Oct. 24, 2009
PALO ALTO, Calif. (by Carmen Vitali, ASU Media Relations) - Toby Gerhart and the Stanford Cardinal proved to be too much for the Sun Devils, beating Arizona State 33-14 in Palo Alto.
After only allowing an average of just over 50 rushing yards a game, second to only Texas in the nation, the Sun Devil defense gave up 237 yards to the Cardinal ground attack. Gerhart led the way, rushing for 125 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown.
Quarterback Andrew Luck was able to pass for 236 yards going 17 for 28 on the night, bringing Stanford's total offense to 473 yards.
Stanford got going early with a touchdown halfway through the first quarter on a 22-yard run by Jamal-Rashad Patterson. The offense then proceeded to score two more touchdowns and a field goal with no response from the Sun Devils, making it 24-0 by the end of the first half.
The Sun Devils got the ball back in the second half and were able to drive down the field and score their first touchdown of the night on another spectacular catch made by senior Chris McGaha.
In the fourth quarter, the Cardinal drove down the field, but the Sun Devil defense was able to force them to kick a field goal. Danny Sullivan answered the score and was able to connect with sophomore T.J. Simpson on a 40-yard touchdown.
Sullivan went 12 of 23 for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
The last score of the game came on a touchdown by Stepfan Taylor to make the final score 33-14.
"It's very humbling," ASU Head Coach Dennis Erickson said. "We knew what kind of a football team [Stanford was], they were a physical football team, a football team that set the tempo at home and they set it from the start and until the end."
The Sun Devils will host the California Golden Bears at home Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on ABC.