seconds left. However, before UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen could throw a Hail Mary, the sophomore was stripped from behind which was picked up by Stanford’s Solomon Thomas who ran in it back for a 42-yard touchdown to end the game.
For the game, Rosen completed 18 of 27 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown. UCLA’s defense played great all night, but faltered down the stretch with the game on the line.
Stanford Christian McCaffrey — an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy — rushed for 138 yards on 26 carries to give him his 14th consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
Next Opponents
Stanford: Up next for the Cardinal is a trip to face No. 9 Washington Friday night in a game that will likely establish early supremacy in the Pac-12 North race.
UCLA: The Bruins will look to bounce back at home as they host the Arizona Wildcats Saturday.
