Cal Football: Utah Game Thread - Utes Pull Away For 34-14 Victory
Cal scored first, was even at 7-7 with less than a minute to play in the first half and had the chance to pull within 7 point with just under 8 minutes to play against No. 16 Utah.
But the Bears (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) couldn't make plays in the big moments and lost 34-14 in front of 52,115 fans at Rice Eccles Stadium - Utah's 80th consecutive sellout.
PRE-GAME INJURY UPDATE: Cal players on the depth chart not dressed: 5 Raymond Woodie III, 8 Jackson Sirmon, 10 Sergio Allen, 49 Darius Long Jr., 96 Derek Wilkins, 99 Ethan Saunders. Blake Antzoulatos is scheduled to start in Sirmon's place.
POST-GAME INJURY UPDATE: Coach Justin Wilcox announced that Sirmon, who was injured last week vs. Oregon State, is out for the season. He did not reveal the nature of Sirmon's injury.
Antzoulatos was injured during the Utah game and was replaced by freshman Cade Uluave, a Utah native, who finished with a career-high nine tackles.
Starting right guard Sioape Vatikani, who was injured against Oregon State, was not listed among those held out of Saturday's game. But Bastian Swinney started in his place against the Utes and Vatikani was not listed on the game participation chart.
Here's our game thread:
10:04 1st Q: Both defenses held to start the game. The Bears made things hard on themselves with a holding penalty on the opening kickoff returns a false start and a delay of game, leading to a punt from their own 11-yard line. But Lachlan Wilson unleashed a 58-yard kick with no return, pushing the Utes back to their own 26. They managed one first down before punting. Cal 0, Utah 0.
5:41 1st Q: Fernando Mendoza stands in and takes a hit just after releasing a pass to Jaydn Ott in the right flat. Ott beats a defender who had an angle on him and races untouched down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown. Mendoza also had a 21-yard completion to Taj Davis during the 7-play, 82-yard drive. Cal 7, Utah 0.
1:18 1st Q: Cole Becker misses a 33-yard field goal for the Utes, who had driven from their own 25. Cal 7, Utah 0.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Cal outgains the Utes 126 yards to 79 in the opening 15 minutes. Mendoza is 5-for-6 for 94 yards and a touchdown. Taj Davis has 3 catches for 41 yards and Ott has the 48-yard reception for a TD plus 10 rushing yards. Two Utah QBs are a combined 2-for-6 for 12 yards. Blake Antzoulatos, starting for injured Jackson Sirmon, has 3 tackles. Cal 7, Utah 0.
7:56 2nd Q: Ja'Quinden Jackson scores on a 3-yard run to cap a 10-play, 48-yard drive that ties the score. QB Bryson Barnes converted two third-down plays, scrambling for 11 yards on the first one and completing an 8-yard pass to Mikey Matthews for a first down at the Cal on the second one. The Utes got the ball after LB Lander Barton stepped in front of a pass by Mendoza and returned the INT 2 yards to the Cal 48. Cal 7, Utah 7.
0:26 2nd Q: Sione Vaki, a 208-pound safety enlisted to carry the ball, scores on a 1-yard run to put the Utes ahead just before halftime. The Utes went 89 yards on 15 plays, getting a series of nice plays from QB Barnes. He scrambled for 11 yards on a third-and-4 play. Then he completed a 15-yard pass to Matthews and drew a roughing penalty against Cal's Stanley McKenzie, giving the Utes a first down t the 5. Two plays later, Vaki scored. Utah 14, Cal 7.
HALFTIME SUMMARY: Utah controlled the second quarter with its run game and has rallied from a 7-0 deficit. The Utes rushed for 159 yards in the half and held Cal to 39 on 10 attempts (including an 8-yard loss on a sack). The Bears entered the game averaging 217 rushing yards per game to rank 2nd in the Pac-12.
Mendoza is 7 for 11 for 104 yards with one TD and one INT. Ott has carried the ball just four times for 20 yards. Vaki has 10 for 66, Jackson 13 for 60 and Barnes five for 33 on the ground to power the Utah rushing attack.
The ability to run the ball has allowed the Utes to dominate the ball, running 40 plays to 21 for Cal and building a 19:26 to 10:34 edge in time of possession. Cal had just 17 yards in the second quarter. Utah 14, Cal 7.
10:35 3rd Q: Cole Becker kicks a 23-yard FG to cap an 8-play, 70-yard scoring drive to open the second half. The big play: Barnes completes a 41-yard pass to Devaughn Vale, who beats Lu-Magia Hearns III down the left sideline for a first down at the Cal 12. Utah 17, Cal 7.
9:11 3rd Q: Utah's defense makes the big play that helps the Utes surge into a commanding lead. Jonas Elliss, who leads the Pac-12 in sacks and quarterback hurries, blasts Mendoza with a blindside hit as he set to pass and Cole Bishop recovered for the Utes at the 13. On third-and-1 from the 4, Barnes scores on a delay, pushing the Utes into 17-point advantage. Utah 24, Cal 7.
4:21 3rd Q: The Bears' up-tempo offense was at its best in a 65-yard, six-play drive that consumed just 1 minute, 37 seconds. Mendoza completed a 15-yard pass to TE (and roommate) Jack Endries, ran 13 yards on a keeper for a first down at the Utah 24, then threaded a beautiful pass through the defense, down the middle to Taj Davis for the TD. Utah 24, Cal 14.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: The Utes have totaled 337 yards to 199 for the Bears. Ball control continues to favor the hosts, who have a dominant 61-31 edge in plays and a time of possession advantage of 31:09 to 13:51. The problem for Cal is Utah gaining 5.1 yards per rush while the Bears are getting just 3.1 each time they run it. Cal, which ran for nearly 250 yards last week against Oregon State, has just 50 yards on 16 rushes in this one. Utah 24, Cal 14.
7:49 4th Q: The Bears squandered a golden opportunity to get closer when Mateen Bhaghani misses a 30-yard field goal after a 57-yard drive that had a little bit of everything. Mendoza left the game after taking a big hit, and was seen limping on the sideline the next seven plays as the Bears carried on with Ben Finley at quarterback. Finley completed a 20-yard pass to Taj Davis to the Utah 25. Two plays later, Utah free safety Cole Bishop was ejected for targeting after a hit on Cal TE Jeffrey Johnson, giving the Bears a first down at the 12. But they were forced to try a field goal, and Bhaghani missed. Utah 24, Cal 14.
6:51 4th Q: On second down after taking over following the missed Cal FG, Vaki raced 72 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, giving the Utes some breathing room. Utah, 31, Cal 14.
1:57 4th Q: Cole Becker completed the scoring with a 38-yard field goal, capping a short drive after the Bears gave the ball up on downs. Utah 34, Cal 14.
Cover photo of Cal coach Justin Wilcox by Rob Gray, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
