Colorado quarterback Steven Montez, front, runs past California defenders to score a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
On the Cal Bears Podcast with Morris:
1 Everytime the Colorado Buffaloes pushed the Cal Bears failed to push back last Saturday in their 44-28.
2 Cal allowed 40+ points for the first time in nine games under defensive minded head coach Justin Wilcox
3 Wilcox said Cal was missing the one on one battles, the passing game, and missing tackles
4 Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez got the Bufalloes up early on offense with two touchdown passes and a keeper
5 Cal goes back to the drawing board they try and get back in the win column against Oregon State University in their final home game this Saturday at Memorial Stadium
Handlers guide team mascot Ralphie on to the field as Colorado Buffaloes hosts California Golden Bears in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
By Morris Phillips
Everytime Colorado pushed, Cal failed to push back.
In falling to Colorado 44-28 on Saturday, the Golden Bears allowed 40+ points in regulation for the first time in nine games under new, defensive-minded coach Justin Wilcox. As Colorado broke numerous plays of at least 20 yards, the steel-jawed Wilcox could be seen seething along the California sideline.
“It’s very disappointing. We didn’t play well,” Wilcox conceded. “In the first half, they threw the ball over our heads. We weren’t winning one-on-one battles in the passing game, we were missing tackles. You can’t do that and win. You can’t beat anybody doing that.”
Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez came up with a huge bounce back performance after being benched last week in Colorado’s 28-0 loss at Washington State that was played in gusty winds. Montez took over early, throwing two touchdown passes and running for a third score to lead Colorado to an early, second quarter, 21-7 lead.
As they did in their previous game against Arizona, the Bears responded offensively, but couldn’t stop the Buffaloes. Colorado produced scores on their final five drives of the first half to lead 27-14, as Montez put up the majority of the yardage in his 20 for 26, 353-yard passing performance.
“We couldn’t hit the deep ball,” Montez said. “Then this week in practice, we really kind of focused on it and we knew we need to get serious if we want to be a legitimate force on offense. We need to be able to throw the deep ball consistently. We were hitting them in practice real well and it carried over to the game.”
Ross Bowers did his part to keep the Bears within range of the Buffaloes, throwing for 359 yards and two scores. But once Cal fell behind, Bowers was subjected to a heavy rush, leading to a 100-yard interception return by Colorado’s Nick Fisher that put the Buffaloes up 44-21 with 2:34 remaining.
The Bears had a pair of 100-yard receivers in Kanawai Noa and Jordan Veasy. The Cal running game never got untracked, but Patrick Laird led there with 52 yards on 13 carries.
Cal fell to 4-5 on the season and failed to win a conference road game for the 11th, consecutive game. In order to gain bowl eligibility, the Bears will have to beat Oregon State in their final home game next Saturday, and win at least one of their final two games at Stanford and at UCLA.
“We have to execute our game plan better and this falls on us players,” Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk said. “No matter what coach calls, it is on us to execute the game plan. You can’t give up big plays and expect to win games. We just have to bounce back and continue working we will get there. We have a good opponent next week, so 24-hour rule. It stings and it hurts but we have to look past it and get ready for next week.”
Colorado quarterback Sam Noyer (15) looks for a receiver during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
On the Cal Bears Podcast with Michael:
1 The Colorado Buffaloes will host the Cal Bears Saturday but the Buffaloes have some turmoil they have lost four of their last five games and head coach Mike MacIntyyre has called for open tryouts for the quarterback position
2 Player morale on the Buffaloes not at it’s highest as McIntyre said he will announce who will start this weekend either quarterback sophomore Stephen Montez or red shirt Sam Noyer. MacIntyre saying “whatever I decide” on picking the starting quarterback this Saturday
3 Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said of the Buffaloes quarterback controversy that he won’t change the Cal offense too much and steady as she goes
4 The Bears who have lost two of their last three games after playing a close one against Arizona last Saturday at Cal losing on a broken up two point conversion for a 45-44 final
5 The Buffaloes have lost their last four of five and the struggling football team will make a ditch effort to overcome Cal on the other hand the Bears are pretty upset about losing last Saturday to Arizona and will battle in Colorado Saturday
California quarterback Ross Bowers (3) throws against Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
On the Cal Bears Podcast with Morris:
1 Cal gave it their all in a double overtime effort after losing by two touchdowns when head coach Justin Wilcox called for a two point conversion that was broken up on pass play to end the game Saturday that saw the Arizona Wildcats win it 45-44
2 The two point conversion was Cal’s best shot at winning and they came back from being down three touchdowns
3 Could Bears quarterback Ross Bowers have kept the ball and rushed for the conversion Morris takes a look
4 In coming back from the three touchdowns it also speaks to the fine coaching of Cal head coach Wilcox to get his offense game to score critical touchdowns and almost win at home against one of the toughest teams in the Pac 12 the Wildcats
5 The Bears next opponent the Colorado Buffaloes Morris talks a look how this match up will end up on this road trip
Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate, right, stiff-arms California cornerback Marloshawn Franklin Jr., second from right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Morris Phillips
BERKELEY, CA–After overcoming adversity voluminous enough to pen a short novel, Coach Justin Wilcox elected to hand his own club one last helping of adversity, a two-point conversion attempt to win or lose on the final play of an exhausting, two overtime game.
In a game where the Bears trailed Arizona by two touchdowns in the third quarter, the final play would be Cal’s only chance to steal one they seemingly had lost much earlier.
But Wilcox’s gamble failed when Ross Bowers pass to Jordan Duncan was broken up by the Wildcats’ Colin Schooler underneath the goalpost, allowing Arizona to escape with a 45-44 victory. Pegged with an agonizing loss, the Bears could at least claim unity in support of Wilcox’s uncommon choice.
“I felt like that was the best choice for us to win,” Wilcox said. “In the end, we didn’t play well enough–especially on defense–to win the game.”
Bowers supported Wilcox’s choice, saying that his indecision–thinking he could run for the conversion before hastily throwing flat footed to Duncan in the back of the end zone–was the real reason Wilcox and the Bears weren’t gutsy winners.
Vic Enwere, whose second and third efforts on a fourth down touchdown run prior to the game’s final play, appreciated the decision as well, saying “that says he has confidence in us. I appreciate that.”
Wilcox explained that his defense’s gassed play in the first two overtimes greatly influenced the decision to go for the win, and forgo a third overtime. After Cal scored first in the extra period, Arizona’s Zach Green rumbled 25 yards to tie it on the Wildcats’ initial, offensive play.
The Bears then allowed a second score in just two plays, as brilliant Arizona signal caller Khalil Tate bought time rolling to his right before finding Bryce Wolma near the goal line for a 45-38 lead.
For Wilcox, the lightning scores were enough. Already Cal had overcome the loss of defensive playmaker Devante Downs, lost for the remainder of the season due to injury, and survived the Wildcats’ run game that produced 345 yards in regulation. How could Cal bring an end to the evening for Tate, and steal the win?
Don’t expose his defense one more time, Wilcox reasoned.
Tate, the instant Heisman candidate, would top 700 yards rushing over a three-game stretch after hanging 137 against Cal. His 76-yard run to break the 7-7, second quarter tie was simply ridiculous, and as advertised. First Tate scrambled to his right, but quickly circled back to his left with linebacker Alex Funches seemingly in position to close. But Tate ran past Funches and headed downfield like a blur with four Cal defenders in his vapor trail as he crossed the goal line. How Tate blew past four defenders needed no explanation. In the two, previous weeks, Tate ran for touchdowns from 71 an 75 yards and four, other shorter distances. This second quarter run was merely the capper.
“He’s a really good player, really fast, really explosive,” said linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk. “We missed a couple of plays on him and he made us pay for it. Credit to Arizona. Credit to him.”
While Tate was his own wave of adversity, it was just a slice of what Cal was forced to digest Saturday night. Starting left tackle Patrick Mekari, the starter for Cal’s first seven games, was declared a late scratch, necessitating a shuffling of the line before kickoff.
Still Cal started fast, determined to impact the scoreboard first, they marched for a touchdown on their opening drive. Patrick Laird capped it with the clever run of Bowers’ Statue of Liberty handoff. The opening drive saw the Bears counter their tendencies, and keep the Wildcats’ defense off balance.
But Arizona recovered, first avoiding a huge fumble by way of a replay that captured Wolma’s catch and fumble came after he was down. Instead of Cal being in position to increase their lead to double digits, Arizona responded with a game-tying drive.
Tate’s big run would follow, then three Cal penalties would aid in a third Arizona touchdown drive at the outset of the second quarter. Cal trailed 21-7 with 11:20 remaining in the second quarter.
In the third quarter Tate was at it again, buying time with his feet before finding Shun Brown for a 56-yard scoring pass. Once again, Cal trailed by two touchdowns, 28-14 with 7:22 remaining in the third.
Offensively, the Bears were stingy with ball possession, running 35 more plays than the Cats, but without the string of big plays compiled by Arizona. All four Cal touchdown drives in regulation consumed at least 11 plays.
Kicker Matt Anderson capped Cal’s comeback with a 52-yard field goal to tie with 3:22 remaining. The kick came after Wilcox initially chose to attempt a conversion on 4th-and-4. After a timeout, Wilcox reversed, and put his faith in Anderson.
With the loss, Cal falls to 4-4, 1-4. They travel to Colorado next Saturday where an 11 a.m. kickoff with the Buffaloes awaits them.
Washington quarterback Luke Falk (4) game stats 28-43-5 for 286 yards and 9 sacks looks for a deep pass during the NCAA Football game between Washington State Cougars and the California Golden Bears 37-3 lost at California Memorial Stadium. Thurman James / CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
On the Cal Bears Podcast with Michael :
It was quite a contest with Washington State and Cal last Saturday in Berkeley it was very interesting because the Washington Huskies who Cal played the week before lost on Saturday which dilutes the value of the loss up in Seattle. It leads to a very interesting week Cal opened up last weekend as a 10.5 point underdog facing WSU which was ranked eighth coming into Memorial Stadium.
Cal thoroughly dismantled WSU 37-3, there was one phase of the game the Bears did not dominate WSU’s only moment of glory of that game which was the opening kick off of that game which they ran back for a touchdown only because of a penalty. It was sort of indicative of the rest of the way this game was going to go. WSU quarterback and Heisman candidate Luke Falk was sacked nine times and intercepted five times.
Michael Duca does the Cal Bears podcasts on Wednesday and Morris Phillips does the Cal podcast on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
California quarterback Ross Bowers (3) game stats 21-38 259 yards and 1 touchdown goes air-borne to score a touchdown during the NCAA Football game between Washington State Cougars and the California Golden Bears 37-3 win at California Memorial Stadium. Thurman James / CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
On the Cal Bears Football Podcast with Morris:
1 What a difference a week makes as Cal who were trounced in Washington a week before beat out visiting the Washington State Cougars 37-3 pm on Friday night in Berkeley
2 WSU Heisman candidate quarterback Luck Falk who hasn’t had an offensive day with less than 30 points was shut down by the Cal defense and was sacked nine times and intercepted five times.
3 After the game WSU head coach Mike Leach said his team were “pathetic front runners” Morris takes a look at Leach and colorful comments
4 It’s been a long time coming the win for Cal was their second over a top ten team in 40 years
5 An incredible win for Cal now they have Arizona next up in Berkeley this Saturday Morris takes a look at this match
Oct 13 2017 – Berkeley CA, U.S.A. California running back Vic Enwere (23) carrier the 22 for 114 yards and 1 touchdown during the NCAA Football game between Washington State Cougars and the California Golden Bears 37-3 win at California Memorial Stadium. Thurman James / CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
By Morris Phillips
BERKELEY, CA–Six days after the Bears were embarrassed by the Huskies, they were nearly flawless when confronted by the Cougars.
No dramatic story arc from an old National Geographic television segment, but Pac-12 football at its topsy-turviest, Cal’s dramatic turnaround produced the biggest upset of the conference’s season to date.
Eighth-ranked WSU and Heisman candidate quarterback Luke Falk hadn’t scored fewer than 30 points in any of their six victories, but a big Cal defensive effort shutdown the Cougars as Falk was sacked nine times, and intercepted five times. The ninth sack of Falk resulted in a fumble, and scoop-and-score for Cal’s Gerran Brown as the Bears rolled 37-3.
The win was just Cal’s second over a Top-10 team in the last 40 seasons, with the other coming in 2003 against USC as Aaron Rodgers starred. But unlike 2003, this win was foreseen by no one, and surprisingly lopsided.
“We weren’t good in any aspect of the game,” WSU Coach Mike Leach admitted. “Cal outcoached and outplayed us at every position that I saw.”
Coming in, Cal was reeling having lost three straight while allowing a combined 83 points in the two, previous road losses at Oregon and Washington. Offensively, things were even worse as the Bears managed less than 100 yards total offense and no points in Seattle.
But against WSU, Cal was better schemed, and more opportunistic than their opponent, who hadn’t played a game with a ranking this high in 14 years. The biggest key undoubtedly Cal’s ability to pressure Falk when common wisdom suggested Cal’s defense, and specifically their secondary, would be overwhelmed by the Cougars’ relentless passing attack.
“We wanted to change up where the four were coming from,” coach Justin Wilcox explained. “So most of it was four-man rush during the game. It was which four guys were coming. That’s what we changed up. That’s part of how we structure our defense and the guys executed it well.”
Cal hadn’t generated nine sacks since doing so against Stanford in 2005. The five interceptions were their biggest total since picking five against Washington in 2006.
The improvement for Cal was just as dramatic offensively as quarterback Ross Bowers was sacked just twice while throwing for 259 yards and a big touchdown pass to Kyle Wells before halftime that increased Cal’s lead to 17-3. In the previous three games, Bowers was sacked 17 times.
Afterwards, Bowers described a simple approach to the game that produced dramatic results.
“Preparation during the week, taking the right steps, working smarter and just focusing on doing our job,” Bowers said.
Washington’s (99) Greg Gaines (DL) and (50) Vita Vea (DL) chase down California’s (3) Ross Bowers (QB) for a sack during the game between the Washington Huskies and the California Bears on October 7, 2017 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. Washington won 38-7 over California. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Cal Bears Podcast with Michael Duca:
1 No secret Cal was no match for the Washington Huskies on both sides of the ball
2 Cal quarterback Ross Bowers couldn’t get any traction going on offense against the Huskies whose defense outplayed the running game
3 Cal head coach Justin Wilcox had a long afternoon last Saturday in planning and preparing against Washington but everywhere and anywhere Cal would go a Huskie was sure to follow
4 Michael looks into why the Huskies are so successful this season
5 After winning three straight and losing three straight the Bears have the tough task of taking on the WSU Cougars at Berkeley this Saturday will home field make a difference?
Washington’s (99) Greg Gaines (DL) and (50) Vita Vea (DL) chase down California’s (3) Ross Bowers (QB) for a sack during the game between the Washington Huskies and the California Bears on October 7, 2017 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. Washington won 38-7 over California. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
On the Cal Bears Podcast with Morris:
1 The Bears Saturday we’re absolutely annihilated by their hosts the Washington Huskies 38-7 on both sides of the ball. Starting with the defense the Huskies didn’t waste anytime finding the end zone.
2 Cal quarterback Ross Bowers couldn’t get anything on offense going a frustrating day the Huskies seemed like they just outplayed the passing game
3 For Cal head coach Justin Wilcox a long afternoon tough planning in preparing for a 5-0 Huskies team but there are some Saturdays your plans just won’t work no matter what you do
4 Morris addresses why Washington is having such success this season
5 This Friday Cal will host Washington State University whose also 6-0 like Washington Bowers and Wilcox will have to get the offense to jump on theCougars early if they want a shot at winning
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