Stanford limits Elon to 52 passing yards in 34-7 win

Elon ran for 220 yards against Stanford and still spent three quarters without scoring. The Phoenix's passing game managed only 52 yards, while Micah Ford's four rushing touchdowns carried the Cardinal to a 34-7 homecoming win Saturday.

Ford's 179-yard performance tied Stanford's single-game record with four touchdowns on the ground. The Cardinal improved to 3-4, ending a two-game losing streak. Elon fell to 4-4 after scoring on just one of its 12 possessions.

Stanford keeps Elon out of the end zone

The Phoenix had early opportunities. After Stanford missed a field goal on its opening possession, Elon moved 44 yards but came away empty when Luke Barnes missed from 54 yards. Later in the first half, a 13-play Elon possession ended with another miss, this one from 46.

Stanford's defense did not need takeaways to maintain control. TJ Crews IV completed eight of 27 passes for 52 yards without an interception, and Elon converted three of 14 third downs. The Phoenix repeatedly had to punt even when Kamerin McDowell-Moore helped them gain ground on early downs.

The Stanford Daily reported that the Cardinal allowed only 36 yards across Elon's four third-quarter possessions. Stanford used the repeated stops to turn a 14-0 halftime lead into a 28-0 advantage before the fourth.

Stanford Athletics published its official highlights from the homecoming game:

Ford supplies the scoring, Thorpe supplies field position

Ford scored from one and seven yards in the second quarter. Davis Warren's 32-yard completion to JonAnthony Hall helped set up the first touchdown, while an 80-yard drive produced the second.

In the third quarter, Liam Thorpe returned a punt 17 yards to midfield. Ford carried on the next three plays, gaining 23 yards, before Warren threw a 27-yard touchdown to Sedrick Irvin.

Thorpe's next return covered 33 yards and put Stanford at the Elon 45. Ford finished that possession from five yards out, gathering a bobbled direct snap before running around the edge. His first carry of the fourth quarter went 81 yards for Stanford's final touchdown.

McDowell-Moore finally got Elon on the board at 10:34 of the fourth. His 53-yard run moved the Phoenix into scoring position, and he later scored from 18 yards out. He finished with 164 rushing yards and caught four passes for another 16.

Ford added 52 receiving yards to his rushing total, giving him 231 yards from scrimmage. Warren threw for 279 yards and a touchdown, and Stanford's offense reached 515 total yards. The Cardinal face a shorter preparation week before hosting NC State on Friday, October 23; Elon next visits North Carolina A&T on October 31.