Cal Football: Washington State In-Game Thread - Bears Snap 4-Game Losing Skid

Devon Modster returned after missing one game with injury, throwing a career-best three touchdown passes and added a TD run, as Cal beat Washington State 33-20 to snap its four-game losing streak.

Cal (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12) now needs one more victory to become bowl eligible.

Modster was 16 for 24 for 230 yards with three TDs, one TD run and no interceptions. Running back Christopher Brown Jr. added 95 rushing yards and scored two TDs.

PRE-GAME: Four games remaining and Cal must win two of them to mathematically become eligible to play in a second consecutive bowl game. Realistically, the Bears (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12) may need three more wins to get there.

Given their four-game losing streak, it's imperative the winning resumes today.

Devon Modster returns as the starting quarterback after freshman Spencer Brasch made his starting debut in Cal's 35-0 loss at Utah two weeks ago. The Bears had a bye last week and Modster, the redshirt junior transfer from UCLA, had time to get healthy after being injured against Oregon State.

Cal scored just 24 points in the three games played in October after Chase Garbers was injured on Sept. 27 against Arizona State.

But the Bears' offensive woes run deeper than merely quarterback. Cal has had offensive line and wide receiver issues that have contributed to their scoring ills. Center Michael Saffell, out the past two games, could make his return today.

Washington State arrives with the nation's most prolific passing attack, led by senior quarterback Anthony Gordon, a Bay Area native who played at City College of San Francisco. Gordon has passed for 1,000 more yards than any other Pac-12 quarterback, leading the nation in both passing yards and touchdowns.

But the Cougars have their own limitations. They are allowing nearly 30 points per game, and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys resigned three weeks ago in the wake of a 67-63 loss to a UCLA team that was winless at the time. WSU gave up 50 second-half points i the loss.

PRE-GAME INJURY UPDATE: Saffell warmed up with Modster, and wideouts Kekoa Crawford and Ricky Walker III both are on the field. Crawford has missed the past four games.

Out for today are WRs Nikko Remigio and Jeremiah Hawkins and nickel Traveon Beck.

14:26 1st Q: Jaylinn Hawkins picks off Anthony Gordon's first pass, returning it 18 yards to the WSU 27-yard line.

14:15 1st Q: Christopher Brown Jr. races 27 yards around left end, untouched, on Cal's first play from scrimmage and the Bears lead 6-0.

14:15st Q: Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei blocks the Cal PAT and George Hicks takes it all the way back for a two-point defensive conversion. Cal leads 6-2.

4:55 1st Q: Modster completes a pass to TE Gavin Reinwald, who is hit and fumbles. WSU recovers and returns it to the Cal 19.

3:34 1st Q: The Cal defense holds and Blake Mazza kicks a 30-yard field goal for the Cougars. Cal 6, WSU 5.

END OF 1st Q: Cal 6, WSU 5. Cal has 151 total yards, WSU 64. First downs even at 4. Each team has 1 turnover. The Bears begin the 2nd Q with a second-and-7 play from the WSU 9.

14:53 2nd Q: Modster passes to Reinwald in the left flat and the tight end barely crosses the goal line before going down and fumbling the ball. Officials review the play and the touchdown stands, a 9-yard TD completion. Greg Thomas converts the PAT. Cal 13, WSU 5.

12:29 2nd Q: Ben Hawk Schrider sacks Gordon for a 9-yard loss to the 10 and the Cougars punt. Cal starts at the WSU 48-yard line. Cal 13, WSU 5.

0:45 2nd Q: WSU calls 11 straight passes (one nullified by penalty) and Gordon throws a 17-yard TD pass to Brandon Arconado. Cougars try for the 2-point conversion but Tay Martin is stopped short of the goal (by Kuony Deng) after taking pass over the middle from Gordon. Cal 13, WSU 11.

HALFTIME: Cal 13, Washington State 11. Cal has outgained WSU 205 yards to 172, although the Cougars have an 11-8 edge in first downs. WSU converting just 1 of 7 third-down tries against the Cal defense.

Modster is 8 for 13 for 123 yards with no INTs and one touchdown. Christopher Brown Jr. has 10 rushes for 62 yards and a TD. WSU's Gordon is 19 for 27 for 172 yards with a TD and an INT.

Cal starts the second half with the ball.

12:10 3rd Q: Jaylinn Hawkins trips ip receiver Easop Winston Jr., who fumbles. Ashtyn Davis recovers for Cal at the 39.

10:14 3rd Q: Modster throws 13-yard TD pass to Brown, who catches it on the right sideline and tip-toes his way to the end zone. Thomas converts the PAT. The TD was set up by wide receiver Trevon Clark's 23-yard gain on an end around to the 15. Cal 20, WSU 11.

3:27 3Q: The Cougars go 74 yards in 13 plays before Mazza converts a 35-yard field goal to pull WSU within six points. Gordon dropped back to pass on all 13 plays, completing 11 of 12 attempts while scrambling once. Gordon is now 31 for 38 for 262 yards. Cal 20, WSU 14.

END OF 3rd Q: Cal faces a third-and-18 at the WSU 35 when the fourth quarter begins. The Bears have 282 total yards. WSU has 264, all but 2 of them through the air. Cal 20, WSU 14.

14:08 4Q: Greg Thomas' 39-yard field-goal try was blocked . . . by the helmet of a Washington State player. Cal's chance to pad its lead is lost. Cal 20, WSU 14.

6:15 4th Q: Modster throws a quick slant on 3-and-9 to Makai Polk and the freshman wideout dashes 52 yards for a touchdown to put the Bears in charge. It gives Modster his first career three-touchdown performance and was the first TD catch by Polk. The Bears' two-point pass try failed. Cal 26, WSU 14.

2:26 4th Q: Modster pushed the Bears over 30 points for the first time all season when he scored untouched on a 13-yard keeper on a fourth-and-3 play. Cal 33, WSU 14.

0:05 4th Q: WSU scores with 5 seconds left, fails on the two-point try, and it's over. Cal 33, WSU 20.