Stanford sophomore linebacker Peter Kalambayi has been named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for his standout effort in last Saturday’s win at Washington.
Kalambayi, from Matthews, N.C., became the first Stanford player to record three sacks in a game since 2011, (Shayne Skov) to help the Cardinal defeat Washington 20-13.
Kalambayi accounted for 35 negative yards on tackles for loss. He finished the game with six total tackles (five solo).
Kalambayi leads a Stanford defense that ranks first in the nation in total defense, surrendering only 198.0 ypg, and is first in the nation in scoring, only giving up 6.5 ppg. The Cardinal has allowed opponents into the red zone only three times this season.
Through its first four games of the season, the Stanford football team has allowed just 26 points, the fewest it has allowed during that span since 1940 when the team gave up just 20.
The defense will be put to the test once again when the No. 14-ranked Cardinal (3-1) visits No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0) on Saturday. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. on NBC.
Opposing teams have averaged 39.5 rushing attempts/game against Stanford, managing only 3.14 yards/rush and one rushing touchdown.
The Cardinal defense actually has allowed just 19 points this season as Washington recovered a Stanford offensive fumble and returned it for a score last weekend. The Cardinal has allowed just two offensive touchdowns in four games.
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Stanford has held opponents under 30 points in each of its past 27 games, the nation’s longest such streak. Louisville, Iowa and Ole Miss are tied for second (11). The Cardinal also has held opponents to 20 or fewer points in 25 of its past 32 outings. Dating to 2010, Stanford has held 40 of its past 51 opponents to 20 or fewer points.
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Saturday’s game is the second straight road affair for Stanford after starting the season with three consecutive home games. The Cardinal has won road games on consecutive weekends four times since 2010, the last such coming in 2012 (at No. 1 Oregon and at No. 15 UCLA).
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Stanford is 10-18 overall against Notre Dame, but just 3-11 on the road. The teams met for the first time at the 1925 Rose Bowl, with the Fighting Irish posting a 27-10 victory behind famed coach Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen while Stanford countered with coach Pop Warner and running back Ernie Nevers.
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The Legends Trophy is awarded to the winner of the Stanford-Notre Dame rivalry series, named in honor of the 1925 Rose Bowl meeting which was said by sportswriters to contain more legends on one field than had ever played the game. The trophy was created by the Notre Dame Club of the San Francisco Bay Area appropriately from Northern California redwood with an Irish crystal bowl.
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Stanford won last year’s game with Notre Dame, 27-20 at Stanford Stadium. Wayne Lyons intercepted two passes by Tommy Rees late in the fourth quarter, and No. 8 Stanford held off No. 25 Notre Dame in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Cardinal overcame two interceptions from Kevin Hogan and a penalty that wiped away another touchdown to win its 16th consecutive home game. Tyler Gaffney ran for a career-high 89 yards and a touchdown to cap his sensational Senior Day, and Hogan threw for 158 yards and a touchdown pass to Devon Cajuste to help the Cardinal take a 21-6 lead in the third quarter.
Stanford’s Ty Montgomery totaled 173 all-purpose yards, including 127 yards on four kickoff returns.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics