Stanford dominates Cal in Big Game

BERKELEY, Calif. – Stepfan Taylor ran for a career-high 189 yards and one touchdown, and No. 22 Stanford (5-2, 3-1) overwhelmed rival California 21-3 on Saturday for its third straight Big Game football victory.

In the 115th meeting between the Bay Area schools and the first at remodeled Memorial Stadium, the sunny and serene Strawberry Canyon setting might have been Cal’s best highlight. The Cardinal outgained the Golden Bears 475 to 217 yards, outrushed Cal 252 to 3 yards and never lost its grip on the coveted Stanford Axe.

Stanford’s Josh Nunes completed 16 of 31 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown.

Cal (3-5, 2-3) had not scored so few points in the Big Game since losing 10-3 in 1998. The Bears fumbled three times – losing two of them – and had another interception of Nunes wiped out by a penalty.

When Taylor scored on a 7-yard run to give Stanford a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter it marked the Cardinal’s first offensive touchdown on the road this season after losses at Notre Dame and Washington.