Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 30, 2019 33 BY TODD D. BURLAGE STANFORD RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Evaluating the numerical data through 10 games, it is hard to believe that this run-game profile be- longs to the Stanford Cardinal. A program that traditionally features one of the best running backs in the country — see Chris- tian McCaffrey, Bryce Love and Toby Gerhart over the past 10-plus years — this year's Stanford team is barely cracking triple digits. Heading into its fi- nal two games of the regular season, the Cardinal ranked 123rd out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams with just 108.7 rushing yards per game. In its 49-22 blowout loss at Washington State Nov. 16, Stanford managed only six rushing yards on 10 attempts. Fifth-year senior running back Cameron Scarlett leads the Cardinal with 766 yards and five touch- downs on the ground. No other Stanford player has more than 178 rushing yards, and the team has merely one other rushing score. The injury woes along the front line in particular have forced Stanford to start three true freshmen along the offensive line, virtually unheard of at a Power Five conference school: left tackle Walter Rouse, left guard Barrett Miller and right guard Jake Hornibrook. This does not bode well against a Notre Dame de- fense that has excelled this November. The nation's No. 1 rushing team, Navy, had just 79 yards on 29 carries while the Irish built a 38-0 late in the first half before taking their foot off the gas in the win. Advantage: Notre Dame STANFORD PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Injuries at quarterback have made this a revolv- ing door at the position for Stanford all season. Two different Cardinal quarterbacks, senior K.J. Costello and junior Davis Mills, have taken the majority of the snaps in 2019 and have posted similar stat lines. Mills has completed 104 of 160 throws (65.0 percent) for 1,394 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in six games played, while Costello was 102-of-167 passing (61.1 percent) for 1,038 yards with six scores and three picks in five contests. No matter who is under center, junior tight end Colby Parkinson has been one of the team's top targets. Through 10 games, the 6-7, 251-pounder — who was tabbed as one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top tight end — had 41 receptions for 492 yards and a touchdown. Mills returned and started against Washington State after missing the two previous games with a leg injury, and Costello has been slowed by various injuries all season. Colby Parkinson — a 6-7, 251-pound junior tight end — had 41 catches for 492 yards and one touch- down in Stanford's first 10 games this season. PHOTO COURTESY STANFORD ATHLETICS/ISI PHOTOS GAME PREVIEW: STANFORD On PaPer