Stanford Football: 5 reasons Cardinal will beat USC in Week 2
By Zach Bigalke
1. Jet Toner will play a critical role in getting Stanford the win
It isn’t always the most beloved part of football, but ostensibly the kicking game is still a part of the game. And on Saturday in Palo Alto, special teams will prove a critical part of the contest. Jet Toner went 21-of-26 last year in his first season kicking for the Cardinal, and completed all 54 of his extra-point attempts.
Against San Diego State, Toner missed a 38-yard field goal on the first Stanford drive of the game. He ended up converting all three of his extra points to pace the Stanford win, and seemed not to have any long memory about the miss.
That depends on what circumstances arise, but on Saturday Toner will be ready for anything that comes up. He converted all eight kicks he attempted against the Trojans in two games last season, and that trend will continue in 2018. Whether they are field goals or extra points, Toner is going to come through in a big showdown of top-15 programs in conference play.
dark. Next. SMQ: Who is still alive for the playoff after Week 1?
It isn’t always the most fun thing to see the kicker come out onto the field. But for Stanford, it will always work out for the best on Saturday. Toner’s kicks will prove the difference in a game that USC keeps inside the point spread.