After Cal had pocketed its third victory and not using a defeat final week, coach Justin Wilcox cautioned the Bears had been nonetheless studying win.
They discovered they’re not fairly there but of their first-ever Atlantic Coast Convention recreation at Florida State on Saturday evening.
Cal squandered a largely excellent defensive efficiency, struggling to run the ball persistently and lacking two discipline objectives in a 14-9 loss to the beforehand winless Seminoles in entrance of 55,107 followers at Doak Campbell Stadium.
With the sport on the road, Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza drove the Bears (3-1) into scoring vary, dashing 26 yards on a third-down scramble and finishing a 13-yard cross to tight finish Jack Endries to the FSU 32 on a fourth-and-13 play.
Then Mendoza was sacked and fumbled on second-and-10 on the 17, however offensive lineman Rush Reimer recovered for the Bears on the 23 with 1:05 left.
Mendoza’s cross to Trond Grizzell ultimately zone was incomplete and FSU’s Edwin Joseph sacked him on fourth down, ending the Bears’ risk.
Mendoza, returning to his dwelling state and enjoying in entrance of his mother and father and household, handed for a career-high 303 yards, however he additionally was sacked seven occasions.
Jaydn Ott returned after lacking final week with a foot harm and rushed for 73 yards on 16 makes an attempt. However the Bears averaged simply 2.9 yards per rush.
The Bears have subsequent week off then host No. 8 Miami on Oct. 5.
The victory was an enormous reduction for FSU (1-3), which was 13-1 a 12 months in the past and started this season No. 10 within the preseason AP Prime-25 however struggled by way of three defeats to begin this 12 months.
Cal took its first lead of the evening when Ryan Coe — who was 2-for-3 on discipline objectives on this recreation however simply 4-for-9 on the season — delivered a 51-yarder for a 9-7 benefit with 1:30 left within the third quarter.
The sector purpose got here one play after guard Sioape Vatikani, who was enjoying in his first recreation this season after lacking the primary three with a foot harm, went right down to the turf and stayed there for about 10 minutes.
The 6-foot-4, 330-pound junior apparently suffered a neck or head harm and was taken out of the stadium on a cart. Earlier than leaving, Vatikani raised his arm and gave the followers a thumbs-up.
The Seminoles answered instantly, going 79 yards in 12 performs with D.J. Uiagalelei delivering an ideal cross to huge receiver Ja’Khi Douglas, who beat Cal defender Ja’ir Smith for the landing and a 14-9 lead with 11:08 to play within the fourth quarter.
Coe obtained the possibility to convey the Bears inside two factors, however missed huge proper on a 38-yard discipline purpose with 6:07 to play, his sixth miss in 4 video games and second of the evening.
The Bears had an opportunity to take the lead after a 15-play drive to open the second half, however Coe missed huge left on a 36-yard discipline purpose try.
Mendoza accomplished passes of 19 yards to Mason Starling and 25 yards to Trond Grizzell on the drive.
Cal pulled inside 7-6 at halftime when Coe kicked a 29-yard discipline purpose on the ultimate play of the second quarter. That got here moments after a 23-yard burst down the best sideline by Ott, giving Cal a primary down on the 11 with 2 seconds left.
FSU went forward 7-0 — its first lead in three dwelling video games this season — when working again Lawrence Teofili dashed 9 yards not the top zone with 7:47 left within the first quarter.
FSU’s offensive line managed issues early however the Cal protection settled in and started getting extra stress on Uiagalelei.
A cross interception by security Miles Williams — Cal’s tenth decide of the season — arrange the Bears’ first rating of the sport.
Mendoza’s 46-yard completion to Mikey Matthews and a 19-yarder to Mason Starling set up Coe’s 25-yard discipline purpose with 10:10 left within the second quarter.
Initially Revealed: September 21, 2024 at 7:54 p.m.
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