Cal Bears cornerback Collin Gamble (21) grabs the jersey of Oregon State wide receiver Tre’Shaun Harrison (0) in the first half at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 30, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, October 30, 2021

California took a giant step toward attaining bowl eligibility on Saturday, as the Golden Bears fought off a late charge from Oregon State and defeated the Beavers 39-25 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

Cal not only turned in its top offensive performance of the season, but the defense stepped up as well, forcing three turnovers and blocking a punt.

Elijah Hicks and Nate Rutchena each picked off a pass for the Bears, while Marqez Bimage strpped the ball from Beavers running back B.J. Baylor.

The Golden Bears (3-5 overall, 2-3 Pac-12) took a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter, but Beavers quarterback Chance Nolan found Trevon Bradford open up the middle for a 46-yard touchdown, Nolan ran for the 2-point conversion, pulling OSU to within 31-25 with 12 minutes to play.

With 6:40 remaining, Cal answered with a 2-yard scoring pass from Chase Garbers to Christopher Brooks. A successful run by Brooks on the 2-point conversion made it a two-possession game.

Cal built a 10-0 first-quarter lead on a Garbers 3-yard touchdown run and a 45-yard field goal by Dario Longhetto. One minute into the second quarterm Everett Hayes kicked a 29-yard field goal, but the Bears responded with an 8-yard TD run by Damien Moore, giving Cal a 17-3 lead.

Oregon State (5-3, 3-2) cut the Bears’ lead to 17-10 when Bradford hauled in a scoring pass from Nolan with 1:15 left in the first half.

Three minutes into the third quarter, Cal extended its lead to 24-10 on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to Brooks. At 3:50 of the third quarter, Deshaun Fenwick’s 4-yard TD run brought the Beavers to within 24-17. Garbers responded with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Clark with 11 seconds left in the quarter.

Garbers was 17-for-26 for 262 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Moore carried 11 times for 111 yards, and Brooks finished with 88 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Clark caught 5 passes for 90 yards.

Nolan was 15 of 26 for 243 yards and two touchdowns, and was picked off twice and sacked once. Bradford caught six passes for 124 yards and two scores.

Next week, Cal travels to Tucson to face Arizona.