GO BEARS!
Wow!
Cal quarterback Kevin Riley just put in the defining, gut-check, performance of his career. The junior signal caller did what kids dream about: directing his team to a come-from-behind fourth quarter drive that ended in a field goal to give the California Golden Bears their all important sixth win, 23 to 21.
Cal is now 6 and 2, bowl eligible, and could run the table to go 10 and 2. The dream of a Rose Bowl bid is now one step closer to reality.
Cal started the game with a plan to get the ball to star running back Jahvid Best by land and by air. The first play was a fake out of the "cockeyed I" formation, where Best was placed at fullback. He ran to the flat to make a catch and pick up about nine yards.
Then Cal Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig put Best in at the wing position in a three-receiver set, and had him run a delayed fake pattern. Riley found him and Best scored a touchdown to put Cal up by two scores. Cal rolled up over 200 yards and 15 first downs, and Riley was 15 of 23 for 182 yards before the half.
But then the wheels came off as Ludwig and Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford fell into the bad habit of trying to throw deep, which takes time, and placing Riley in a position to be rushed and sacked. (Bleacher Report called the offensive play calling "offensive" and I agree.)
Riley fumbled the ball three times in this game, all on pass attempts. ASU's offense had enough chances such that, eventually, they took the lead by one point, and Cal's fantasy season that could lead to The Rose Bowl seemed in trouble.
That's when Kevin Riley went to work.
Getting the ball deep in Cal territory with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Riley threw for 22 yards, and in a moment, the Golden Bears were at midfield. Then after a penalty for offensive pass interference, deft pocket movement by Riley caused Cal to regain the lost yardage, then pick up a first down a play later. Cal was in the Red Zone.
And while a questionable fake-run-throw by Shane Vereen out of a variation of The Wildcat formation almost worked, Cal's second field goal in the last quarter (the first one was missed) sealed the deal. Game over.
GO BEARS!
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