Defense paves way for Bears past Tar Heels
BERKELEY >> Year 1 of the Justin Wilcox coaching era at Cal prompted a significant improvement by the Bears’ defense.
Cal ushered in Year 2 with a performance against North Carolina on Saturday that suggests the defense could be better still.
The Bears beat the Tar Heels for the second straight season, winning 24-17 in front of an announced crowd of 42,168 after holding the visitors from the Atlantic Coast Conference to 38 yards and one first down in a scoreless first half.
The Tar Heels did not get into the end zone until scoring two touchdowns in the final 6:31 after Cal led 24-3.
Things could have gotten hairy for the home team, but UNC’s recovery of an onside kick with 1:10 left was nullified by an illegal block penalty.
On the re-kick, the Tar Heels were penalized for touching the ball before it went 10 yards, giving Cal possession.
“They’re excited we won, but everyone knows there’s a lot more,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “We can play a lot better than that.”
What distinguished the Bears’ offensive showing more than anything else was the fact that they used three quarterbacks. Ross Bowers started and, although he did not appear to be injured, saw no action in the second half. Redshirt freshman Chase Garbers played most of the second half, with sophomore transfer
Brandon McIlwain getting snaps throughout the game.
Five takeaways from the Bears’ opening victory:
1. THE DEFENSE WAS TERRIFIC,
FOR THREE QUARTERS >> Cal intercepted UNC quarterback Nathan Elliott four times, three of them coming in the first half, including linebacker Cameron Goode’s 38-yard pick-six. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins had two interceptions.
But the Tar Heels totaled 182 of their 301 yards in the fourth quarter while scoring both of their touchdowns.
“I’m still mad about that second half,” said linebacker Evan Weaver, who had a career-best 13 tackles. “We really shouldn’t have given up any points.”
2. THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION
APPEARS TO BE IN FLUX >> Wilcox said it was part of the game plan that the Bears used three quarterbacks. He said Garbers got most of the snaps in the second half because the Bears needed a run-pass option against the Tar Heels’ defensive tactics.
But it was curious that Bowers, who passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns against UNC last year and started every game in 2017, did not play after halftime.
Bowers finished 8 for 17 for 56 yards. Garbers was 7 for 13 for 54 yards with his first career touchdown pass and rushed for 39 yards. McIlwain was just 1 for 2 for 9 yards passing, but had a 17yard gain on a designed running play.
3. AT LEAST FOR NOW, THE
BEARS WILL LEAN HEAVILY ON LAIRD >> He had 29 of the 30 carries by a Cal running back and finished with 95 rushing yards and touchdowns rushing and receiving. “We’ll make sure to take care of Pat,” Wilcox said. “He wants to carry it every time. We’ll protect him from himself in that way.”
4. CAL PLAYED A FAIRLY CLEAN GAME >> They had no turnovers. They had just five penalties for 35 yards. New kicker Greg Thomas made his first collegiate field goal attempt, from 35 yards, although he missed a subsequent try from 47 yards. They generally covered well on kicks and punts. In short, they did not beat themselves, but looked like a maturing program.
5. THINGS WILL GET MUCH TOUGHER >> Perhaps at BYU next week, but certainly it will in the Pac-12. North Carolina was 3-9 last year and arrived in Berkeley without 11 players suspended for selling school-issued shoes.
Elliott was 1 for 9 to start the game, and at halftime Cal had four times more yardage on three interception returns (48 yards) than UNC receivers had on two catches (12 yards).