The Special Teams Stunner: How Stanford Crashed Oregon’s Title Dreams
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On October 20, 2001, a sold-out crowd at Autzen Stadium watched in disbelief as the unranked Stanford Cardinal mounted one of the most stunning comebacks in Pac-10 history, defeating the No. 5 Oregon Ducks 49-42. This loss was a devastating blow that derailed Oregon’s legitimate pursuit of a National Championship berth.
The Ducks, led by Heisman-contender quarterback Joey Harrington (nicknamed “Captain Comeback”), seemed poised for victory, building a commanding 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Their home winning streak stood at 23 games, and their title hopes felt secure.
Cardinal over Ducks 2001 21 Oct 2001, Sun Anchorage Daily News (Anchorage, Alaska) Newspapers.com
The Fourth Quarter Collapse
Stanford, however, refused to quit, even after losing starting quarterback Randy Fasani to a knee injury in the second quarter. Backup Chris Lewis stepped in and helped orchestrate a furious 21-0 scoring run in the final quarter, fueled almost entirely by game-changing plays on special teams and defense.
The rally began when Stanford successfully blocked two punts by Oregon’s Jose Arroyo. The first was blocked by Alex Smith, and the second, blocked by Amon Gordon, led directly to a 24-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Luke Powell, pulling the score to 42-35.
Following a quick Oregon possession, the Cardinal dialed up the ultimate risk: an onside kick. The gamble paid off, recovering the ball at Oregon’s 40-yard line. This recovery set up the game-tying score—a 1-yard plunge by running back Kerry Carter, who finished the game with four touchdowns. Instead of kicking the extra point, Stanford went for two, with Lewis connecting with Teyo Johnson for the 49-42 lead with just 1:10 remaining.
The comeback was sealed when a hard hit by safety Tank Williams on Harrington caused a late-game interception. Stanford’s victory not only ended Oregon’s home winning streak but permanently spoiled their shot at a national title, leaving the Autzen crowd stunned into silence.
