Stanford Clinch Conference Playoffs with Reno Win

John Sala Field – Reno, Nevada

Stanford traveled to Reno, Nevada, for their final regular season Pacific Western Conference game Saturday.  Both teams had everything to play for, as the winner was guaranteed a spot in the Conference Playoffs, while the loser’s season would likely come to an end.  On a strange afternoon that featured blustery wind, and a referee needing to be replaced for injury, Stanford got the job done, defeating a physical Nevada-Reno team 24-0.

Stanford spent the majority of the first quarter of the game inside Reno’s end, but weren’t able to convert multiple opportunities into points.  Reno was abel to use the wind at their backs to clear their lines multiple times after turning Stanford over near their own line.  Near the twenty minute mark, it looked like Stanford would score as they inched near the Reno line again, but a turnover led to a swift Reno counter attack taking play deep inside Stanford’s end.  Stanford quickly worked the ball back into Reno territory, and multiple Reno penalties eventually led a Reno player being sent off with a yellow card.  Finally in the 29th minute, Stanford prop Chris Herries crossed the line for the games first score and 5-0 Stanford lead.  Just before the end of the half, flanker Austin Carey would extend the lead with a try, fullback Oscar Sandoval converted, and Stanford took a 12-0 lead into the break.

The second half began similar to the first, with Stanford spending most of the first twenty minutes in Reno’s end, but unable to finish in what was an overall stop start game effected by the windy conditions. In the 63rd minute, Carey scored his second try to take the lead to 17-0.  Carey would complete the hat trick in the 73rd minute, with Sandoval hitting the conversion into the wind for a 24-0 Stanford lead.  Despite two Reno line breaks against the run of play that threatened the Stanford line late in the game, a determined Stanford scramble defense would maintain the shutout and 24-0 victory.

In the second team game, Stanford got strong performances from center Dean Patrick, lock Jay Reader, and prop Uche Omegara in route to a hard fought 31-20 victory.

Next Up: Stanford (6-2 / 9-4) travels to UC Davis for the Pacific Western Conference Playoffs on April 11th and 12th.  On Saturday April 11th, Stanford, the Conference #3 seed, will take on #2 Chico State at 3pm, while #1 UC Davis will face #4 Sacramento State at 1pm.  On Sunday April 12th the winners will play for the Conference Championship at 1pm, with the 3rd place match taking place at 11am.  In Stanford’s previous encounter with Chico State earlier this year, despite taking a 14-12 lead into the half, Stanford eventually fell to Chico 28-41 on the road.  Last year, Stanford won the Conference Championship by defeating Chico 24-18 in the final.

Stanford Team vs. Nevada-Reno: 1: Dahlton Brown 2: Jeremy Kim *Captain 3: Chris Herries (Uche Omegara)  4: Nick Perkins (Jay Reader) 5: Sean Means (Alex Barron) 6: Austin Carey 7: Jack Chabolla 8: Rory Houghton-Berry 9: Alejandro Sanchez (Jamieson O’Marr) 10: Nico Sanchez  11: Jimmy Callinan (George Fullerton) 12: Chris Fernandes 13: Wesley Greiner (Sam Falkenhagen) 14: Ian McColl (Nino Abundes) 15: Oscar Sandoval

Scoring Summary: 28: Stanford Herries Try 39: Stanford Carey Try (Sandoval Conversion) (Halftime Stanford 12 – Nevada-Reno 0) 63: Stanford Carey Try  73: Stanford Carey Try (Sandoval Conversion) (Full-time Stanford 24 – Nevada-Reno 0)