Stanford dumped by Irish
Published 11:57 pm Saturday, November 24, 2007
STANFORD, Calif. — Robert Hughes helped Notre Dame put a positive finish on the worst season ever for college football’s most-storied team.
Hughes ran for 136 yards and the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown with 6:06 remaining to help the Fighting Irish end the season with consecutive wins for the first time in 15 years by beating Stanford 21-14 Saturday.
The season-ending wins over Duke and Stanford are little consolation for Notre Dame (3-9), which set a school record for losses in Charlie Weis’ third season at the school. And this contest will not be one Irish fans will want to remember despite the win.
This was a mistake-filled game by all parties involved, with six turnovers, five missed field goals, four plays overturned by instant replay and a number of personal foul penalties.
After Derek Belch missed his fourth field goal of the game for Stanford (3-8), a 49-yarder following an interception by Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame drove for the winning score. Hughes broke off a 44-yard run down to the Cardinal 8 and scored to plays later to make it 21-14.
Doug Baldwin returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards to the Stanford 48. T.C. Ostrander, who replaced an injured Tavita Pritchard earlier in the half, drove the Cardinal down to the 7. Evan Moore could not hold onto a pass in the end zone on third down and Ostrander couldn’t connect with Richard Sherman on fourth down in the final minute to end Stanford’s comeback attempt.
Both teams missed chances to break the tie earlier in the second half.
