Cal Football: Washington Game Thread - Bears Find Offense But Come Up Short, 28-21

Cal found its offense with three touchdowns in the second half, but Washington escaped Memorial Stadium with a 28-21 victory.

The Bears (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) had one last chance but Jack Plummer threw incomplete on fourth-and-3 from the Washington 43-yard line.

The Huskies (6-2, 3-2), who entered the game as the Pac-12's top scoring team, were held to a season-low point total.

Plummer finished 21-for-34 for 245 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. J.Michael Sturdivant caught eight passes for 104 yards and two TDs.

Pre-game update: WR Jeremiah Hunter, who was listed as day to day this week after being injured last week, is dressed and warming up. But CB Lu-Magia Hearns III is not on the field with the Bears.

Coin flip: Cal wins the toss and defers. Bears will kick off and defend the south end zone. Cal gets the ball to start the second half.

10:45 1st Q: The Huskies draw first blood, but Cal's defense holds on third-and-6 from the 21, facing QB Michael Penix Jr. to take a 2-yard loss on a keeper. Peyton Henry delivers the 40-yard field goal, capping a 10-play, 52-yard drive that was highlighted by Penix's 25-yard completion to running back Wayne Taulapapa to the Cal 39. Washington 3, Cal 0.

Cal O-line: The Bears have shuffled their O-line again. The starting five: LT Brayden Rohme, LG Ben Coleman; C Brian Driscoll; RG Sioape Vatikani; RT T.J. Session. No Cal offensive lineman is starting at the same position as in the season opener.

2:01 1st Q: Cal managed one first down on its opening possession then punted. UW responded with a 14-play, 62-yard drive with Henry kicking a 36-yard field goal. Penix completed two passes for 28 yards to Rome Odunze on the drive. Washington 6, Cal 0.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Washington 6, Cal 0. Not an encouraging start for the Bears. Washington hasn't reached the end zone but has a second-and-13 from the Cal 41 when the second quarter begins.

Total yards: UW 137, Cal 19

Passing yards: UW 113, Cal 4

Rushing yards: UW 24, Cal 15

First downs: UW 8, Cal 1

Third-down conversions: UW 3-for-5, Cal 0-for-2.

Note: No Jeremiah Hunter -- the junior wideout warmed up but was not in the starting lineup and has not played.

HALFTIME: Washington 6, Cal 0. The Bears have held the Pac-12's highest-scoring team (42.1 ppg) without a touchdown. UW had scored a TD on the opening drive of its first seven games, but has settled for a pair of field goals. Cal, on the other hand, did not cross misfield until just 1:56 remained in the half.

Cal freshman RB Jaydn Ott had a 12-yard gain on his first carry but has 3 yards on 5 attempts since then. Jack Plummer is 10-for-14 for 78 yards. J.Michael Sturdivant has has 5 receptions for 40 yards, the only Cal receiver with more than 1 catch.

The halftime stats:

Total yards: UW 256, Cal 83

Passing yards: UW 188, Cal 78

Rushing yards: UW 57, Cal 5

First downs: UW 14, Cal 5

Third-down conversions: UW 6-for-11, Cal 1-for-6

Time of possession: UW 20:35, Cal 9:25

The Bears will get the ball first to start the third quarter.

SECOND HALF

10:20 3rd Q: Cal marches 75 yards in 13 plays - by far its best drive of the night - and takes the lead on an 8-yard TD pass from Plummer to Sturdivant. Dario Longhetto's PAT puts the Bears in front. Plummer was 4-for-5 for 40 yards, including 3 completions for 32 yards to Mason Starling in his first career start. Ott ran 5 times for 15 yards and DeCarlos Brooks had 19 yards on 3 attempts. Cal 7, Washington 6.

4:48 3rd Q: The Huskies answer with an 11-play 70-yard drive for their first touchdown of the night. Cameron Davis scored his conference-leading 10th touchdown on a 6-yard burst into the end zone. The Huskies converted a 2-point try when Penix took a handoff, rolled left and threw a pass to Ja'Lynn Polk, alone in the back left corner of the end zone. Washington 14, Cal 7.

2:10 3rd Q: And suddenly it's a shootout. Cal goes 65 yards in 6 plays with Plummer hitting Sturdivant with a 48-yard TD pass. The Cal sophomore got behind DB Jordan Perryman and waltzed into the end zone. Cal 14, Washington 14.

END OF THIRD QUARTER

13:49 4th Q: The Huskies regain the lead on a 13-yard TD strike from Penix to Jalen McMillan on a third-and-10 play. Penix completed five passes for all 75 yards the Huskies covered on the drive. Washington 21, Cal 14.

10:19 4th Q: The Huskies stretch their lead when Penix gets time to throw and finds running back Richard Newton alone on the right sideline. Newton broke tackles by linebacker Muelu Iosefa and nickel back Collin Gamble to complete a 36-yard scoring play that capped a 6-play, 67-yard drive. Washington 28, Cal 14.

6:11 4th Q: Cal cuts the margin to seven points after a 12-play, 80-yard drive that included 34-yard completion to wide receiver Mavin Anderson and was climaxed by an 8-yard TD strike from Plummer to Anderson on a fourth-and-7 play. Washington 28, Cal 21.

Some pre-game reading:

— Our comprehensive Cal-Washington game preview

— Context for how Cal’s offensive struggles compare nationally

— Our weekly Pac-12 game picks, including on Cal-UW

— More midseason honors come to Cal freshmen

— UW beat writer Dan Raley answers our 5 Questions about the Huskies

— Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is the first in a series of prolific transfer quarterbacks the Bears will face

— Cal linebacker Jackson Sirmon has a unique opportunity to face his old team

Cover photo of Cal coach Justin Wilcox and UW's Kaleb DeBoer by Darren Yamashita, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo

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