He rushed 10 times for 22 yards in his first game back after missing the previous two. Though Cal has one of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation, Goff has just one target ranked in the top 100 nationally for receptions: Kenny Lawler. Even if there are more points than that, the game could come down to whichever D can produce more momentum-shifting plays and/or turnovers. In front of a sold out Rice Eccles Stadium punch drunk and tired already from waking up at dawn to party with Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and the ESPN GameDay media circus, no less. Suddenly, you started connecting dots: Wouldn’t a win over Utah, which had throttled Oregon and beaten Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, put Cal in position for its first Rose Bowl in 57 years, if not in contention for a Final Four berth?
Advertisement
The meetings they call “Real Talk” happen on a weekend day in the locker room after breakfast, led by director of basketball operations Marco Harris. “But I think it’s going to go down to the wire”.
If Utah wins they will need to be consistent and not slip up in the last half of the season.
“I’m disappointed for them because they prepared hard”.
California and Utah fans cheer in the first half during an NCAA…
Wilson threw two interceptions in the second quarter but redeemed himself with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Cory Butler-Byrd. California recovered the ball.
“I told everybody, ‘The last play is going to come down to me, and I’m going to get a pick-six, ‘” Hobbs said. “Sometimes when you want to win really badly, you might try and do a little too much”. He was tough on himself afterward.
“It was the first big test for us and unfortunately I played terribly”, Goff said”.
Receiver Stephen Anderson conceded the game was a missed opportunity.
“Heck of a game”, Whittingham said. “We’ll look at the tape and talk to him a little. We made plays down the stretch and, as a result, we’ve won a few ballgames”. He surpassed 2,000 yards for his career.
“We’re pretty beat up”.
“That’s a good question”, Cal coach Sonny Dykes said. “We’ll rest up for a couple days and start getting ready for UCLA”. Who knew that USC – with another endangered, high-paid coach in Steve Sarkisian – would have two losses before mid-October while Cal and Utah would be the Pac-12’s only remaining unbeatens.
BACK IN THE TRENCHES: Utah defensive end Hunter Dimick is expected to be back on the field after missing the last two games while injured.
Wilson was quickly intercepted once again, this time by Devante Downs, who gave Cal the ball at Utah’s 29.
It’s just one game, so it’s important not to overreact, but this was really bad.
California quarterback Jared Goff (16) reacts to throwing an… Cal has lost three of its past four games to the Utes. Utah is looking to win its second straight and tie the series, which Cal now leads 5-4. But the Bears have yet to face a running back like Booker. Goff, who turns 21 on Wednesday, moved ahead of former Stanford great John Elway (9,349 yards).
Advertisement
HOPEFULLY HEALTHY: Cal running back Daniel Lasco returned last week from a hip injury but didn’t look like a preseason Doak Walker award candidate. Paul had seven tackles and his second interception on the season. But that was the only sack logged by the Bears, who entered the game averaging a conference-best 3.6 per game.
