Heading into Saturday's showdown with the ranked Washington Huskies, the Stanford Cardinal were expecting their first significant test of the 2011 season. There is still thirty minutes of football left but through two quarters Stanford is rolling, leading the Huskies 38-14. Andrew Luck has completed 11 of 13 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns, while Stepfan Taylor has rushed eight times for 130 yards and a touchdown.
The game looked to be a shootout early as both teams were running like crazy, combining for 382 yards in the first half. After Stanford took a 17-7 lead on a Luck-Fleener touchdown connection, Chris Polk rushed for a 61-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 17-14. Stanford immediately responded as Stepfan Taylor took the very next handoff for 70 yards and a 24-14 Stanford lead.
The Huskies were able to put together a sustained drive after that but came up with no points they missed a 46-yard field goal wide right. Stanford proceeded to put together a ten play 72-yard drive capped by a Drew Terrell touchdown reception in the right corner of the end zone. Although trailing 31-14, the Huskies appeared ready to bounce right back as they quickly moved their way down to the Stanford 38. After UW lost three yards on a rush play, quarterback Keith Price threw an interception to Michael Thomas who ran it back 61 yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinal lead 38-14 heading into the second half and likely will use the third quarter to impress the voters. If they maintain or build on their 24-point lead, expect backups in through the fourth quarter.