Cal Football: Bears End Losing Streak, Beat Washington State 33-20
Quarterback Devon Modster had his best game of the season, helping Cal end its four-game losing streak with a 33-20 victory over Washington State on Saturday evening in Berkeley.
It was Cal's highest scoring output of the season.
Modster made his third start of the season, and after three poor performances he was 16-for-24 for 230 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Cougars (4-5, 1-5 Pac-12). He also ran 13 yards for the clinching touchdown with 2:26 left.
His 52-yard touchdown pass to freshman Makai Polk midway through the fourth quarter had given the Bears a 12-point lead.
A defensive stand by Cal (5-4, 2-4) when the Cougars were stopped short on a fourth-and-3 from the Cal 14 a few minutes before that Polk touchdown was key.
Cal running back Christopher Brown Jr. rushed for 95 yards on nine carries.
Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon, who entered the game leading the nation in passing yards per game, was 45-of-58 for 409 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Max Borghi had just 19 rushing yards on eight carries.
Cal increased its two-point halftime lead to nine points early in the third quarter with the help of a Washington State turnover. Jaylinn Hawkins forced a fiumble by Cougars' wide receiver Easop Winston Jr., and Cal's Ashtyn Davis recovered it at the Washington State 39-yard line.
An ensuing 23-yard end-around run by Trevon Clark was followed two plays later by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brown, giving Cal a 20-11 lead.
A 35-yard Blake Mazza field goal at the end of a 74-yard Washington State drive closed the gap to 20-14 with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Cal failed to extend its lead when Greg Thomas' 39-yard field gol attempt was blocked.
The Bears stopped Washington State short on a fourth-and-3 play from th Cal 14-yard line with 10:31 remaining in the fourth quarter as Gordon was limited to a 1-yard run.
Cal increased its lead to 26-14 with 6:15 left on a 52-yard pass from Modster to freshman Makai Polk, who did most of the work himself after talking an inside screen pass. The pass attempt for a two-point conversion was incomplete.
Cal added a final score when Modster ran 13 yards for a score on a fourth-down play with 2:26 left, making it 33-14.
Cal held a 13-11 lead at halftime. Modster was 8-for-13 for 123 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while Gordon was 19-of-27 for 172 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Cal jumped on top early. On the second play of the game, Cal safety Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted a Gordon pass and returned it 18 yards to the Washington State 27-yard line. On Cal’s first offensive play, Christopher Brown Jr. ran 27 yards for a touchdown that made it 6-0 with 14:15 left in the opening quarter.
However, Cal’s extra-point attempt was blocked, and Washington State’s George Hicks III picked up the ball and ran all the way to the other end zone for a Cougars two-point conversion to cut the Cal lead to 6-2.
Washington State reduced the Cal lead to 6-5 on Mazza’s 30-yard field goal with 3:34 left in the first quarter. That score was set up when Cal tight end Gavin Reinwald fumbled, and the ball was recovered by the Cougars’ Skyler Thomas, who returned it 12 yards to the Cal 19-yard line.
Reinwald made up for the mistake by catching a 9-yard touchdown pass from Modster on the first play of the second quarter, increasing Cal’s lead to 13-5.
The key play on that drive was Modster’s 48-yard completion to Jordan Duncan, which put the ball at the Cougars’ 12-yard line.
Washington State pulled to within 13-11 on an 85-yard touchdown drive that ended with Gordon’s 17-yard scoring pass to Brandon Arconado with 45 second left in the first half. Washington State’s attempt at a two-point conversion was stopped short of the goal line, keeping the score at 13-11 at the half.
INJURIES: Cal wide receivers Nikko Remigio and Jeremiah Hawkins and nickel back Traveon Beck did not play because of injuries.
Bears wide receiver Kekoa Crawford returned to action after missing four games, and center Michael Saffell played after missing the past two games.
CAL 33, WASHINGTON STATE 14
RECORDS: Cal (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12), Washington State (4-5, 1-5)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Cal quarterback Devon Modster. After having mediocre games against Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State, Modster had a breakout game, completing 16-of-24 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also race 13 yards for the clinching touchdown on a fourth-down play.
TURNING POINT: With Cal leading 20-14, Washington State faced a fourth-and-3 from the Cal 14-yard line in the fourth quarter. Cougars quarterback Anthony Gordon was stopped after a 1-yard game, turning the ball over to Cal with 10:31 left in the game.
STAT OF THE GAME: Washington State finished with 16 rushing yards.
WHAT IT MEANS: Cal halted a four-game losing streak and is back in the running for a bowl bid after pulling of the upset of Washington State, which was favored by a touchdown.The Bears still have a shot at their second straight winning season.
CAL’S BOWL BAROMETER: .Cal's bowl chances increased to about 55 percent. The Bears need one more win in its final three games to become bowl-eligible, although it probably needs two wins to feel safe about a bowl berth.
NEXT GAME: USC at Cal, Saturday, November 16. Kickoff: 8 p.m. TV: FS1. USC (6-4, 5-2 Pac-12) defeated Arizona State 31-26 on Saturday.
