Stanford beats Cal 31-10, ends four-game losing streak in the Big Game

STANFORD Calif AP Jay Green and Darrius Davis returned fumbles for touchdowns to help Stanford snap a four-game losing streak in the Big Encounter with a - success over mistake-prone California on Saturday The Cardinal - - ACC took advantage of three lost fumbles and penalties by the Golden Bears - - to get their first win in the rivalry since the pandemic season and first at home since The win improved Stanford to - at home this season under interim coach Frank Reich and gave the Cardinal their majority of wins in a season since going - in the shortened campaign Stanford pulled away by scoring three times in a span of just over seven minutes starting late in the third quarter Emmet Kenney made a -yard field goal after missing his first two tries to make it - The Cardinal then hastily got the ball back when Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele fumbled a shotgun snap that was recovered by Matt Rose at the Bears Micah Ford ran it in from yards out four plays later to the delight of the Cardinal contingent in the rare big crowd of at Stanford Stadium Elijah Brown then hit CJ Williams for a -yard touchdown to make it - with to play All that was left was waiting for The Axe to change hands after the match The loss comes one challenge after Cal beat No Louisville on the road for its first win over a ranked opponent since and will likley raise more questions about the job measure of coach Justin Wilcox who hasn t finished a season with a winning record since Stanford led - at the half despite gaining only yards and scoring no points on offense Green returned Jacob De Jesus fumble yards early in the second quarter for a TD The Cardinal struck again late in the half when Jahsiah Galvan forced a fumble by Kendrick Raphael and Davis returned it yards The Takeaway California The Bears tied for their largest part penalties and had their preponderance penalty yards in a challenge in nine seasons under Wilcox along with the three lost fumbles in a sloppy performance Stanford The Cardinal have shown good progress in the first season under general manager Andrew Luck The win in the Big Event assures Stanford of improving its win total after four straight - seasons and will set the stage for when the new coach is hired Up next California Hosts SMU on Saturday Stanford Hosts No Notre Dame on Saturday Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here and here AP News mobile app AP college football https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-football-poll and https apnews com hub college-football Source