Cal Football Game Thread: Bears Topple Colorado With Ease, 26-3
Cal opened the second half of its schedule with a decisive 26-3 win over Colorado in front of 36,264 fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Bears (2-5, 1-3) also secured their first win this season over an FBS opponent. Their only previous victory came at the expense of Sacramento State, an FCS level squad.
Chase Garbers was 22 for 29 for 225 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for a career-best 96 yards on 10 carries and in the process broke Joe Kapp's 63-year-old school record for career rushing yards by a quarterback.
Kapp, whose career ended in the 1959 Rose Bowl, rushed for 931 yards. Garbers now has 1,025.
Colorado (2-5, 1-3) was never competitive in this one a week after beating winless Arizona 34-0. The Buffaloes had just 13 yards of offense in the second half.
SECOND HALF
End of 3rd Qtr: Neither team scored in a briskly played period. Cal's defense held the Buffaloes to 19 yards and one first down in the period. The Bears were a little better -- 85 yards and five first downs, but no points. Cal 23, CU 3.
4:56 4th Q: Dario Longhetto kicked a 33-yard field goal to cap the scoring, his career-best fourth of the game. Cal 26, Colorado 3.
FIRST HALF
Coin flip: Cal won the toss and deferred. The Bears will kickoff, defending the north goal.
11:40 1st Q: Chase Garbers takes off scrambling and goes 39 yards to the Colorado 31-yard line. In the process, he breaks Joe Kapp's 63-year school record for career rushing by a quarterback. Garbers now has 968. Cal 0, CU 0.
9:42 1st Q: Dario Longhetto kicks a season-long 49-yard field goal after the Bears go nowhere following Garbers' long run. Cal 3, CU 0.
7:26 1st Q: Cal defense stops Jarek Broussard for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Bears' 49. The play followed a 9-yard scramble by QB Brendon Lewis, who appeared to get a terrible spot by the officials. Cal takes over at the 50. Cal 3, CU 0.
6:05 1st Q: Garbers throws a 24-yard TD pass to freshman tight end Keleki Latu, who makes his first collegiate reception a big one. Cal goes 50 yards in 3 plays. Christopher Brooks had an 18-yard run the play before the touchdown. Cal 10, CU 0.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Garbers just ran 17 yards on a designed keeper and he now has 55 rushing yards (his earlier 39-yard run was changed to 38 yards). He is 3-for-5 passing for 55 yards. Cal has outgained the Buffaloes 143 yards to 72. Cal 10, CU 0.
,
9:23 2nd Q: Longhetto kicks a 30-yard field goal, capping a 14-play, 68-yard drive. The key play: Garbers passes 15 yards to Jeremiah Hunter on fourth-and-4 for a first down at the Colorado 17. Cal 13, CU 0.
6:41 2nd Q: CU is on the board after a 33-yard FG by Cole Becker. The key play was a 67-yard kickoff return by Brenden Rice -- yes, the son of Jerry Rice -- to the Cal 33. Cal 13, CU 3.
3:21 2nd Q: Cal answers with a six-play, 66-yard scoring drive set up by Nikko Remigio's 34-yard kickoff return. Garbers completed a 25-yard pass to Kekoa Crawford on a third-and-5 play to the Colorado 46. He found TE Gavin Reinwald all alone down the right sideline for a 31-yard TD - the third different tight end he's hooked up with today, and the second that went for a score. Cal 20, CU 3.
0:00 2nd Q: Longhetto making a play for Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after a season-best 51-yard FG on the final play of the half. He had a 52-yarder on the final play of the first half against Oregon State last season. Cal went 50 yards in seven plays in the final minute to get in range for the kick. Garbers had passes of 7 and 19 yards to Trevon Clark, the latter getting the ball to the CU 33. Garbers spiked the ball with 2 seconds left, leaving time for the field goal. Cal 23, CU 3.
HALFTIME STATS: Cal is dominating this game in every way. Up 23-3, the Bears have outgained Colorado 297 yards to 91. Average gain per play is 8.5 yards for Cal to 2.9 for the Buffaloes. First downs are 14 to 6. Longhetto has field goals of 49, 30 and 52 yards. The Bears have not punted while scoring on all five possessions.
Garbers having a very efficient game: 12-for-15 passing for 161 yards with 2 TDs, 0 INTs and a 214.2 passing rating. He also had 7 rushes for 82 yards, putting him over 1,000 rushing yards for his career - 1,013. He has completed passes to eight different receivers.
The Cal defense has held RB Jarek Broussard to 28 yards on 11 rushes. The Bears have 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. Cal 23, CU 3.
.
Here is some pre-game reading:
Cover photo of Cal running back Christopher Brooks by Kyle Terada, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
