Nov. 20, 1999
Final Stats
By ROB GLOSTER
AP Sports Writer
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - The Big Game turned into a big party for Stanford,
which wrapped up its first undisputed Pac-10 title and is heading to the Rose
Bowl for the first time since 1972.
Casey Moore had two scoring runs as Stanford defeated California 31-13
Saturday.
Moore's 94-yard run early in the fourth quarter was the second-longest in
school history and the longest at Stanford in 47 years. Moore also had a 1-yard
scoring run in the second period.
The Cardinal (7-3, 7-1 Pac-10) overcame two touchdowns by Deltha O'Neal, who
returned a kickoff 100 yards and a punt 58 yards for scores.
Cal (4-7, 3-5) managed just 130 yards total offense. The Bears had eight
first downs, three in the first three quarters.
Stanford, which has lost its only two non-conference games this season and
has a game remaining next Saturday against Notre Dame, will face Big Ten
champion Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
The Cardinal are a most unlikely conference champion. Coming off a 3-8
season in 1998, they had the nation's second-worst defense entering this
weekend. They have not been ranked this season.
It is the first undisputed conference championship for Stanford since the
Pac-8 expanded to the Pac-10 in 1978. The Cardinal tied Washington for the
title in 1992.
There now have been six different Pac-10 champions in the last six seasons -
Oregon won in 1994, followed by Southern California, Arizona State, Washington
State and UCLA last season.
The win was the fifth straight for Stanford in the Big Game, the oldest
rivalry on the West Coast. Stanford has a 52-39-11 record in the series against
Cal, which began in 1892 and is tied for 10th longest in the nation.
Todd Husak, who was 11-of-26 for 216 yards, threw a 36-yard scoring pass to
Dave Davis for Stanford. Brian Allen added a 22-yard scoring run and Mike
Biselli kicked an 18-yard field goal.
Former walk-on Wes Dalton, a fifth-year senior making his first start for
Cal, was 11-of-25 for 119 yards and threw two interceptions.
O'Neal, who moved from offense to defense last season, ended up as Cal's
leading scorer this season with 36 points - an NCAA-record four interception
returns for touchdowns and the two special teams scores Saturday. He also had
an interception against Stanford, his ninth of the season.
Allen broke two tackles while scooting through the middle of the line to
open the scoring 1:53 into the game. But O'Neal returned the ensuing kickoff
100 yards, evading three tacklers and speeding down the sideline.
Stanford regained the lead early in the second quarter on Moore's 1-yard
run. But O'Neal struck again, returning a punt for a score, but the extra point
attempt was blocked. Davis scored late in the half to make it 21-13.
After a scoreless third period, Moore broke a tackle and outran the Cal
defense for his second scoring run. It was Stanford's longest run since Bill
Rodgers had a 96-yard run against Oregon State in 1952.