Independence Bowl Thread: Cal Starts Fast But Outplayed by Texas Tech in 34-14 Loss

Golden Bears fails to finish the season with a 4-game streak for the first time since 1993.

Cal led 7-0 and 14-7 but did little after that in a 31-14 loss to Texas Tech at the Independence Bowl in front of 33,071 fans at Shreveport, Louisiana, on Saturday night.

The Bears (6-7) held leads of 7-0 and 14-7 but the Red Raiders (7-6) dominated thereafter.

The Bears were limited to a total of 80 yards combined in the second and third quarters in their final game representing the Pac-12 Conference. Cal will join the Atlantic Coast Conference next fall.

Cal had hopes to finish the season with four consecutive wins for the first time since 1993. Instead, the Bears absorbed a 20-point defeat in their Pac-12 farewell.

Pre-game roster news: Starting defensive lineman Brett Johnson, who started all 12 regular-season games after missing the past two seasons due to hip and knee injuries, will not play tonight. Also, backup RB Isaiah Ifanse, who has missed the past half-dozen games, is out. Others who won't play include DL Darius Long Jr. and DL Ethan Saunders.

14:45 1st Q: DeJuan Butler forces a fumble by Texas Tech KO return man Drae McCray and kicker Michael Luckhurst recovers at the 25-yard line. Cal takes over and Fernando Mendoza uses a play-fake to deliver a 25-yard TD down the middle to WR Monroe Young. The PAT is good. Cal 7, Texas Tech 0.

4:19 1st Q: After Cal fails to convert a fourth-and-2 play from the Texas Tech 5-yard line, the Red Raiders respond with a 10-play, 93-yard drive, capped by Behren Morton's 27-yard TD pass to Coy Eakin. The two connected three times for 52 yards on the drive that would have been interrupted by a Craig Woodson interception, except that it ws nullified by an interference penalty against the Bears.  Cal 7, Texas Tech 7.

2:38 1st Q: Cal answers right back with a five-play, 74-yard drive capped by Jaydn Ott's 1-yard burst into the end zone, his 12th rushing touchdown, his 15th TD overall on his 21st birthday. Big plays on the drive: Mendoza's 16-yard pass to TE Jack Endries and a 51-yard completion to Trond Grizzell to the 1. Mendoza is 7-for-7 for 130 yards. Cal 14, Texas Tech 7.

12:16 2nd Q: Looks like we're in for a shootout. Tech goes 65 yards in 11 plays, aided by an unnecessary roughness, 15-yard penalty against OLB David Reese on a tackle of Tahj Brooks. That gave the Red Raiders a first down at the Cal 15, and Morton delivered a 15-yard TD pass to 6-foot-9 right end Mason Tharp. Cal 14, Texas Tech 14.

9:49 2nd Q: Cal is forced to punt for the first time and the Red Raiders go 59 yards in 5 plays with Morton firing an 11-yard scoring strike to Loic Fouonji for the go-ahead points. The big play: Morton's 41-yard completion to WR Xavier White to the Cal 14. Morton is 13-for-17 for 160 yards with 3 TDs. Texas Tech 21, Cal 14. 

0:03 2nd Q: Gino Garcia kicks a 25-yard field goal to compete a nine-play, 47-yard drive that stretches the Texas Tech margin to 10 points. It could have been worse but 5-foot-10 CB Lu-Magia Hearns broke up a pass in the end zone intended for 6-foot-9 tight end Mason Tharp. Texas Tech 24, Cal 14. 

HALFTIME SUMMARY: Texas Tech 24, Cal 14. The Bears led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter but they managed just 30 yards and one first down in the second period. The Red Raiders now enjoy a total yardage edge of 278 to 213 and a 16-9 first down advantage. 

Fernando Mendoza started 7-for-7 for 130 yards but it 2-for-5 for 2 yards since then. Jaydn Ott has 8 rushes for 41 yards and 1 reception for 11 yards plus 2 kickoff returns for 44 yards. Behren Morton is 17-for-26 for 214 yards and 3 TDs. Neither QB has thrown an interception. Tahj Brooks has rushed 15 times for 71 yards. 

Cal will get the ball first to start the third quarter.

11:29 3rd Q: Cal's opening possession of the third quarter ends when Mendoza's high pass to Grizzell skips off his fingertips and is intercepted by Tyrique Matthews at the Texas Tech 33-yard line. Texas Tech 21, Cal 14.

4:36 3rd Q: This game is beginning to slip away from the Bears. They forced a punt after the turnover, but a subsequent Cal punt from the 5-yard line was returned 24 yards by Xavier White to the 15. Two plays later, Brooks went in untouched from the 7-yard line. Texas Tech 31, Cal 14.

4:08 4th Q: Garcia kicks a 37-yard field goal after the Red Raiders intercept Mendoza for the third time. Texas Tech 34, Cal 14.

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Pre-game reading:

-- Our comprehensive game preview

-- Ott's decision to return to Cal

-- Ott talks about his dreams for next season, including a run at the Heisman

-- A Texas Tech beat writer answers 5 Questions about the Red Raiders

-- A look back at Cal's first 24 bowl appearances

-- Cal and Oregon State schedule non-conference meetings in 2024 and '25

-- Our game picks for all 8 bowl games involving Pac-12 teams

-- Defensive lineman Brett Johnson's remarkable comeback from injuries

Cover photo of Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza by Paul Karge, USA Today 

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