Stealing a page from Ted Miller and his mates at ESPN:
The Bears head to Australia a little lighter on depth than they had hoped when camped started. Several newcomers for whom they had high hopes have struggled to stay healthy including the tight hamstrings of 5 star WR Demetris Robertson and the shoulder of RS Frosh Jaylinn Hawkins. Further, David Davis was not granted a six year of eligibility and fellow DT, RS freshman Luc Bequette has a high ankle sprain. Finally, Devante Downs has a bad back and while flying to Australia is questionable.
A sleepy national audience catches a decisive Cal victory over the Rainbows, 38-17. Davis Webb and Chase Forest both played and shined at moments. Sloppy play from a young WR group and a bad interception from each of the QBs marred the offensive performance. Defensively, Cal started quickly, shutting out the Rainbows in the first half yet tired as the game continued allowing Hawaii to gain nearly 200 yards on the ground.
A trip to SDSU proved to be disappointing. A late Aztec FG sealed the victory, 27-26. Webb was solid but threw an untimely interception late that set up the winning FG. Cal's run defense again struggled, failing to contain Pumphrey who had 145 yards. Adding real injury to insult, Cal DT James Looney was helped off the field in the 3rd quarter.
Cal returned home to face a Texas team with the same record. Texas lost a tough one against ND before waxing an overmatched UTEP squad. For the 2nd year in a row, fans were able to watch a shootout, one in which Cal's running game sealed the victory with two long 4th quarter drives agains a tired Longhorn team. The final 48-45 came with over 1000 yards of total offense. Cal QB Davis Webb had a great day with 4 TD passes, including one to Demetris Robertson who is finally healthy. The Bears defense despite struggling to contain Texas' running backs had two key turnovers which led to TDs.
Cal went on the road to face the Sun Devils and beat ASU 31-21. The Sun Devils continued to struggle with a young OL, allowing 5 sacks with frosh QB White throwing 2 Interceptions. Cal's offense looked good in spurts though an errant red zone interception by Webb and a costly goal line fumble by Khalfani Muhammed made the score closer than the game appeared.
After a loss at home vs Utah in which they were physically outmatched, the Bears got back on the winning track with a solid 38-24 victory over the Beavers. Cal continues to struggle stopping the run and Oregon State had a season high 210 yards on the ground in the loss.
The Ducks came to town and took advantage of Cal's run defense early and its pass defense late (after the Bears resorted to a putting 8 and then 9 men in the box) to run away with a 44-17 victory. Injuries continue to pile up for the Bears as Davante Downs bad hip resulted in his being carted off the field and Darius Allensworth appears to have broken a bone in his hand.
Two teams struggling to figure it out met at the LA Coliseum with USC getting a closer than expected victory over Cal, 31-27. The Bears scored late on a long catch and run by Melquise Stovall after USCs running game controlled the clock and the Bears failed to mount any type of pass rush without starting DL James Looney and Davante Wilson (who was hurt this week in practice).
The Pac 12 North leading UW Huskies came to Berkely as solid 6.5 point favorites and instead came away with a loss. Davis Webb and Chad Hansen hooked up for two TD passes and the Bears gained 175 yards on the ground against a heretofore stout Husky defense. An interception late by Cameron Walker sealed the 30-24 victory for Cal.
A bad loss at the Palouse was followed by a hard fought Big Game vs. a Stanford team that came in with only one loss and as a 9 point favorite. The Bears mounted a strong ball control running attack mixed in with several big plays from their young WR corps to go into the 4th quarter with a ten point lead. Christian MacAffrey then led a Cardinal run game that wore down the Bears front 6 and resulted in two long TD drives, the latter of which was the difference maker in the Stanford win.
Now missing 3 starters from its front six, Cal faced a UCLA team that was playing for a berth in the Pac 12 championship game against Stanford. A back and forth affair that was marred by 4 interceptions, 2 each for Rosen and Webb and far less scoring than was expected. A valiant Cal comeback was foiled by a Matt Anderson miss from 44 yards as time expired.
The Bears finish 5-7 and do not get to a Bowl game. Sonny Dykes despite signing an extension just one year previous finds himself on the hot seat.
The Bears head to Australia a little lighter on depth than they had hoped when camped started. Several newcomers for whom they had high hopes have struggled to stay healthy including the tight hamstrings of 5 star WR Demetris Robertson and the shoulder of RS Frosh Jaylinn Hawkins. Further, David Davis was not granted a six year of eligibility and fellow DT, RS freshman Luc Bequette has a high ankle sprain. Finally, Devante Downs has a bad back and while flying to Australia is questionable.
A sleepy national audience catches a decisive Cal victory over the Rainbows, 38-17. Davis Webb and Chase Forest both played and shined at moments. Sloppy play from a young WR group and a bad interception from each of the QBs marred the offensive performance. Defensively, Cal started quickly, shutting out the Rainbows in the first half yet tired as the game continued allowing Hawaii to gain nearly 200 yards on the ground.
A trip to SDSU proved to be disappointing. A late Aztec FG sealed the victory, 27-26. Webb was solid but threw an untimely interception late that set up the winning FG. Cal's run defense again struggled, failing to contain Pumphrey who had 145 yards. Adding real injury to insult, Cal DT James Looney was helped off the field in the 3rd quarter.
Cal returned home to face a Texas team with the same record. Texas lost a tough one against ND before waxing an overmatched UTEP squad. For the 2nd year in a row, fans were able to watch a shootout, one in which Cal's running game sealed the victory with two long 4th quarter drives agains a tired Longhorn team. The final 48-45 came with over 1000 yards of total offense. Cal QB Davis Webb had a great day with 4 TD passes, including one to Demetris Robertson who is finally healthy. The Bears defense despite struggling to contain Texas' running backs had two key turnovers which led to TDs.
Cal went on the road to face the Sun Devils and beat ASU 31-21. The Sun Devils continued to struggle with a young OL, allowing 5 sacks with frosh QB White throwing 2 Interceptions. Cal's offense looked good in spurts though an errant red zone interception by Webb and a costly goal line fumble by Khalfani Muhammed made the score closer than the game appeared.
After a loss at home vs Utah in which they were physically outmatched, the Bears got back on the winning track with a solid 38-24 victory over the Beavers. Cal continues to struggle stopping the run and Oregon State had a season high 210 yards on the ground in the loss.
The Ducks came to town and took advantage of Cal's run defense early and its pass defense late (after the Bears resorted to a putting 8 and then 9 men in the box) to run away with a 44-17 victory. Injuries continue to pile up for the Bears as Davante Downs bad hip resulted in his being carted off the field and Darius Allensworth appears to have broken a bone in his hand.
Two teams struggling to figure it out met at the LA Coliseum with USC getting a closer than expected victory over Cal, 31-27. The Bears scored late on a long catch and run by Melquise Stovall after USCs running game controlled the clock and the Bears failed to mount any type of pass rush without starting DL James Looney and Davante Wilson (who was hurt this week in practice).
The Pac 12 North leading UW Huskies came to Berkely as solid 6.5 point favorites and instead came away with a loss. Davis Webb and Chad Hansen hooked up for two TD passes and the Bears gained 175 yards on the ground against a heretofore stout Husky defense. An interception late by Cameron Walker sealed the 30-24 victory for Cal.
A bad loss at the Palouse was followed by a hard fought Big Game vs. a Stanford team that came in with only one loss and as a 9 point favorite. The Bears mounted a strong ball control running attack mixed in with several big plays from their young WR corps to go into the 4th quarter with a ten point lead. Christian MacAffrey then led a Cardinal run game that wore down the Bears front 6 and resulted in two long TD drives, the latter of which was the difference maker in the Stanford win.
Now missing 3 starters from its front six, Cal faced a UCLA team that was playing for a berth in the Pac 12 championship game against Stanford. A back and forth affair that was marred by 4 interceptions, 2 each for Rosen and Webb and far less scoring than was expected. A valiant Cal comeback was foiled by a Matt Anderson miss from 44 yards as time expired.
The Bears finish 5-7 and do not get to a Bowl game. Sonny Dykes despite signing an extension just one year previous finds himself on the hot seat.
