Missed Opportunities Cost Bears

The California Golden Bears amassed just 165 yards of total offense, but they still had opportunities to score touchdowns. Nate Longshore got the start, but Coach Jeff Tedford called upon Kevin Riley in the second half. He completed just 4-of-15 passes for 59 yards in the 17-3 loss to USC on Saturday night in Los Angeles…

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Watch the video highlights of Saturday night's game HERE!

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Game Notes

Kevin Riley completed less than 30% of his passes for a porous 3.9 average per attempt.

Jahvid Best finished with 30 yards rushing, his second lowest output of the season. He rushed for just 25 yards at Maryland before leaving the game with an injury. Tedford says Best is still not 100%, but he was healthy enough to play Saturday night against the Pac-10’s top defense.

Will Ta’ufo’ou had the longest rush of the evening, a 21-yard scamper in the second half for a first down. It was only one of 13 Cal first downs that came by rush. Eight came by pass and four by penalty.

Verran Tucker made the catch of the year, when he reached up with one hand to pull down a Riley near the sideline in third quarter. He finished with three receptions for 40 yards.

Syd’Quan Thompson’s only punt return for the evening went for 21 yards. It set up Cal with excellent field position at the USC 36 yard line. However, Cal failed to score. The drive last just three plays and lost two yards ending in Bryan Anger punt. It was the only Bear drive that started inside USC territory.

Cal had three other drives end in USC territory. The Bears scored a Giorgio Tavecchio 35-yard field goal with 8:21 left in the second quarter for their only points. One drive ended in Riley interception in the end zone, and the other was a punt.

California allowed four sacks on the evening, three on Riley and one on Longshore. And in Longshore’s, he stumbled to ground before being tackled. Tedford’s main reasoning for inserting Riley in the second half was his ability to avoid the pass rush.

The Bears recorded three sacks on USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Michael Mohamed, Tyson Alualu, and Cameron Jordan each had one. Jordan’s came on the final play of the first half as Sanchez was attempting a Hail Mary from the Cal 49. Jordan says he believed the sack swung some of the momentum Cal’s way.

Doss Report recap and more coverage coming…

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