Stanford Men's Rugby vs San Francisco State University
Stanford 70 – SF State 10
 
Steuber Rugby Stadium
Stanford, CA
 
Stanford Men's Rugby welcomed San Francisco State University to the Farm on Family Weekend for the fourth league match of the season. In front of family and friends, the team put on a performance.
 
The Cardinal were hungry from the start as number eight Kasen Stephensen '24 poached the ball from a ruck in the first minute of the match. The Cardinal would patiently work the ball back and forth in the attacking 22 meters. A strong carry by Prop Alvin Ayuyo put the Cardinal on the front foot pulling in four Gator defenders to make the tackle.  Flyhalf Riley Elliot '27 would spot a gap on the shortside and center the try to put the Cardinal up 7-0.
 
The subsequent minutes displayed the defensive work rate and line speed of the Cardinal.  The pressure would hold the Gators in their defending half until Elliot stole possession following a tackle by center Johnathan Mells '24. The ball was sent to touch where a Cardinal maul would gather in the defensive bodies and open space for the backs. Elliot spotted the disconnect in the defense and was through for his second try and conversion for a 14-0 start.
 
In the 10^th minute, Stephensen gathered the SFSU kick off and sliced through the defense for a 70 meter try. For the next few minutes, the Gators would maintain good go forward possession, however, on a penalty kick to touch the Cardinal forwards were ready to reply. Faris Bdair '24 and Obinna Ekeagwu '25 lifted Colin Grant '24 to contest the Gator lineout. Grant tapped the back to his squad and direct running lines by Mells and Captain Diego Burgos '25 set up scrumhalf Taki Rifai '27 for fast ball, finding Elliot in for a hat try in the first 20 minutes of the match.
 
In the 25^th minute, a 5 meter scrum to SF State would put them in their comfort zone. The scrumhalf found the #13 on the short side who beat two defenders for the unconverted try. In the 32^nd minute, the Cardinal would find another scoring opportunity as a Gator kick found itself in the hands of Elliot who sent winger Charlie Abowd '27 blazing down the sideline for the try. Elliot would convert bring the score into halftime to 35-5.
 
In a familiar sight, Stephensen would catch the kick off and make a 65 meter return only to be brought down by a Gator winger. The Gators would struggle to exit their half. A shallow kick was gathered by Mells as Rifai organized the transition. After a strong carry by Bdair, the backs moved the ball wide finding reserve center Lucas Cavalieri '25 in for the try and the 42-5 lead.

In the 55^th minute, the Cardinal scrum sensed a fatiguing SF State pack. Winning the defensive scrum, Burgos stole the hook and gave the Cardinal possession in the attacking 22 meters. A quick ball from Bdair to Elliot found the flyhalf carving through the disconnected defense for the try and conversion. 
 
In the 62th minute, flanker Jordan Zietz broke four tackles in a 10 meter run, setting the stage for a quick ball from Rifai to Elliot, who found Bdair at pace. Bdair would draw in four defenders and put Patrick Kennedy '27 into space for a brilliant try and a 56-5 lead.
 
The Cardinal weren't done there. Off the next kickoff, reserve scrumhalf Oliver Sibal '24 found Daniel Flores '27 and Burgos for strong back to back carries putting the Gators under pressure. The backs would storm the 15-meter channel as Elliot and Cavalieri played back and forth to roll the Gators into a frenzy as Elliot was in for his fifth try of the match and a 63-5 margin.
 
The Gators would gain momentum in the latter minutes of the half as the Cardinal would concede multiple penalties in the defending 22m. The Cardinal played nearly 10 minutes of defense as the Gators punched their way forward. The Gators would ultimately score with 5 minutes remaining. The Cardinal would have the final say after a high tackle on center Jeff Edsall would set the Cardinal up to maul off a lineout, putting the backs in space. Abowd would be the recipient of the final try as the Cardinals put on a dominating 70-10 performance.
 
The Cardinal will take on Chico State for their next league match on Saturday March 3^rd in Chico, CA.
 
Tries: Riley Elliot (5), Kasen Stephensen, Charlie Abowd (2), Lucas Cavalieri, Patrick Kennedy
Conversions: Riley Elliot 9, Diego Burgos