Stanford shocks Trojans

LOS ANGELES — In what’s been the year of the upset in college football, Stanford’s stunner just might top them all.

Tavita Pritchard threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal with 49 seconds remaining Saturday night, giving the 41-point underdog Cardinal a 24-23 victory over No. 2 Southern California.

A leaping Bradford caught the ball over cornerback Mozique McCurtis in the corner of the end zone, leaving the crowd of 85,125 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in stunned silence. Bo McNally’s interception thwarted USC’s final chance.

In a season that started with Appalachian State’s improbable victory over Michigan at the Big House, and a week after half the top 10 went down, the Cardinal are now the upset kings — at least for now. The way things have been going, that could change next week.

Making his first career start, Pritchard had to convert on fourth-and-20 four plays before the winning TD, and because he couldn’t hear his coach calling in the play, he was on his own.

“I think it was similar if I heard him right,” Pritchard said. “I saw the coverage I wanted and Sherm came through.”

Sherm is Richard Sherman, who caught the fourth-and-20 pass over the middle before being leveled just past the first-down marker.

First-year Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said Pritchard called the right play — no surprise considering it worked.

“I knew he’d come through,” Harbaugh said of Pritchard, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore from Tacoma, who entered the game having thrown three passes. “From the beginning of the week, he had a bounce in his step. He had a gleam in his eye from Sunday on. We have found a true warrior.”

The Cardinal (2-4, 1-3 Pac-10) scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and moved 45 yards in 11 plays for the winning touchdown after USC’s John David Booty threw the third of his four interceptions. Wopamo Osaisai’s 18-yard return gave Stanford the ball with 2:50 remaining.

“It hasn’t set in yet,” a jubilant Pritchard said. “I’m beside myself — I don’t know what to do. Our defense kept us in the game all night. It gave me a chance to get untracked.”

Pritchard, filling in for T.C. Ostrander, completed 11 of 30 for 149 yards and the winning TD. The numbers weren’t great, but he was awfully good when it counted most.

Ostrander didn’t play after suffering a seizure in a restaurant last Sunday. He’s OK, but might have trouble getting his job back from Pritchard, a nephew of former Washington State quarterback Jack Thompson.

In the days leading up to the game, Harbaugh stuck to his preseason assessment that USC might be the greatest college football team ever.

“Jimmy had them ready to play,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “To give it up like this is a shame, it is crushing to me. Give credit to Stanford. They did a heck of a job and we made a ton of mistakes. We need to find ways to make plays and go back and find the right combinations.

“I never thought we’d lose tonight, even after they scored.”

USC might also have to turn to a backup quarterback. Booty cracked the middle finger on his throwing hand when he hit it on a helmet in the second quarter.

“He fought through it and was doing all right,” Carroll said. “We could have made a change but we went with our guy. I don’t know about next week.”

The Trojans (4-1, 2-1) dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 after barely holding on for a 27-24 victory over underdog Washington in Seattle last weekend. They’ll drop a lot more this week after losing to a team that had been outscored 141-51 in Pac-10 play.

USC’s 35-game winning streak at the Coliseum is over. The Trojans hadn’t lost at home since Stanford beat them 21-16 on Sept. 29, 2001, in their first year under Carroll.

The Trojans rolled up 459 yards to just 235 for Stanford. But USC’s five turnovers and Pannel Egboh’s block of USC kicker David Buehler’s PAT attempt early in the game proved decisive.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin puts three fingers in the air after making a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 15

Leyton Martin’s triple-double leads Arlington to district win

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Marysville Pilchuck claims 2A district wrestling title

Tomahawks win three individual championship bouts.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Gonzaga sets school record with 33 assists in blowout

The first half started with Khalif Battle hitting consecutive 3-pointers… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.