126th Big Game Thread: Cal Throttles Stanford 27-15; Bowl Hopes Still Alive

Favored Bears have beaten Stanford the past three seasons; UCLA next Saturday will settle bowl eligibility.

Cal beat Stanford 27-15 at Stanford Stadium to improve to 5-6 overall, 3-5 in the Pac-12 and remain alive in its hope of becoming bowl eligible.

The Bears must beat UCLA in Pasadena next Saturday to reach six victories and bowl eligibility.

Fernando Mendoza was 24 or 36 for a career-high 294 yards with three touchdown passes - also a career best - and one interception. Trond Grizzell caught seven of his passes for 136 yards and two TDs.

Jaydn Ott ran the ball a career-high 36 times for 166 yards and a TD

PRE-GAME PERSONNEL UPDATE: The following players are not dressed today for Cal:

5 Raymond Woodie III, safety 

22 Isaiah Ifanse, RB 

36 Thomas Lee, P 

55 Muelu Iosefa, ILB 

99 Ethan Saunders, DE

COIN TOSS: Stanford wins the toss, defers and will kick off to Cal.

5:03 1st Q: Cal goes 88 yards in 7 plays with Fernando Mendoza passing 9 yards to Trond Grizzell for the touchdown. Mendoza also had a shovel pass to Mavin Anderson for 11 yards and a completion of 32 yards to Jack Endries. Cal 7, Stanford 0.

0:22 1st Q: Joshua Karty, the most efficient placekicker in the Pac-12, delivers on a 44-yard field goal, capping a 12-play, 49-yard drive. Stanford was flagged for offensive pass interference on the previous play, but Cl declined the penalty, giving the Cardinal fourth-and-20 from the 26. Big play on the drive was a 31-yard completion from Ashton Daniels to tight end Sam Roush to the Cal 31. The pass was initially ruled incomplete with Roush catching it out of bounds on the right sideline. After an official review, the decision was reversed. Cal 7, Stanford 3.

FIRST QUARTER STATS: Cal has outgained the Cardinal 149 yards to 91. Mendoza is 8 for 13 for 115 yards and a touchdown. Stanford's Daniels is 5 for 10 for 58 yards. Ott has 7 carries for 30 yards. Cal has 9 first downs to 4 for Stanford. Cal 7, Stanford 3.

13:13 2nd Q: Mendoza throws a 54-yard touchdown pass to Grizzell, a strike down the middle over safety Omari Porter. That capped a five-play, 75-yard drive. Grizzell now has two TD catches and Mendoza has his fifth game with two TD passes and 10 in six starts. Cal 14, Stanford 7. 

0:54 2nd Q: Karty kicks a 53-yard FG as Stanford went 27 yards in 10 plays to score. Cal 14, Stanford 6.

HALFTIME STATS: Cal has 271 total yards, compared to 129 for Stanford. Mendoza is 14 for 24 for 203 yards with two TDs and one INT. Ott has 14 rushes for 64 yards and one reception for 13 more yards. Grizzell has four catches for 97 yards and two TDs.

The Bears have a 16-6 advantage in first downs but have committed the game's only turnover. The Cardinal gets the ball first to start the second half. Cal 14, Stanford 6.

5:45 3rd Q: Ott scores on a 1-yard run and the Bears extend their lead despite losing their quarterback. Mendoza was hit hard by linebacker Tristan Sinclair and stayed on the ground for a couple minutes with 6:32 left. Sinlclair was flagged for targeting, a ruling that was confirmed after review, and he was disqualified. The 15-yard penalty gave Cal a first down at the Stanford 13. Ben Finley took over at QB and on second down Ott raced 12 yards to the 1. He scored on the next play, giving him 108 yards on 20 carries. Cal 21, Stanford 6.

4:25 3rd Q: Stanford needed only three plays to get back within a touchdown. Daniels ran for 15 yards on first down, threw a 19-yard pass to Bryce Farrell and then delivered a perfectly thrown 59-yard strike to Tiger Bachmeier, who caught the ball while diving into the end zone. Daniels scrambled to the left pylon to convert the two-point conversion try. However, officials reviewed the play and determined Daniels was short of the goal line. Cal 21, Stanford 12.  

0:46 3rd Q: Karty kicks his third field goal in the final minute of a quarter, delivering a 50-yarder to a cap seven-play, 27-yard drive. Karty now has FGs of 44, 53 and 50 yards. Daniels had two keepers for 24 yards on the possession. Cal 21, Stanford 15.

10:19 4th Q: Mendoza completes four passes during a 59-yard scoring drive, and hits Jeremiah Hunter with an 8-yard TD to extend the Bears' lead. Mendoza has three TD passes in a game for the first time in his career. Cal came up short on a two-point conversion try. Cal 27, Stanford 15.

Cover photo of Cal celebrating its 2021 Big Game victory at Stanford by Stan Szeto, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo