Stanford dismantles Notre Dame for 4-0 start

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Owen Marecic enjoyed his trip to the end zone so much, he wasted no time getting back.

Marecic, one of the few players to play both offense and defense, scored on a run and interception return 13 seconds apart Saturday, helping No. 16 Stanford to a 37-14 victory over Notre Dame that gives the Cardinal their first 4-0 start since 1986.

“He’s the perfect football player,” Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. “You’ve just got to take your hat off to him and enjoy watching him. I sure do.”

There was plenty for Harbaugh to enjoy.

Nate Whitaker tied a Cardinal record with five field goals, from 24, 41, 36, 33 and 29 yards. The victory was only Stanford’s third in South Bend, and first since 1992. The Cardinal have won two in a row against Notre Dame (1-3), a first in a series that dates to the 1925 Rose Bowl.

Notre Dame got only a field goal off three turnovers – including Andrew Luck’s first two interceptions of the year – as it dropped its third straight and seventh in the last eight games. The loss also was Notre Dame’s 11th straight against Top 25 teams, with five of those coming at home.

Stanford didn’t look quite as sharp as the team that piled up 155 points in the first three games, with Luck throwing multiple picks for the first time in 16 starts. But the Cardinal overwhelmed the Irish, piling up 404 yards on offense.

Dayne Crist finished with 304 yards passing, but the Irish couldn’t get into the end zone until there was 6:01 left and the game was well out of hand.