Cal holds on in OT thriller
Cal blows big early lead but scores late to force OT and interception seals victory
BERKELEY — Cal beat Oregon 52-49 in overtime Friday night on linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk’s interception in the second extra session.
The victory kept Cal’s bowl hopes alive and ended a wild game in which the teams combined for 28 penalties and 1,086 yards.
The Bears were in control with a 34-14 lead midway through the third quarter, then got too cute. On fourth-and-one from their own 30, they kept the offense on the field, then had quarterback Davis Webb attempt a pooch punt.
It went all of 10 yards, giving Oregon ideal field position. The Ducks scored in five plays, then added two more quick touchdowns to take a 35-34 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Bears responded with a 77-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Webb to running back Tre Watson, who made a diving catch in the end zone. A successful twopoint conversion gave Cal a 4235 lead with 9:50 remaining.
Oregon tied it with 3:15 remaining on a 42-yard catchand-run by Charles Nelson.
The Bears had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Matt Anderson missed a 41-yard field goal as time expired.
While not in contention for the division title, the Bears and Ducks faced lofty expectations of a different sort:
Las Vegas oddsmakers set the game’s projected point total at 89 — the highest over/under in college football history, according to a tweet by sports betting expert RJ Bell of pregame.com.
This was a must-win game for the Bears, who were 3-3 entering the game and needed three more victories wins to
qualify for a bowl berth. (Their problem: a difficult finishing schedule that includes USC, Washington and Stanford.).
Oregon, which played for the national championship two seasons ago, was winless in conference play.
The Bears were without receiver Chad Hansen, who did not dress because of an ankle injury. It made no difference. With Oregon denying the deep ball, Webb connected on short- and middle-distance passes and tossed four touchdowns in the first half alone. But the Bears did their greatest damage on the ground, with Khalfani Muhammad and Watson gashed the Ducks for 159 combined yards.
Cal reeled off touchdown drives of 71, 76 and 51 yards to take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. For Old Blues who had endured years of beat downs at the hands of the Ducks, it was bliss.
Oregon freshman quarterback Justin Herbert found his rhythm on the ensuing possession and led the Ducks to two touchdowns in the second quarter.
But the Bears struck last, with Webb finding Watson on a 14-yard scoring strike in the final minute that gave Cal a 31-14 halftime lead.