Stanford Falls Apart in Second Half Against Louisville in 15th Straight Road Defeat

This was far from a perfect performance by the Stanford Cardinal, but they answered back time and again in the first half, showing that they have in fact turned a corner after starting the season 0-3 on the road while being outscored 150-17 in those games.

Unfortunately that first-half effort didn't translate into the second half, as the Cardinal were outscored 28-7 after the break en route to a 52-24 final. 

At Louisville, the Cardinal scored 17 points in the first half and then added a touchdown on their first drive of the second half on a 40-yard screen pass to running back Micah Ford on 4th and 1 that he took all the way to the house. 

Of course, the Cardinals (Louisville) ran right back down the field on five plays and 75 yards to take a seven-point lead over the Cardinal (Stanford). 

Stanford received plenty of favors, like a fumble on the exchange between center and quarterback at the Stanford 38, stopping another drive into Stanford territory. The Cardinal drove to the Louisville 30, and Emmet Kenney drilled a 48-yard field goal to put them on the board, trailing 7-3. 

Louisville's fake field goal attempt was snuffed out by Stanford, keeping points off the board for Louisville, and then in the third quarter, a missed field goal by the Cardinals kept their lead at one score, 31-24. 

Stanford's big miscue backfired too. On a 3rd and 12 from the Stanford 31, the Cardinal attempted a hook-and-ladder play, with Nico Brown securing a short pass, then immediately tossing it to Caden High, who was hit hard on the play and fumbled the ball. Tayon Lou Holloway scooped it up and ran it all the way back for a defensive score, putting Louisville up 38-24. 

High was checked out on the sideline following that play, but he returned to the field just a couple of plays later. Stanford would go for it again on 4th and 4 from their own 31, but Warren would throw an interception at the 50, which actually helped them in the field position battle, but it wouldn't matter. 

Louisville drove down the field, and in three plays Isaac Brown was back in the end zone on a 23-yard rush that put the Cardinals up 45-24 and gave them two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the third quarter. 

While Stanford began the half with a touchdown, Louisville scored the next 21 in the third and looked to put the game on ice. 

Stanford looked to have a quick score to begin the fourth quarter on a Ford catch, but the play was called back on an illegal formation penalty, taking the points off the board. The Cardinal would end up turning the ball over on downs instead. 

The first play for the Cardinals was another touchdown, this time Isaac Brown's fourth touchdown of the game. 

Stanford's road losing streak has now reached 15 games. After a bye week, the Cardinal will be back on the road to take on Virginia Tech on Saturday, November 14.