STANFORD >> Finding the exact moment of Stanford’s coup de grâce on Thursday is not easy.

Was it when Kevin Hogan threw his second touchdown pass, giving the Cardinal a double-digit lead over UCLA just two plays into the second quarter? Was it when Christian McCaffrey ran the ball four straight times, a streak that ended with a 28-yard touchdown through a mile-wide hole?

No, this was probably it. Early in the third quarter of Stanford’s 56-35 blowout of the Bruins — its eighth straight victory in the series — the Cardinal pulled off one of the most thrilling plays of this college football season.

On first and 10, 41 yards away from the end zone, McCaffrey took a direct snap. He handed the ball to Bryce Love, sweeping to his right. Then, it flew back to quarterback Kevin Hogan — a flea flicker! But the most remarkable moment belonged to receiver Francis Owusu, blanketed in the end zone by UCLA’s Jaleel Wadood. As they fell, Owusu wrapped his arms around Wadood, pulling the ball against the safety’s back. They hit the ground. Owusu had possession.

“That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in my life,” McCaffrey said. “I couldn’t believe what I saw.”

Added Hogan: “It was like a perfect catch.”

Even famously stoic Stanford coach David Shaw looked amused, as if even he couldn’t believe that had happened. And on the opposite sideline, the Bruins looked shaken.

At this point, the Cardinal had a 42-17 lead, a demoralizing number in any context. And in this context, UCLA (4-2, 1-2) only hurts more.

Jim Mora does not know how to beat Stanford. Yes, the 53-year-old has revived the Bruins’ once-dormant football program, shaking off the turbulent Dorrell and Neuheisel years to tilt the balance of power in Los Angeles to the west. He has inspired players, fans and boosters alike, pulling in big-time recruits as well as big-time dollars for a new practice facility, which broke ground in late August.

But, no, he cannot beat Stanford. He has gone 33-13 in 3 1/2 seasons at UCLA, and five of those losses have come against the Cardinal. This was the most embarrassing of them all.

“We’re just falling a little short right now,” Mora said. “We’ll get it figured out. We’ll just keep working.”

The first time Mora and Shaw met back in 2012, the latter prevailed in a 35-17 decision at the Rose Bowl. That number flew up again when the whistle blew at Stanford Stadium — signaling halftime. At that point, the Bruins had actually outgained the Cardinal, with 281 offensive yards to 234. Incredibly, averaging 8.8 yards per offensive play couldn’t even make the game close.

The problems were penalties, third downs and a porous defense. UCLA squandered opportunities thanks to those yellow flags, seeing six to cost them 58 yards in the first half. On third downs, they went just 1 of 6 before the break, handing Stanford tremendous field position. And the defense, well — the Cardinal (5-1, 4-0) took whatever they wanted.

The third quarter quickly turned into a victory lap. There was the flea flicker to Owusu, the end of a three-play, 58-yard drive that only lasted a minute. That marked the third touchdown pass of Hogan’s day, capping what has been a dominant career run over the Bruins. The fifth-year senior had faced UCLA four prior times, completing 65 of 88 passes for 776 yards and five touchdowns against just one interception. He didn’t need to do as much more this time, only throwing 15 passes for 131 yards for three scores and a pick.

A big reason for the lighter load was McCaffrey. The redshirt sophomore had already showed flashes of stardom, rushing for 447 yards in his last three games. What he did on Thursday was something else entirely. His 25 carries before the fourth quarter went for 243 yards. He ran for four touchdowns, which brought his season total to five.

“He runs hard,” said UCLA nose tackle Kenny Clark. “He ran behind those big guys they’ve got. He found some holes and he hit them pretty good.”

Added Mora: “Maybe a little better in person than on film. He’s a heck of a player.”

Just for good measure, McCaffrey’s first kickoff return went for 96 yards. His 369 all-purpose yards were the most for any FBS player this season.

His 70-yard touchdown run gave Stanford a 49-20 lead. It marked the most points that a Mora-coached UCLA team had ever surrendered. There was still 5:35 left in the third quarter.