Tag: Miami Hurricanes

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal faces another undefeated team Pitt (5-0) Saturday at Acrisure Stadium

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The Cal Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) takes the football in for a 66 yard score in the second quarter while being pursued by a Miami Hurricane defensive back Jaden Harris (7) at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, the Miami Hurricane (6-0) rallied from 25 points down to edge the Cal Bears (3-2) last Saturday night 39-38 that took some doing by the Hurricanes to have to score three unanswered touchdowns in that fashion.

#2 Morris taking a look at Miami’s scoring at 10:28 left in the game the Hurricanes Isaiah Horton scored on an 18 yard pass from quarterback Cam Ward to make it 38-25. The Hurricanes scored once again at 4:04 when Ward carried for a 24 yard rush to cut Cal’s lead down to six 38-32.

#3 The Hurricanes scored the winning touchdown with 26 seconds left when Ward hit wide out Elijah Arroyo for five yards for the 39-38 win. Miami stays perfect at 6-0. How true is it that good teams can rally late and win.

#4 Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza was 11-22 for 285 yards for two touchdowns and one interception. For Mendoza was it a matter of not getting enough protection or Mendoza just didn’t the completions and conversions he needed to create some offense in that fourth quarter.

#5 Cal tries to get back in the win column once again this time at Pitt where the Panthers are another team that comes in undefeated at 5-0. The Panthers won their last game against the North Carolina Tar Heels 34-24. The Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein can do it all throwing 381 yards for three touchdowns. Do you see Cal having a busy day trying to keep the Panthers offense down to a low roar?

Join Morris Phillips for Cal Bears football podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Clock Strikes Midnight On Upset-Minded Cal in 39-38 Loss To No. 8 Miami

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–At some subtle, hard to determine juncture approaching the three-hour mark of a lengthy, college football game, Cal lost its grip.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal sensed it, then framed it after his Hurricanes scored 29 of the game’s final 32 points to stun the Bears, 39-38 to remain unbeaten and squarely in the hunt for a national championship.

“I don’t know how many teams in the country would have come back against that defense,” Cristobal said of Cal, which held Miami to 10 points until 3:02 remained in the third quarter.

Damian Martinez’ 1-yard touchdown run and Xavier Restrepo’s two-point reception didn’t trigger an avalanche for the Canes. Instead, Cal proved steadfast and took another three plus minutes off the clock in increasing their lead to 38-18 on Ryan Coe’s 37-yard field goal.

Three Miami touchdowns would follow, capped by Elijah Arroyo’s 5-yard catch and score with 26 seconds remaining.

“We kept clawing and scratching, and the defense held up,” Cristobal recounted.

“How many people cut this off?” he said, touching on the fact that the Hurricanes’ comeback didn’t hit maximum thrust until after 1:00am in Florida.

What caused the television audience to rest was Cal’s defense. Nohl Williams picked off Miami’s Cam Ward, his fifth of the year, which leads the nation. Linebackers Cade Uluave and Teddye Buchanan combined for 23 tackles while Cal built a 25-point lead. But the experienced Ward played the waiting game, and the result was 35 completions, 437 yards, and two fourth quarter touchdown passes that sandwiched his 24-yard touchdown run.

“That’s two games straight we had to do that. We have to lock in,” Ward said. “It’s good to get a win. We’re not going to complain. An ugly win is better than a good loss.”

Ward improved to 2-1 against California with the first win and loss coming when the quarterback was with Washington State in 2022 and 2023. Conversely, the Bears missed a rare opportunity to upset a team ranked in the top ten nationally. The last time was 2017 versus the Cougars prior to Ward’s arrival.

Ward’s 437 yards passing gives him six consecutive performances of 300 plus yards passing to put him squarely in contention for the Heisman trophy.

Fernando Mendoza led Cal with 285 yards passing. Jadyn Ott made the most of a slow night with a 66-yard touchdown catch and run. That production helped the Bears build a sizeable lead, but 2 of 10 third down conversions left the Bears defense vulnerable to fatigue that surfaced in Miami’s comeback.

Coach Justin Wilcox didn’t appear to agree with a targeting situation that didn’t draw a penalty on Miami after a review. That non-call on third down forced Cal to punt and gave the ball back to Miami for their game-winning, six-play drive.

Wilcox was close-lipped regarding that play but was open regarding the game in its entirety.

“We had every opportunity to win that game, obviously,” Wilcox said. “We didn’t get it done, so every individual has to own it.”

The Bears travel to meet undefeated Pittsburgh (5-0) next week. The Panthers posted an impressive 34-24 road win over North Carolina on Saturday.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal offensive line needs to look out for the Miami pass rush this Saturday in Berkeley

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Cal Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) gets dragged down by the Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Marvin Jones Jr (7) at Florida State on Sat Sep 21, 2024. Cal’s offensive line will need to protect Mendoza all day Sat Oct 5, 2024 as the Miami Hurricanes have a potent offensive line in ACC action. (AP News photo)

On Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 For Cal ESPN is hosting a Game Day visit which features lots of celebrities for a first time ever appearance at UC Berkeley coming this Saturday. This no doubt has to be exciting for Cal and alumnus.

#1 The Miami Hurricanes the Cal Bears next opponent. The Hurricanes are living up to their namesake and blowing away the competition at 5-0 in their last game they played a tight game with the Virginia Tech Hokies 38-34 but have been dominant against their opponents this season.

#2 Hurricanes quarterback Cameron Ward is throwing the football with much accuracy in his last game against the Virginia Tech Hokies went 24-38 for 348 yards with 4 touchdowns and was picked off two times.

#3 Cal dropped to 3-1 taking their first loss of the season against a struggling Florida Seminoles who picked up their first win. Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza was 22-36 for 303 yards but didn’t throw for any touchdowns. Do you see him getting those kinds of yards once again but completing passes for scores will that be a question for this week as well?

#4 Miami has a very good pass rush against Virginia Tech but the Hokies also countered with putting pressure on the quarterback as well. Do you seeing Cal focusing on protecting the quarterback from the Hurricanes pass rush this Saturday.

#5 Morris, just wanted to get your prediction on this upcoming game as Miami comes calling this Saturday at Cal Memorial in Berkeley in ACC action between the Miami Hurricanes and the Cal Bears with that 7:30pm PT?

Morris Phillips does Cal Bears podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal hopes to get back in win column face Miami Sat Oct 5

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Florida Seminoles lineman Marvin Jones (right) drags down Cal Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) in second half action at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Sat Sep 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, a tough difficult loss for the Cal Bears (3-1) to the Florida Seminoles last Saturday in Tallahassee in low scoring defensive game 14-9.

#2 The Bears really needed to scratch out a touchdown and they could have been able to get away with their fourth straight win but the Seminoles didn’t allow Cal one touchdown all game long.

#3 Cal had to rely on their kicker Ryan Cole to put the ball through upright three times for all their scoring twice in the second quarter and once in the third quarter.

#4 As opposed to the kind of game that Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza had the previous week against San Diego State in a 31-10 win the Seminoles shutdown Mendoza’s passing game. Mendoza throwing 22-36 for 303 yard, and one interception. The Seminoles defense prevented Mendoza from getting the ball in the end zone.

#5 The Miami Hurricanes (5-0) will come calling Sat Oct 5 at Cal Memorial. The Canes upended South Florida last Sat Sep 21, 50-15 and on Sat Sep 29 the Canes did it again getting by Virginia Tech 38-34. Look out for Canes quarterback Cameron Ward who threw 24-34 for 404 yards and three touchdowns against So Florida. Also having a big day against Virginia Tech throwing for 343 yards and four touchdowns. The question is can the Cal defense stop Ward?

Join Morris Phillips Thursdays for Cal Bears football podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA Football podcast with Michelle Richardson: Oklahoma holds off Nebraska 23-16; Michigan State blows past Hurricanes; plus more

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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler (17) lead the Sooners to a 23-16 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-16 on Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Football podcast with Michelle:

#1 Number 3 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-16 on Saturday. The Sooners just got by the Cornhuskers in the first quarter the Sooners outscored the Cornhuskers 7-3 after that the Cornhuskers matched the Sooners in the second quarter a 0-0 shutout, in the third quarter the Sooners outscoring the Cornhuskers 9-6 and in the four quarter a 7-7 score.

#2 Michelle how shocked were you to see #1 Michigan State Spartans defeat #2 Miami Hurricanes 38-17. The Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne was 18-31 for 261 yards and threw a lot of touchdowns four of them in the win.

#3 No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated No.11 the Florida Gators 31-29 in a close contest. The Gators scored six in the fourth quarter but came up short by two to tie it and the Crimson Tide remain perfect at 3-0. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young went 22 for 35 for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

Michelle’s Final thoughts

Michelle does the NCAA Football podcasts each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com