Cal Bears finally score touchdowns - beat UCLA on the road

The California Golden Bears hadn't won in Southern California since 2002. Cal hadn't won in Pasadena since Oct. 16, 1999. More importantly, the Golden Bears hadn't scored a touchdown in eight straight quarters spanning two consecutive blowout losses.

Saturday, all of those streaks came to an end as the Golden Bears (4-2, 1-2 Pac-10) defeated the UCLA Bruins (3-3, 0-3 Pac-10) 45-26 in a game that Cal led the entire way.

Cal took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on seven plays in drive that lasted 2:42 and ended with a 42-yard run by Shane Vereen for the touchdown. While Kevin Riley took the brunt of the criticism during Cal's two-game losing streak, it was because of the offensive line that the Bears were unable to consistently score over the previous two games. On the opening drive, the line came through, allowing Riley time to throw and opening up good running lanes for Jahvid Best and Vereen.

After the first drive, Cal struggled to move the ball and was unable to gain another first down the rest of the first quarter. Due to a strip by Trevor Guyton of UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince, and a recovery by Devin Bishop, Riley was able to connect with Marvin Jones for a 43-yard touchdown to put Cal up 14-0.

UCLA didn't lay down. On the following kickoff, Terrence Austin returned the kick 50 yards to give the Bruins a starting field position at the Bears' 39-yard line. Four plays later, Johnathan Franklin rushed seven yards for UCLA's first touchdown of the game.

In the second quarter, Best made his first highlight of the game by taking a short sideline pass from Riley 51 yards for a touchdown, after getting isolated with a linebacker, to make the score 21-7, Cal. The two-score lead wouldn't last long. On the Bruins' very next offensive play, Franklin ran 74 yards for a touchdown score to bring UCLA back to within seven.

With a little more than five minutes left in the half, Best would turn a three-yard loss into a signature play that should help his Heisman bid. After getting past a couple of men in the backfield on a play to the left of the line, Best maneuvered right and dodged a defender and then outran the rest of the Bruins to the sideline where he turned on his prolific afterburners towards the goal line. The play turned the score into a two-touchdown game at 28-14.

After that, neither defense would be able to prevent any scoring. UCLA's next possession yielded a Kai Forbath 24-yard chip shot, to inch the Bruins to within 11 points, but the Bears weren't done. Riley led Cal on a seven play, 80 yard drive lasting 2:05, for another touchdown--this time a 24-yard toss to Jones. Unfortunately for Cal, 46-seconds was plenty of time for Prince to drive the Bruins within field goal range. Forbath was good on a 39-yard field goal that left the score 35-20, Cal at the half.

The second half consisted of three field goals in the third quarter (two for UCLA and one for Cal), and a Mychal Kendricks interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

Cal will next face the Washington State Cougars at home, while the Bruins will go up against the Arizona Wildcats on the road.

On the day, Riley was 14-23 for 205 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Vereen outrushed Best, rushing 17 times for 154 yards and one touchdown. Best ran 18 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. Both runners also had two receptions, Best for 52 yards and a score, Vereen for 20 yards. Marvin Jones led all Cal receivers with four receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

NOTES:

• Shane Vereen played in front of his father, who was on the sidelines doing the sound for ABC.
• Jeff Tedford got a Gatorade bath from a few of his players for the win.
• Syd'Quan Thompson was out of pads and on the sidelines in the second half. There was no injury information available at the time of this posting.
• After a shaky extra point (he kicked three), Vince D'Amato was on the sidelines. Giorgio Tavecchio came in and performed well the rest of the day in both kickoffs and field goals/PAT's. No reason has been given as to why Tedford made the switch.
• After starting the game a little shaky with a 24-yard punt, Anger finished the game strong averaging 50.4 yards per punt with one inside the 20 and a long of 72 yards.

FINAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th T California  14 21 3 7 45 UCLA 7 13 6 0 26 Rose Bowl - Pasadena

Team Statistics   California UCLA First Downs 17 18 Rushing 11 4 Passing 5 12 Penalty 1 2 3rd-Down efficiency 6-16-38% 4-15-27% 4th-Down efficiency 0-0--% 0-1-0% Total net yards 493 446 Total plays 65 71 Average gain 7.6 6.3 Net yards rushing 288 133 Rushes 41 25 Average per rush 7.0 5.3 Net yards passing 205 313 Completed-attempted 14-23 22-43 Yards per pass 8.5 6.8 Sacked-yards lost 1-4 3-23 Had intercepted 0 1 Return Yardage 125 237 Punts-returns 2-10 4-40 Kickoffs-returns 2-46 7-197 Interceptions-returns 1-69 0-0 Penalties-yards 6-65 7-60 Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

1st Quarter TD 12:18 Shane Vereen 42 yard TD run (Vince D'Amato Extra Point) TD 4:54 Marvin Jones 43 yard TD pass from Kevin Riley (Vince D'Amato Extra Point) TD 2:52 Johnathan Franklin 7 yard TD run (Kai Forbath Extra Point) 2nd Quarter TD 9:41 Jahvid Best 51 yard TD pass from Kevin Riley (Vince D'Amato Extra Point) TD 9:23 Johnathan Franklin 74 yard TD run (Kai Forbath Extra Point) TD 5:05 Jahvid Best 93 yard TD run (Giorgio Tavecchio Extra Point) FG 2:51 Kai Forbath 24 yard field goal TD 0:46 Marvin Jones 24 yard TD pass from Kevin Riley (Giorgio Tavecchio Extra Point) FG 0:00 Kai Forbath 39 yard field goal 3rd Quarter FG 11:41 Kai Forbath 46 yard field goal FG 6:42 Giorgio Tavecchio 24 yard field goal FG 3:05 Kai Forbath 35 yard field goal 4th Quarter TD 5:05 Mychal Kendricks 69 yard interception return for TD (Giorgio Tavecchio Extra Point)