Cal-UCLA Thread: Bears Ready to Go Bowling After Dominant 33-7 Rout of UCLA
Cal needed a victory over UCLA in the final Pac-12 regular-season ever, and the Bears delivered an emphatic 33-7 triumph Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Cal (6-6, 4-5) is eligible to play in the postseason for the first time since 2019.
The Bears, 9.5-point underdogs, forced four turnovers and had six sacks to manhandle the Bruins (7-5, 4-5).
Fernando Mendoza overcame two first-half interceptions to throw a pair of touchdowns and Jaydn Ott gave Cal the lead for good with a 100-yard dash to the end zone on his first-ever collegiate kickoff return.
PRE-GAME PERSONNEL UPDATES: Cal players who are not dressed for tonight -- safety Raymond Woodie III, running back Isaiah Ifanse, inside linebackers Muelu Iosefa and Nate Rutchena, and defensive linemen Stanley Saole-McKenzie and Ethan Saunders. Ready to go after being injured last week during the Big Game is freshman inside linebacker Cade Uluave.
9:05 1st Q: Patrick McMorris tips a pass thrown by UCLA freshman QB Dante Moore and safety Craig Woodson picks it off in the end zone for a touchback. The Bruins had marched from their own 25 to the Cal 20 when starting QB Ethan Garbers was pressured and hit by Xavier Carlton and David Reese on a second-and-8 play. The loose ball was scooped up and returned 100 yards to the end zone by Cal CB Lu-Magia Hearns, an apparent touchdown. On review, officials ruled it an incomplete pass. Garbers was injured on the play, prompting Moore to come on and his one play went badly. Cal 0, UCLA 0.
5:25 1st Q: The Bears convert the UCLA turnover for three points as Mateen Bhaghani kicks a 43-yard field goal, capping a seven-play, 54-yard drive. The big play was Fernando Mendoza's 48-yard completion to Jeremiah Hunter on a third-and-11 play to the UCLA 32-yard line. Cal 3, UCLA 0.
3:57 1st Q: Bruins go 3-and-out with Moore at QB, and punt to Cal. Injured Garbers is on the sidelines. Cal 3, UCLA 0.
0:37 1st Q: The Bears have scored on each of their first two possessions, this time going 43 yards in nine plays before Bhaghani delivered a 36-yard field goal. Mendoza had a 21-yard pass completion to TE Jack Endries, but the Bears also benefitted from a 15-yard pass interference penalty and a rarely called defensive delay of game, good for a first down on a fourth-and-1 play from the UCLA 26. Cal 6, UCLA 0.
11:54 2nd Q: Freshman linebacker Cade Uluave stops Carson Steele for a 3-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the Bears' 20-yard line, giving the ball back to the Cal offense. Cal 6, UCLA 0.
10:06 2nd Q: Mendoza is pressured by All-American edge Laiatu Latu and overthrows Jeremiah Hunter, his pass picked off by Kamari Ramsey at the UCLA 35. A dead-ball personal foul penalty against Hunter moves the ball to the 50. Cal 6, UCLA 0.
6:58 2nd Q: UCLA's Blake Glessner misses wide left on a 23-yard chip-shot field goal and the Bruins waste a great chance to get on the board. Cal 6, UCLA 0.
5:43 2nd Q: UCLA goes ahead after a 5-yard TD pass from Dante Moore to Logan Loya and the ensuing PAT. The TD was set up by DE Laiatu Latu's interception and return to the Cal 8-yard line. Latu baited Mendoza, dropping into coverage to pick off the pass. UCLA 7, Cal 6.
5:27 2nd Q: UCLA's lead lasted just 16 seconds as Jaydn Ott - put back on kick return last week for the first time - returns the ensuing kickoff 100 yards, untouched, for a touchdown on the first return of his career. Cal 13, UCLA 7.
0:10 2nd Q: Mendoza drills a 14-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Hunter on third-and-13 and Cal builds on its lead. The defense got the ball back when DE David Reese used an impressive spin over to sack Dante Moore, who fumbles with Brett Johnson recovering for the Bears at the 11-yard line with 48 seconds left. Cal 20, UCLA 7.
HALFTIME STATS: Cal 20, UCLA 7. UCLA has outgained Cal 188 yards to 163 but the Bears have made big plays. Fernando Mendoza has been picked off twice but is 15 for 21 for 144 yards and a touchdown. The Bears have two sacks and have forced two turnovers of their own.
And Ott, although he has gained just 11 yards from scrimmage on nine rushing attempts against one of the nation's tough run defenses, had the 100-yard kickoff return the erased UCLA's only lead of the game.
Jeremiah Hunter has 7 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Cal gets the ball to start the second half.
12:43 3rd Q: The Bruins moved from their own 12 to the Cal 40 when Cade Uluave intercepted a pass by Dante Moore, giving the Bears the ball back at their own 35-yard line. Moore's third turnover of the night - 2 INTs and a lost fumble. Cal 20, UCLA 7.
14:56 4th Q: Bhaghani kicks his third field goal of the night, a 32-yarder, and Cal now leads by 16 points. The Bears went 48 yards in 10 plays after stopping the Bruins on downs. UCLA has drives of 14, 10 and 15 plays that netted zero points. Cal 23, UCLA 7.
13:35 4th Q: Hunter Barth with a big hit that causes UCLA KO return man Colson Yankoff to cough up the football. Michael Luckhurst, the kicker, recovers the fumble for the Bears at the UCLA 25. Mendoza passes 11 yards to Mavin Anderson to the 14 and, on third-and-9 from the 13, delivers a perfect fade pass to Hunter, who beats cornerback Jon Humphrey for the TD. Hunter has 8 catches, 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cal 30, UCLA 7.
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Some pre-game reading material:
-- Our comprehensive game preview
-- We explore where the Bears most likely will play in a bowl game, if they get there
-- The challenge facing Cal in a ferocious UCLA defense
-- 5 Questions for a UCLA beat writer
-- Might we see freshman RB Jaivian Thomas tonight?
-- Our game picks for the final weekend of the Pac-12 regular season
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Cover photo of Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza by Robert Edwards, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
