STANFORD, Calif. — Chris Lewis just doesn't understand goosebumps. After a thrilling win over UCLA, his Stanford teammates know all about them.
In his fourth career start, Lewis threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns as No. 20 Stanford held on for a 38-28 victory over No. 4 UCLA on Saturday, ending the Bruins' unbeaten season and thoroughly muddling the Pac-10 race.
The backup quarterback sparked the Cardinal (5-1, 4-1) to 31 straight points against a team that hadn't allowed more than 17 in any game this season. He threw three interceptions but got his teammates to believe they could drive and score against the mighty Bruins' defense.
Afterward, Lewis was his usual smiling self. His poise under pressure didn't seem remarkable to him — but his teammates were singing his praises after Stanford got off to its best start since 1992.
The Cardinal defense also came up big with a late defensive stop, but Lewis' teammates gave much of the credit to Lewis, who stepped in for injured starter Randy Fasani last week in Stanford's 49-42 upset win at Oregon.
"The guys in this room have a lot of confidence in him, and sometimes that's the only difference between great teams and good teams," said two-sport star Teyo Johnson, who caught a 3-yard TD pass from Lewis.
"We know that Chris has got the superstar stuff, and we respond to that."
Lewis rallied Stanford to two last-second victories last season but lost his first three career starts.
By the time UCLA's defense got off its heels, the Bruins (6-1, 3-1) were down 31-7 — and Stanford had enough points for an impressive upset. Lewis completed 13 straight passes in the first half as Stanford beat a top-five team for the second straight week.
"I don't know why or how, but I really don't get nervous," said Lewis, who was 20-of-29. "Whenever we make mistakes, I feel we get tighter as a group. We feel that we're as good as anybody in the country."