Seven games into the season, the Stanford Cardinal are guaranteed a Pac-12 conference title if they win out.
That’s all offensive lineman Nate Herbig could ask for after back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Utah.
“We’re fortunate that we control our own destiny,” the 6-foot-4, 334-pound junior from Saint Louis School said Tuesday. “All I can ask for is an opportunity, right? That’s the most exciting thing. We have an opportunity to win and control our own destiny, so we just have to take advantage of it.”
The Cardinal are back in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 24 this week after getting as high as seventh earlier this year, and their postseason destiny will be decided over the next two weeks.
Washington, Washington State and Stanford all control their own destiny in the Pac-12 North. Stanford hosts the 14th-ranked Cougars on Saturday and then travels north the following week to play the preseason-favorite and now 15th-ranked Huskies in Seattle.
“Huge,” Herbig said of the next two weeks.
It didn’t take long for Herbig to establish himself at a school known for its interior linemen and smash-mouth style of football.
Stanford has had a run-first identity since Jim Harbaugh resurrected the program in the late 2000s, and David Shaw has maintained it since taking over in 2011.
Its entire identity begins with establishing a physical presence up front, something Herbig has enjoyed since the moment he stepped foot on campus.
“I just take it with great pride and respect for what I do and for my position because Coach Shaw puts the ball on the offensive line,” Herbig said. “How he always says the trenches dominate the game. Whoever wins in the trenches wins the game, and that’s something that I’ve really took to heart since I’ve been here.
“Try to be that nasty run blocker for Stanford.”
Some of it is natural and some of it is learned for Herbig, who can be every bit as joyful as downright mean on the football field.
Earlier this season, ESPN brought “College GameDay” to Eugene, Ore., for a Pac-12 game between the Cardinal and the Ducks.
At one point, Herbig found himself locked up with Oregon redshirt freshman linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia, who was teammates with Herbig at Saint Louis.
In the middle of a crucial showdown in conference play with College Football Playoff implications at the time, that joyful side of Herbig’s came out for just a brief moment.
“We were going at it and I couldn’t help but laugh in the middle of the play,” Herbig said. “It’s cool, you know what I mean, that we’re playing on the biggest stage with ‘College GameDay.’ That’s something.”
Herbig is one of 41 players from Hawaii in the Pac-12. Every school but one (UCLA) is represented.
He was also high school teammates with Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, now the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy in December.
No matter what position these guys play, they all share a special bond, linked together by the islands they represent back home.
“It’s honestly a big honor to be a part of that,” Herbig said. “Being a part of everyone who plays in the Pac-12 and to be a part of all the kids from Hawaii who are trying to put Hawaii on the map is special.
“That’s another thing with Tua, who has done such a great job. There are guys all over (the country) and absolutely balling and it makes me happy doing well and I hope they all keep doing well.”
The pipeline from Hawaii to the college ranks isn’t slowing down anytime soon, even in the Herbig family.
Nate’s brother, Nick, is a junior linebacker at Saint Louis. Listed at 6 feet 2 and 195 pounds, Nick has already landed offers from Hawaii, Utah, Washington and, yes, Stanford.
“I try to watch as many games as I can,” Nate Herbig said. “Live stream from my mom so I could see it on facebook.”
Asked to break down Nick’s junior year so far, big brother kept it simple.
“He’s all right,” Nate said. “He’s just all right.”
Praise is tough to find in the Herbig household.
PROFILE
Nate Herbig
>> School: Stanford
>> Class: Junior
>> Position: OG
>> Height: 6-4
>> Weight: 334 pounds
>> High school: Saint Louis (2016)
AROUND THE NATION
FOOTBALL
>> Kekaula Kaniho, Kahuku ’17: The Boise State sophomore safety made four tackles, intercepted a pass and returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown in a 56-28 win over Colorado State on Friday. Kaniho has already scored touchdowns on returns of an interception, a punt and a fumble in his career.
>> Kaulana Apelu, Kamehameha ’15: The Oregon senior linebacker made a game-high 14 tackles in a 34-20 loss to Washington State on Saturday. The Ducks dropped 12 spots to No. 19 in the AP Top 25.
>> Jordan Ta’amu, Pearl City ’15: The Ole Miss senior quarterback finished 27-for-46 for 324 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 43 yards in a 31-16 loss to Auburn on Saturday.
>> Bradlee Anae, Kahuku ’16: The Utah junior defensive end assisted on four tackles and helped hold Southern California to 73 rushing yards on 31 carries for a 2.4 average in a 41-28 win over the Trojans on Saturday. The Utes are ranked No. 23 in the AP Top 25 this week.
>> Mika Tafua, Kamehameha ’15: The Utah freshman defensive end had a tackle for loss against USC.
>> Vavae Malepeai, Mililani ’16: The USC sophomore running back broke away for a 12-yard touchdown run late in the game and finished with 10 carries for a team-high 44 yards and a 12-yard reception against the Utes.
>> Kanawai Noa, Punahou ’15: The California junior receiver caught a 24-yard touchdown pass and finished with five receptions for 73 yards in a 49-7 win over Oregon State on Saturday.
>> Isaiah Tufaga, Saint Louis ’18: The Oregon State freshman safety made eight tackles with two tackles for loss against Cal.
WOMEN’S GOLF
>> Mariel Galdiano, Punahou ’16: The UCLA junior won her second straight tournament on Sunday, sharing medalist honors at the Stanford Intercollegiate in Stanford, Calif. Galdiano finished at 8-under 205 after closing with a 1-over 72.
>> Malia Nam, Kaiser ’18: The Southern California freshman closed with an even-par 71 to finish in sole 10th place at 1 under at the Stanford Intercollegiate.
>> Mari Nishiura, Mililani ’16: The Oregon State junior closed with an even-par 72 to finish in sole 15th place at 4-under 212 at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in Boulder City, Nev., on Tuesday.
>> Jasmine Cabajar, Maui ’16: The Portland State junior saved her best round for Tuesday, shooting a 4-under 68 to rise 21 spots into a tie for 19th place at 1 under in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.
>> Stephanie Koza, Mililani ’17: The Oregon Tech sophomore was named the Cascade Conference Red Lion women’s golfer of the week on Oct. 15. Koza won the Oregon Tech Fall Invite on Oct. 9 with a two-day score of 5-over 149.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
>> Tihani Ehia, Castle ’18: The New England College freshman outside hitter was named the NECC rookie of the week on Monday. Ehia averaged 4.38 kills and 4.88 digs per set and had double-doubles in wins over Becker College and Bay Path University over the weekend. Ehia hit a combined .354 after tallying 22 digs and 15 kills in the sweep of Becker and 20 kills, 13 digs, three aces in two blocks in a five-set win over Bay Path. The Pilgrams are now 5-2 in conference play.
>> Michelle McGinn, Maryknoll ’18: The Lewis & Clark freshman was named the Northwest Conference defensive student-athlete of the week on Monday. McGinn posted career highs of 35 assists and 23 digs in a five-set win over Puget Sound on Friday to give the Pioneers their first win over the Loggers since 2011. Saturday, McGinn finished with another double-double of 15 assists and 12 digs in a sweep of Linfield (Ore.).
>> Ka’anelaokapu’uwai Pakaki-Pias, Kapolei ’18: The Lewis & Clark freshman outside hitter blasted 16 kills and added 22 digs, two block assists, two assists and an ace in the win over Puget Sound.
>> Annika San Nicolas, Kapolei ’15: The Lewis & Clark senior libero had 20 digs and two assists against the Loggers.
>> Sheena Yoshioka, Punahou ’18: The St. John’s freshman libero had seven digs and an ace in a sweep of Villanova on Friday and added 16 digs in a win over Georgetown on Saturday in the Red Storm’s program-record 11th five-set match of the season.
>> Anna Uhr,‘Iolani ’15: The Harvard senior libero made a team-high 17 digs and two assists in a four-set win over Dartmouth on Friday.
>> Sandra Zeng,Punahou ’17: The Harvard sophomore chipped in five digs, two aces and an assist against Dartmouth.
>> Zoe Leonard, Kamehameha-Hawaii ’15: The Dartmouth senior libero tallied a match-high 20 digs and two assists against Harvard.
>> Nikki Matsuoka, Punahou ’17: The Hamilton (N.Y.) College sophomore libero tallied 23 digs and nine assists in a four-set win over Wheaton College on Friday and finished with 20 digs, 11 assists and two aces in a five-set loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Saturday.
>> Lindsey Ng, Moanalua ’16: The Vanguard (Calif.) University junior had nine digs and two assists in a five-set loss to Westmont College on Friday.
Stats compiled by Billy Hull, Star-Advertiser. To submit an athlete for publication, email bhull@staradvertiser.com.
