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Stanford defensive end Ben Gardner is a team captain and ranked second on the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (7.5). He is out for the season after injuring his pectoral muscle against Oregon State.

(The Associated Press)

If the defense for No. 6 Stanford thought going against Oregon and its high scoring offense wasn’t daunting enough, consider this: The Cardinal on Tuesday learned team captain and all-conference defensive end Ben Gardner will be lost for the season with a torn left pectoral.

Coach David Shaw announced the injury on Tuesday and said Gardner will undergo surgery on Thursday. No. 2 Oregon (8-0 overall, 5-0 Pac-12) plays at No. 6 Stanford (7-1, 5-1) next Thursday, Nov. 7, in a game that will go a long way in determining the Pac-12 North champion.

Gardner suffered the injury in the third quarter of last week’s game at Oregon State. He was second on the Cardinal in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (7.5) and was second-team all conference for the past two seasons.

Stanford’s other defensive end -- Henry Anderson -- is trying to come back from a knee injury suffered in September. Shaw said he is unsure whether Anderson will be ready for the Nov. 7 game in Palo Alto, Calif.

Stanford has also played the past two games without injured kicker Jordan Williamson, and his replacement -- Conrad Ukropina -- has gone 1-for-2 on field goals and last week missed an extra point.

Both Oregon and Stanford have byes this week.