BearTalk

FINAL SCORE: Stanford 21, Cal 3. Bears’ final shot at comeback ends when Maynard is picked off at the Stanford 2 with 5:14 left. Cal’s two-game win streak is history. Bears fall to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in Pac-12 and must win three of final four to become bowl eligible. That means beating Utah and Washington, plus either Oregon or Oregon State. A very tall order. Cal outrushed by the hard-to-believe totals of 252 yards to 0. UPDATED WITH OFFICIAL STATS: 252 to 3.

Here’s my game story and a Big Game notebook.

11:39 4th Q: Good news is that Tedford goes for it on 4th and 1 from his own 44. Bad news is he gives ball to Sofele and the entire Stanford defense seemed to know what was coming. Sofele loses 2 and Stanford gets the ball. Still 21-3.

END OF 3rd Q: You’re still here? Stanford leads 21-3 and it feels like the past 35 minutes of my life have simply disappeared. Total offense: Stanford 371, Cal 103.

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The big day is at hand, albeit a month on the calendar.

Here’s our preview package for the 115th Big Game, starting with my profile of wide receiver Keenan Allen, who needs just seven receptions to break Geoff McArthur’s Cal career record of 202.

Read more on what Allen’s coaches and teammates have to say about him.

Here is a top-10 list of most receptions made by a Pac-12 player in three seasons or fewer:

1. Reggie Williams, Washington (2001-03) 243
2. Dwayne Jarrett, USC (2004-06) 216
3. Robert Woods, USC (2010-cur) 211
4. Keenan Allen, Cal (2010-cur) 196
5t. Mike Williams, USC (2002-03) 176
5t. Hugh Campbell, Washington St. (1960-62) 176
7. Marquess Wilson, Washington St. (2010-cur) 175
8. Keyshawn Johnson, USC (1994-95) 168
9. DeSean Jackson, Cal (2005-07) 162
10t. Shaun McDonald, Arizona St. (2000-02) 156
10t. Justin Armour, Stanford (1992-94) 156
Note: The Pac-12 record for most receptions in a career is 259 by Mike Thomas, Arizona (2005-08).

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Here are 10 things you (probably) don’t know about the Big Game (although this crowd may be ahead of the curve).

Here’s Jon Wilner’s look at what Stanford hopes to do to end a drought of eight quarters (plus) overtime without scoring an offensive touchdown on the road.

STANFORD AT CAL

RECORDS: Stanford 4-2, 2-1 in Pac-12; Cal 3-4, 2-2

KICKOFF: Noon, Memorial Stadium, Berkeley

TV: Fox

RADIO: 1050-AM & 810-AM

SERIES HISTORY: Stanford leads 57-46-11. The Cardinal has won the past two games. Cal has won seven of the past 10.

STANFORD STORYLINES: Stanford, which is fresh off a bitter overtime defeat at Notre Dame, hasn’t lost back-to-back games since the middle of the 2009 season. . . . The Cardinal must win to maintain control of its own destiny. Despite the loss to Washington, Stanford would win the Pac-12 North if it runs the table. . . . Stanford’s streak of 39 consecutive weeks in the Associated Press top-25 poll — the fifth-longest streak in the country — is on the line. A loss would surely drop the No. 22 Cardinal from the rankings. . . . Tailback Stepfan Taylor needs 95 yards to tie Toby Gerhart (3,522) for second on Stanford’s career rushing list. . . . The Cardinal will be without its leading receiver, Ty Montgomery (knee), for the second consecutive game.

CAL STORYLINES: The Bears have won two in a row since starting 1-4 and need this game to nurture any realistic shot at becoming bowl eligible. Without a win here, Cal would have to win three of its final four games, which would include getting past either Oregon or Oregon State, both top-10 teams. . . . After allowing an average of 30.2 points through its first five games, the Cal defense has surrendered just 17 apiece in wins over UCLA and Washington State. The Bears believe they can tilt the game in their direction by rattling Stanford QB Josh Nunes. . . . Cal has forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions, the past two games.

INJURY UPDATE: Stanford – WR Ty Montgomery (knee) is out. Cal – OG Dominic Galas (pectoral muscle) is probable.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Cal’s offensive line vs. Stanford’s defensive front. The Bears have allowed an NCAA-worst 29 sacks, but none last week. If the Bears can protect quarterback Zach Maynard and create holes for their running game, they have a chance to beat Stanford and pull even at 4-4 for the season. It won’t be easy. Stanford’s defense has 19 sacks and ranks seventh nationally defending the run. In four victories, the Cardinal is allowing opponents to average just 2.3 yards per carry.

STANFORD STATS THAT MATTER: Stanford is second in the Pac-12 in run defense, allowing just 89.5 yards per game. . . . The Cardinal has allowed the fewest number of sacks in the conference (six). . . . Stanford is 99th in the nation in third-down conversions (34.5 percent). . . . Tight ends Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo have accounted for 38 percent of Stanford’s receptions.

CAL STATS THAT MATTER: The Bears have averaged 251.5 rushing yards in their two Pac-12 wins, but just 118 yards in two conference losses. . . . Cal’s run defense has surrendered just 93.3 rushing yards the past three games. In their first three FBS games, the Bears allowed 226.3 rushing yards. . . . Junior Keenan Allen is second in the Pac-12 with 52 receptions — 13 more than all of Stanford’s wide receivers combined.

                                                     — JEFF FARAUDO & JON WILNER
 

FINAL SCORE: Cal 31, WSU 17.  Bears improve to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the Pac-12 headed into next week’s 115th Big Game vs. Stanford. The big numbers: no QB sacks and a season-high 318 rushing yards by the Bears.

Here’s my game story.

10:27 4th Q: Anderson returns and dashes 29 yards for a TD that makes it 31-10. This one seems safely in hand, just in case it’s past your bedtime.

13:39 4th Q: Andrew Furney misses wide left on 42-yd FG try. Steve Williams has a career-high four pass breakups.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: It’s 10:25 p.m., do you know where your long snapper is? Cal leads 24-10.

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Click here for my game story and a photo slide show.

FINAL SCORE: Cal 43, UCLA 17. A 68-yard run by C.J. Anderson caps scoring. Bears improve to 2-4, 1-2 in Pac-12. No. 25 UCLA drops to 4-2, 1-2.  Cal beats a top-25 team for the first time since knocking off No. 14 Stanford in 2009. Maynard bounces back with 25-for-30 passing performance for 295 yards and four TDs. Anderson finishes with career-high 151 rushing yards. TE Richard Rodgers has seven catches for 129 yards — both career-bests. Kameron Jackson finishes with three INTs as Bears force Bruins into five six turnovers.

6:32 4th Q: Michael Lowe’s 42-yard interception return sets up Bears at the UCLA 27. C.J. Anderson carries three times to the 1, and Maynard cashes in with a QB sneak for the TD and a 36-17 lead.

10:36 4th Q: Bears and Bruins exchange three turnovers in a span of 120 seconds and UCLA has possession at the 50-yard line with 10:36 left. This was Cal’s game for the taking . . . still is unless they insist on handing it to UCLA. Fumbled exchanges between Maynard/Anderson and Maynard/Bigelow sandwiched around INT by Kameron Jackson.

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Matt Summers-Gavin is 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, and for three weeks this fall he felt helpless.

“It’s been rough not to be out there to be able to contribute,” said Cal’s senior right tackle, sidelined for three games by a knee injury.

“You want to be in there and do anything you can to help your team be successful. It’s rough just standing there watching.”

Especially as his team lost three in a row.

Summers-Gavin, regarded as the Bears’ top offensive lineman, returned a week ago to face Arizona State but expects to be more himself on Saturday night against UCLA.

“I’d say I was rusty, definitely not where I wanted to be. Execution-wise I  think I could have been a lot better,” he said of his return performance against ASU. “But it was great to be back on the field.”

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How big is Cal’s game Saturday night against UCLA?

“This is the biggest game of the year,” offensive tackle Matt Summers-Gavin said.

Actually, it may be bigger than that.

It’s big for Jeff Tedford. Big for the future of the football program. Even big for the well-being of the athletic department, given the financial ramifications if the team performs poorly and ticket sales/ESP sales fall off the cliff.

No. 25 UCLA won’t be easy. Under new coach Jim Mora Jr., the Bruins appear stronger than Arizona State, which came into Berkeley last weekend and beat the Bears by 10 points. They have an experienced secondary. An aggressive defensive line. A dynamite running back. A better-than-anyone imagined redshirt freshman quarterback.

And the motivation to end a long drought in Berkeley.

Let’s face it, the Pac-12 South is strong, but up for grabs because USC has a loss and it’s hard to imagine ASU will run the table in conference play. So the Bruins are thinking they can play Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game. And maybe they can.

I have no good feel for how the Bears will respond Saturday. I thought they’d rise up and beat ASU, and they played perhaps their poorest game of the season.

Tedford told us the team had a good week of practice, and I believe him. But I recall him saying much the same thing a week ago.

Here’s what I do know: The Bears cannot win if they follow this script:

   — Allow six sacks

   — Let UCLA run 94 plays

   — Total 119 yards on 12 penalties

   — Convert only 4 of 15 third-down chances

Those numbers come directly from Cal’s loss to ASU, and they were ghastly.

Ghastly won’t work against UCLA. Or probably anyone else left on the schedule.

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Here is my story that will appear in Saturday’s edition, with reaction from Brendan Bigelow on the news that he will (we’re told) carry the ball on Saturday.

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FINAL SCORE: Arizona State 27, Cal 17. Bears drop to 1-4, 0-2 in the Pac-12. Would need to win five of final seven games to become bowl eligible. But December football is not part of the Bears’ thought process right now.

“As far as making a bowl,” linebacker Nick Forbes said, “that’s a little farther down the line than I’m thinking about. I’m thinking about the next one.”

Here’s my game story.

5:56 4th Q: Cal offense goes 3 and out and punts.

6:17 4th Q: ASU answers back with 74-yard scoring drive. Kelly pasases 22 yards to WR Ozier and ASU leads 27-17.

9:33 4th Q: Keenan Allen’s right toe scratches turf on 10-yard reception in the left corner of the end zone — incomplete call overturned for TD on video review. Cal trails just 20-17.

11:27 4th Q: Nick Forbes gives Cal a chance by blocking 38-yd FG try by Garoutte. Bears still down 20-10.

1:12 3rd Q: Tedford opts for FG on 4th-and-7 from the 18 and Vincenzo D’Amato delivers 35-yarder. But will it be enough? Cal trails 20-10.

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A few post-game updates and statistical notes:

– Sophomore Jacob Wark joins a growing list of Cal tight ends with lower-body injuries. He hurt a foot in the fourth quarter and did not return. No immediate report on his status. Would-be starter Richard Rodgers (foot) did not play at all . . . until Wark left the game. Then he was out there for one series.

– As expected, the news on TE Spencer Hagan is not good. The junior sustained what is apparently a serious right knee injury at Ohio State. ”Hagan won’t be back,” coach Jeff Tedford said. “His knee is shot. He won’t be back this year.”

– Redshirt freshman Daniel Lasco, blasted up around the head on a second-quarter punt coverage play, did not return. Tedford did not know whether the running back sustained a concussion.

– Without senior tackle Matt Summers-Gavin (knee) for a third straight game, Cal’s offensive line was badly outplayed. The Bears netted just 77 rushing yards (a week after gaining 224 on the ground at Ohio State) and QB Zach Maynard was sacked seven times. That’s 13 sacks in two games.

– No miracles from sophomore TB Brendan Bigelow, who included TD runs of 81 and 59 yards in his 160-yard performance at Ohio State. Of course, Bigelow got just four carries (none in the first half) and gained 31 yards — 7.8 per attempt. Tedford was vague on why Bigelow wasn’t a bigger part of the game plan after suggesting earlier in the week he had earned it.

– The Bears were no match for the Trojans at the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball, either. USC, which was averaging 130 rushing yards per game, had 296, including 158 by Penn State transfer Silas Redd and 115 from Curtis McNeal.

– Cal PK Vincenzo D’Amato, after missing three field goals wide left at Ohio State, was wide right on his first try at the Coliseum. Then he made three short ones to account for all of Cal’s points.

– WR Keenan Allen had nine catches for  93 yards and moved to No. 4 on the Bears’ career receptions list with 173. He passed Na’il Benjamin (165) and Brian Treggs (167), the father of freshman teammate Bryce Treggs.

FINAL SCORE: USC 27, Cal 9. Sorry for the second-half absence. Had wireless problems at the LA Coliseum, then deadline. My game story.

The Bears (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12) lose their ninth in a row to USC. They’ve been outscored 152-38 in the past five, and have not beaten the Trojans in LA since 2000.

Obviously, the two-weekend road trip from hell was a black hole for Cal. At least they were competitive at Ohio State. USC dominated the line on both sides of the ball, stuffed Cal’s run, sacked Zach Maynard seven times and unleashed their own two-headed ground game that accounted for 296 rushing yards.

To a man, the Bears still maintain they can recover and qualify for a bowl game. Of course, what else would you expect them to say about just four games?

The fact is, only one team in Cal history — Jeff Tedford’s second team in 2003 — has rebounded from a 1-3 start to reach a bowl. Only one other team (1970) overcame 1-3 to finish with a winning record.

The problem is not merely math — although having to win five of their final eight won’t be easy.

The problem is that several of the teams still ahead on their schedule — Oregon State, Arizona State and UCLA — are better than we might have guessed a month ago. Then there are Oregon and Stanford, both very troublesome.

Not sure yet what to make of Washington, but at least the Huskies are playing at Berkeley. Cal must go on the road to play Utah and Washington State.

Point is, remove Oregon and Stanford (as likely losses) and the Bears must win win five of the remaining six. And most of those are toss-up games, at best.

A tall order.

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Stanford rattled USC quarterback Matt Barkley by rushing him hard and hitting him over and over last week.

But can Cal make that strategy work on Saturday?

Here’s my game preview .