October 26th 2024.
The game between Stanford and Wake Forest on Saturday had everyone on the edge of their seats. Junior quarterback Ashton Daniels was ready to make a comeback after sitting on the bench for two seasons. And boy, did he make a statement. He helped Stanford overcome a huge 14-point deficit and even led a 99-yard game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. But unfortunately, things didn't go as planned for the Cardinal team, as they suffered their 12th consecutive home loss against FBS competition, a streak that has been going on for more than two years.
Coach Troy Taylor couldn't help but express his disappointment at the loss. He believed that the team was just a few plays short of securing a victory, whether it was in special teams, offense, or defense. Even though wide receiver Elic Ayomanor caught 11 passes for 96 yards, he was double-covered on the decisive play that led to the interception and ultimately, the loss. Now, Stanford has to prepare for a tough match against N.C. State next week, knowing that they need to pull off an upset or two to improve on last year's 3-9 record.
But Taylor also had words of praise for his team's resilience and determination. He was proud of how they responded to the deficit and almost pulled off a win. However, he also acknowledged that the players were not satisfied with just playing hard and wanted to secure a win next time.
Let's take a closer look at some of the key takeaways from the game against Wake Forest. First, we have to talk about the quarterback shuffle. Freshman Elijah Brown got his first career start after coming off the bench in the previous game against SMU. However, the change in QB did not prevent Stanford from falling behind early in the game, just like in their previous match. After three possessions, they switched back to Daniels, who immediately led a touchdown drive and stayed in the game until the end. He finished the game with 24 completions out of 31 attempts for 214 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also had the most rushing yards for the team with 54 yards on 11 carries.
On the defensive side, the team showed significant improvement compared to their previous games. After allowing 160 points in their last four matches, they managed to keep Wake Forest at bay and even contributed a touchdown when junior edge Tavarua Tafiti recovered a fumble and ran for 44 yards. This was the first fumble return for a touchdown by the Cardinal since 2019. Tafiti credited his success to his off-season training and his coaches for giving him the opportunity to shine. The defense also had four sacks, with Tobin Phillips leading the way with 2.5 sacks. Freshman cornerback Brandon Nicholson also had a crucial interception in the fourth quarter, preventing Wake Forest from scoring.
But the highlight of the game was the 99-yard drive that ended with a spectacular touchdown by junior tight end Sam Roush. He showed incredible determination and strength as he spun out of a tackle, broke through another one, and bounced off a big hit to score a 16-yard touchdown. Coach Taylor was full of praises for Roush's performance, especially his growth as a receiver and pass catcher. He also commended his effort on the touchdown play, calling it one of the best he has ever seen as a player or coach.
Even though the game was a close one, it wasn't enough to break Stanford's losing streak. This loss was especially hard for Coach Taylor, who is trying to build a strong program for the team. He knows that every loss hurts, but he also believes in the resilience and determination of his players to bounce back and respond in the next game.
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