Bears QB Bowers hurt by pair of interceptions

Cal’s Ross Bowers threw 116 consecutive passes without an interception before the streak was snapped near the end of the first quarter of Saturday’s 45-44, double-overtime loss to Arizona at Memorial Stadium.

Bowers overthrew sophomore receiver Brandon Singleton in the closing two minutes of the first quarter, and defensive back Lorenzo Burns was waiting there for the interception.

The sophomore quarterback, who completed 29 of 49 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns, also threw a costly pick to Jarrius Wallace in the end zone during the second quarter.

Bowers had a chance to make up for it when he almost squeezed in the game-winning pass to Jordan Duncan on a two-point conversion try in the second overtime. But freshman linebacker Colin Schooler broke up the play.

“If I throw a better ball, and he catches it, we’re celebrating,” Bowers said. Comeback kid: A week after missing a game with an undisclosed injury, junior running back Patrick Laird carried a career-high 28 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. His first score was an 8-yard run on an updated Statue of Liberty play.

Bowers faked a throw to his left and did a behind-the-back handoff to Laird, who darted to the right of the formation. Laird briefly exited the game in the second half, but he returned. Seaborg Award: All-America lineman Ed White was given the Glenn T. Seaborg Award,

which is given annually to the former Cal football player who goes on to represent the Bears’ principles of “excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and attitude.”

After playing for Cal from 1966-68, White played 17 NFL seasons, during which he earned four Pro Bowl invitations. White went on to become a successful coach at the NFL and college levels, and since his retirement, he has served as the executive director of the Oak Lake Art Center, a nonprofit education foundation that helps bring art to the local community.

Wildfire relief: Cal had American Red Cross volunteers at three entrances of Memorial Stadium, accepting donations for those affected by the Wine Country fires. Former Bears quarterback Jared Goff, who went to Marin Catholic High-Kentfield, started a Go Fund Me account for Northern California fire relief, which had earned almost $40,000 by game time. Off target: Arizona defensive back Troy Young, who made a late hit on Cal running back Vic Enwere, and Wildcats tailback J.J. Taylor, who was blocking Bears outside linebacker Cameron Goode, were each ejected for targeting penalties in the first quarter.