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Stanford football: Cardinal, Christian McCaffrey rout Colorado 42-10

By Michael Kelly, The Sports Xchange
Stanford Cardinal head football coach David Shaw. File photo Lori Shepler/UPI
Stanford Cardinal head football coach David Shaw. File photo Lori Shepler/UPI | License Photo

BOULDER, Colo. -- Running back Christian McCaffrey was excited to return to his home state. Colorado Buffaloes fans didn't enjoy the performance by the Stanford Cardinal sophomore on Saturday.

McCaffrey ran for 147 yards and also threw a touchdown pass as the No. 11 Cardinal routed the Buffaloes 42-10.

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Quarterback Kevin Hogan passed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, and became the winningest quarterback in Stanford history, passing Andrew Luck for victories by a Stanford quarterback with 32.

Hogan completed 17-of-23 passes and also ran for a score.

Stanford (8-1, 7-0 in the Pac-12) moved closer to the Pac-12 North Division title with the win.

"It's not wrapped up yet," Hogan said. "We have a game against (Oregon) next week so we're not looking at it like that at all."

McCaffrey, the son of former NFL player Ed McCaffrey, was a prep star at nearby Valor Christian High School, but chose to play for his father's alma mater.

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He doesn't regret the decision but he still holds this area close to his heart.

"Coming home is very special to me because it's nice seeing family," McCaffrey said. "Colorado is the greatest place in the world and to see the support people had even though I didn't go here was something that was special."

McCaffrey, who came into Saturday leading the nation in all-purpose yards at 244.3 per game, finished with 175 yards of offense and 220 all-purpose yards.

"He was so excited to come back to play in front of his family, his friends, people he went to high school with," Stanford coach David Shaw said. "He loves this area. One day he's going to be the governor here and he really wanted to put on a show, and he did today."

Running backs Remound Wright and Bryce Love also had touchdown runs for Stanford. The Cardinal held a 275-83 edge in rushing and dominated time of possession against the Buffaloes.

"If we could have gotten them out on a few third downs there it would have been a little bit different football game," Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said.

Stanford pulled away at the end of the first half with another time-consuming drive.

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Hogan hit wide-open tight end Dalton Schultz on a fourth-and-two from the Colorado six-yard-line with a touchdown pass that made it 21-7 with 1:51 left before halftime.

The Buffaloes (4-6, 1-5) tried for a quick response but it backfired when safety Dallas Lloyd intercepted Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau's pass at the Cardinal 43.

Hogan led Stanford down the field in only 1:08 and scored on a run from the one-yard-line with a second left in the first half.

"Kevin's very fortunate that he scored because otherwise we would have gone to the locker room without any points," Shaw said. "He's a fifth-year senior quarterback, I trust his decision making and I trust his legs."

Colorado kicked a field goal on its first drive of the second half and then tried an onside kick, but Stanford recovered. Love's 47-yard touchdown run on the next play put Stanford ahead 35-10.

McCaffrey hit tight end Austin Hooper on a 28-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.

"Hogan said, 'Let it be wide open; don't throw it if it's not wide open,'" McCaffrey said. "Hooper kind of nudged me and said, 'Throw the ball.' We knew I was going to throw it."

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Hogan had given Stanford a 14-7 lead earlier in the second quarter when he hit receiver Michael Rector for a 43-yard touchdown pass on third-and-18.

Colorado had answered Stanford's opening 81-yard touchdown drive with a four-yard scoring run by tailback Donovan Lee.

"They had us in third-and-long, and we were able to convert it," Hogan said. "It's demoralizing."

Liufau finished with 168 yards of offense and trails Kordell Stewart by 28 yards for the most offensive yards in Colorado history.

"I'm pissed off," Liufau said. "To put in a week's worth of preparation and come out flat like that is really frustrating."

NOTES: Former Colorado coach Bill McCartney said before the game that he was pleased with the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "The Gospel According to Mac," which premiered Tuesday. "I've had enough controversy, so I thought they did a good job balancing faith and football," McCartney said. ... Stanford is 35-8 in Pac-12 regular-season games under coach David Shaw. ... The Buffaloes honored alums at halftime, including former NBA player Chauncey Billups. The hometown favorite received the biggest cheers from the crowd. ... The Cardinal has at least one rushing touchdown in 42 of its last 43 games.

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