Stanford 40, Virginia Tech 12

It's amazing how things can change in the space of two hours. At halftime things looked tense, as the Cardinal clung to a 13-12 lead and hadn't played their best football. With Virginia Tech set to receive the opening kick off, it seemed certain that the game would remain close and maybe come down to a play made by one quarterback or the other in the final minutes.

But it didn't happen that way. After quickly snuffing out VaTech's opening drive, the defense handed the ball over to Andrew Luck, who did what Stanford fans have grown used to seeing him do. He led the Mighty Card on four consecutive touchdown drives to show the rest of the nation what we already know: the Stanford Cardinal are at least the second-best team in the country.

The game turned in the span of three plays in the third quarter. After Stanford scored to take a 19-12 lead, the Hokies looked poised to tie the game as they drove into Cardinal territory behind the efforts of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. But when Taylor floated a pass towards the goal line, safety Delano Howell was able to pick the ball out of the air at the three-yard line, preserving the lead. On the Cardinal's first play following the interception, running back Stepfan Taylor took an inside handoff and raced halfway home, then Luck hit Fleener for the other half and a touchdown to open a 26-12 lead that ripped out the Hokie hearts and essentially ended the game.

Andrew Luck threw four touchdowns to earn the Orange Bowl MVP, but he only did what he always does. He was ridiculously efficient as he completed 18 of 23 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns. After the game Coach Jim Harbaugh invoked Reggie Jackson when discussing Luck: "He's the straw that stirs the drink around here." The unexpected came from tight end Coby Fleener who totaled 173 yards receiving and THREE touchdowns.

Luck and the offense got all the glory, but I think the real story of the game was Shayne Skov and the dominant Stanford defense. Much of the talk heading into the night surrounded Virginia Tech's trio of NFL-bound running backs, but they were stifled all night, as the Hokies only managed 66 yards rushing. Tyrod Taylor dazzled in the first half, but he was sacked eight times, and after that Howell interception, he and the Hokies never threatened.

Stanford's defensive star (and GMC's Orange Bowl MVP) was sophomore linebacker Shayne Skov. Rocking a vicious mohawk and enough eye black to make Alice Cooper proud, Skov was flying around the field all night long, whether covering tight ends down field, stuffing running backs at the line, or pulling down Taylor in the backfield. It was the best game of his young career, and I'm certain it will earn him several preseason mentions on various All-PAC-12 and even All-America lists.

If there's one criticism of Harbaugh, it's that he never takes his foot off the gas. Deep into the fourth quarter, with his team up thirty, Harbaugh trotted out a new wrinkle on offense. On a second and short, the offensive line went into a series of shifts, including actually standing and sliding down the line and back before sending three tight ends in motion. In the end it was only so much sound and fury, signifying nothing. The ensuing play gained a yard or so and probably pissed off the Hokie coaches, but it was fun.

Afterwards, of course, much of the talk surrounded the respective futures of Luck and Harbaugh, but neither would reveal anything in post game interviews. I'll have lots more on all that in the days and weeks to come, but for now I'll simply enjoy this Orange Bowl win. I suggest you do the same.

Go Mighty Card.

[Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]

Comments

[Iceman]

That play with multiple pre-snap shifts was by far my favorite of the game, even if it did only gain one yard.

[Steve N]

"If there's one criticism of Harbaugh, it's that he never takes his foot off the gas." Of course Harbaugh famously went for to in order to get 50 against USC last year, but this year Football Outsiders determined that Stanford ran up the score the least of any team in FBS (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/varsity-numbers/2010/varsity-numbers-runs-score).

[gladiator]

Actually that multiple shifts play was there to setup and fool the defense, because it setup a huge play action pass in the next play.

Overall, it was a great performance especially by the defense, Skov was a monster and Fua played magnificently in the gaps. The TE formations were also superb as usual and the O-line dominated the line of scrimmage.

Twas a great season to remember

[Yup]

For all the talk of "you can't win at a school like Stanford," it is scary to think that we were one 2nd half meltdown in the Pacific NW from playing in the big game, and I'd like our chances.

[Mike G]

I think that same play was run in Big Game with similar (ie, negligible) gain in yards. It also looks really silly. But I don't think that play was any kind of a sign of "not letting up on the gas." Keeping Luck in until the final drive was more indicative of Harbaugh's competitiveness. To his defense, Stanford's shown a tendency to allow big plays and big comebacks, so no lead is safe, although last night's defense probably wasn't going to let that happen.

Thanks for all the hard work on the blog. Much appreciated.

[KP]

I put up my "Stanford -- Character and Cruelty" sign after our stout defense sacked Virginia Tech's QB yet again. Check out this video clip on YouTube.

Go Cardinal!

[KP]

Here's the URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0LK686tZTAA&feature=player_embedded