Bears do it with D
5th takeway is interception that secures road victory
SEATTLE — The thought sneaked up on Kyle Kragen in the third quarter Saturday. As Washington trimmed its deficit to six points, the Cal defensive end remembered something his father had told him earlier.
The Bears can’t seem to win in the Pacific Northwest.
But in that moment, with a once-sizable lead suddenly tenuous, Kragen knew that
Saturday would be different. It was a feeling that pervaded the team, one that was ultimately the biggest takeaway from Cal’s 30-24 Pacific 12-opening defeat of the Huskies.
Unlike last year, when the Bears lost four games by eight or fewer points, the 2015 group is proving capable of winning close games. Saturday’s was the second consecutive road win in which Cal withstood a furious late rally.
Last week, a missed extra point in the final minute kept Texas from possibly forcing overtime. Saturday, junior safety Damariay Drew’s interception with 1:57 to play
stopped Washington’s hopes for a comeback.
In front of 61,066 at Husky Stadium, Cal forced five turnovers, piled up five sacks and held the ball nearly twice as long as its opponent. The Bears were left having achieved two key milestones: their first win in Seattle since 2005, and their first 4-0 record in eight years.
“I would certainly be in favor of not playing so many close ballgames like this,” head coach Sonny Dykes said. “But that’s kind of who we are right now, and we’ll take it.”
Added quarterback Jared Goff: “It’s kind of a turningpoint win.”
Goff delivered another memorable performance. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns — tying Kyle Boller’s all-time school record of 64 — with one interception. With running back Daniel Lasco (hip) again sidelined, sophomore Vic Enwere rushed for a career-high 84 yards.
But Cal’s defense was the difference maker. The Bears put consistent pressure on Huskies quarterback Jake Browning, who threw threw two interceptions and lost a crucial fumble early in the second quarter.
Those giveaways, combined with the two other lost fumbles, thwarted the comeback bid of Washington.
The Huskies (2-2, 0-1) trailed 27-7 after Goff connected with Kenny Lawler on an 8-yard TD less than five minutes into the third quarter. But Washington got close with two third-quarter touchdowns — the latter coming on cornerback Sidney Jones’ 70-yard fumble recovery — to make it 27-21 with 2:19 left in the quarter.
The Huskies moved inside the Cal 40 on their first possession of the fourth quarter, but the drive ended abruptly when running back Dwayne Washington fumbled and Bears cornerback Darius White recovered at the 31.
Cal took 5½ minutes off the clock before Matt Anderson’s 37-yard field goal made it 30-21. Washington responded 90 seconds later with a field goal of its own to pull within six.
The Bears got the ball back with 3:57 to play, but their first attempt at running out the clock lasted only 1:06. Washington’s final possession was even shorter, however, with Drew’s interception sealing the issue.
“It’s really exciting that (the defense) really helped carry the team rather than hindered it,” said Kragen, who forced a fumble and had a game-high 2.5 sacks. “It feels really good to help the offense out like that.”
The Bears were far from perfect Saturday. But the players said their confidence never wavered and the victory marks an important progression in Dykes’ rebuild. Two years removed from a one-win campaign, Cal — the Pac-12 North’s only undefeated team — is looking the part of a conference contender.
“We’ll enjoy it while it lasts,” Goff said.
“It’s really exciting that (the defense) really helped carry the team rather than hindered it. It feels really good to help the offense out like that.” Kyle Kragen, who forced a fumble and had a game-high 2.5 sacks