STANFORD – Quarterback Davis Warren threw for a career-high 396 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night, leading Stanford to a 34-27 victory over Georgia Tech and giving first-year coach Tavita Pritchard his first ACC win.
Warren completed 22 of 36 passes to nine different receivers and didn’t commit a turnover against a Georgia Tech defense that entered the game allowing the ninth-fewest passing yards in the country at 124.7 per game.
Stanford (2-2, 1-2) had put up just 13 total points in its two previous ACC games against Miami and Duke. But it improved to 7-3 in its last 10 games on The Farm behind Warren, a Michigan transfer who still hasn’t thrown an interception this season.
His top target was Caden High, a senior from Atlanta who had four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. High, who suffered a broken collarbone during training camp, tied the game at 20-20 with a 49-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter.
The Cardinal then took the lead with four seconds left in the third quarter on a back-shoulder throw to Nico Brown on fourth-and-10 from the 33.
Georgia Tech (1-3, 0-1) went for it on fourth-and-1 from its 34 early in the fourth quarter, but Stanford didn’t fall for a play-action pass and Omar Staples sacked Alberto Mendoza for a 10-yard loss.
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The Cardinal took advantage of the short field when Warren found High for a 7-yard TD pass that extended the lead to 34-20.
The Yellow Jackets got back within seven on a 23-yard TD to Cal transfer Jaiven Plummer with 9:11 to play, and were driving again when Brandon Nicholson intercepted Mendoza at the 11 with 5:16 remaining, providing the game’s first turnover.
Georgia Tech had one final possession, but Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, scrambled back and was called for intentional grounding, resulting in a 32-yard loss that ended any hopes for a late score.
The Cardinal travel to Wake Forest on Saturday. The Demon Deacons (3-1, 1-1) are coming off a 30-27 win at No. 16 Louisville.
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