It wasn't exactly the way that Stanford wanted it to look at times, but with a murderous Pac-12 schedule still looming ahead, the Cardinal will take this 35-0 victory over the Army Black Knights and move along.
Stanford/Army First-Half Quick Hitters
Struggling at times with a disciplined (and big) Army defense, the Stanford offense sputtered at times when it came to sustaining drives and maintaining possession. However, the Cardinal defense absolutely dominated the Black Knights' looping triple-option attack, and it was only a matter of time before the holes would open up and Stanford would pull away for good.
Key Player: WR Devon Cajuste: After missing Stanford's opening game against UC Davis and amassing three catches for 44 yards in last Saturday's three-point loss to USC, the senior established himself as QB Kevin Hogan's most reliable end zone target early and often in this one - catching TD passes of 23, 2, and 15 yards. At 6'4" and 228 lbs, Cajuste has the frame to give smaller defenders fits. He showed that and more on this afternoon in the Bay.
Turning Point: Stanford's first drive of the second half was the exact point where the Cardinal's patience began to pay dividends. Stanford's massive offensive line started to open giant gashes in the Army front seven, as RBs Barry Sanders and Kelsey Young combined for 95 yards on six carries (including a 44-yard scamper by Sanders that evoked flashbacks of his NFL Hall-of-Famer father.)
Just a few plays later, Hogan would find Devon Cajuste for their third TD connection of the game (this one a 15-yarder), capping a nine-play, 98-yard statement drive that extended the Cardinal lead to 21-0.
What We Learned: Despite a 20 game-minute period where the Stanford Cardinal seemed listless on the offensive side of the ball, Stanford's size and wealth of skill position talent still makes them a legitimate contender for both a Pac-12 crown and a College Football Playoff spot.
If the defense continues to dominate as it has (giving up just 4.3 points per game so far after pitching two shutouts), any offense at all could be enough to put Stanford in position for a championship.
What's Next?
After a bye next week, the Stanford Cardinal (2-1) head to Seattle to do battle with head coach Chris Peterson's rejuvenated Washington Huskies program (3-0).
Washington absolutely obliterated Illinois at home on Saturday, proving themselves to be a dark horse contender in a stacked Pac-12.
More:
Princeton Review's Rankings Are In: Stanford Students Love Their School
GO STANFORD! This 2012 Cardinal Hype Video Will Give You Goosebumps
The 10 Hottest Seats In College Football
Back to the Stanford Cardinal Newsfeed