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Conquering Cardinal Stanford takes first Rose bid since '72 with 31-13 romp
Posted: Saturday November 20, 1999 08:45 PM
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- The Big Game turned into a big party for Stanford. Stanford wrapped up its first undisputed Pac-10 title with a 31-13 victory over California on Saturday, and is heading to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1972. "It's surreal right now. I can't believe it's happening," said Stanford quarterback Todd Husak, who joined teammates in waving roses to fans as the game ended. "I thought they'd have hats or T-shirts, but the roses are a nice touch. To be able to put a rose between my teeth is a great feeling." Casey Moore had two scoring runs for Stanford. His 94-yard run early in the fourth quarter was the second longest in school history and the longest at Stanford in 47 years. Moore also had a 1-yard scoring run in the second period. The Cardinal (7-3, 7-1 Pac-10) overcame two touchdowns by Deltha O'Neal, who returned a kickoff 100 yards and a punt 58 yards for scores. Cal (4-7, 3-5) managed just 130 yards total offense. The Bears had eight first downs, three in the first three quarters. Stanford, which has lost its only two non-conference games this season and has a game remaining next Saturday against Notre Dame, will face Big Ten champion Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. "There's a real sense of euphoria," said Cardinal coach Tyrone Willingham, who is 8-0 in the Big Game with five straight victories since becoming Stanford coach in 1995 and three wins as an assistant in 1989-91. "We've accomplished something that many people don't understand. This just feels great." The Cardinal are a most unlikely conference champion. Coming off a 3-8 season in 1998, they had the nation's second-worst defense entering this weekend. They have not been ranked this season.
It is the first undisputed conference championship for Stanford since the Pac-8 expanded to the Pac-10 in 1978. The Cardinal tied Washington for the title in 1992. There have been six different Pac-10 champions in the last six seasons -- Oregon won in 1994, followed by Southern California, Arizona State, Washington State and UCLA last season. The win was the fifth straight for Stanford in the Big Game, the oldest rivalry on the West Coast. Stanford has a 52-39-11 record in the series against Cal, which began in 1892 and is tied for 10th longest in the nation. Husak, who was 11-of-26 for 216 yards, threw a 36-yard scoring pass to Dave Davis for Stanford. Brian Allen added a 22-yard scoring run and Mike Biselli kicked an 18-yard field goal. Former walk-on Wes Dalton, a fifth-year senior making his first start for Cal, was 11-of-25 for 119 yards and threw two interceptions. O'Neal, who moved from offense to defense last season, ended up as Cal's leading scorer this season with 36 points -- an NCAA-record four interception returns for touchdowns and the two special teams scores Saturday. He also had an interception against Stanford, his ninth of the season. "I shocked myself game after game," said O'Neal, who began his college career as a tailback. "I didn't think I'd do half of what I've done." Allen broke two tackles while scooting through the middle of the line to open the scoring 1:53 into the game. But O'Neal returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards, evading three tacklers and speeding down the sideline. Stanford regained the lead early in the second quarter on Moore's 1-yard run. But O'Neal struck again, returning a punt for a score, but the extra point attempt was blocked. Davis scored late in the half to make it 21-13. After a scoreless third period, Moore broke a tackle and outran the Cal defense for his second scoring run. It was Stanford's longest run since Bill Rodgers had a 96-yard run against Oregon State in 1952.
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