The Cal Football Fan

Cal defeats Washington 31-24 in OT thriller

Photo: Jason Snell, Idiots Write About Sports

In Cal’s most exciting game of the season so far, the Bears emerged victorious from Memorial Stadium with an overtime win over a resilient Huskies squad. Despite struggles on offense for both teams and a lackluster first half, they fought hard to the end. Marshawn Lynch and Cal’s defense carried the Bears to the win necessary to stay undefeated in the Pac-10 (5-0). This was a crucial win at the end of a long stretch, and the Bears now have a bye week to recuperate before hosting UCLA in November.

Yes, our predictions were way off. Kudos to Washington for taking advantage of Cal’s slow start and showing up to make a close game despite starting a backup quarterback.

As always, here are thoughts from around the nation:

Contra Costa Times: “Cal survives Washington’s big strike”

In danger of seeing their dreams of an undefeated run through the Pac-10 go up in a cloud of purple smoke on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the Cal Bears turned to two of their premier players to save the day against Washington.

SportsTicker: “Lynch, Bishop help California overcome ‘Hail Mary’”

Marshawn Lynch and Desmond Bishop ignored a potentially devastating play. Lynch ran for the go-ahead score in overtime and Bishop ended the game with an interception as No. 11 California overcame a successful “Hail Mary” at the end of regulation to defeat Washington, 31-24, in a Pac-10 Conference thriller.

Sacramento Bee: “Cal survives Husky heave”

Bishop and fellow defensive back Robert Peele had the best chances to break up the [Hail Mary] pass but ended up knocking the ball directly down into [Marlon Wood]’s hands. The Huskies’ primary punt returner had only one reception entering the game but took the carom and fell into the end zone to silence the announced Memorial Stadium crowd of 58,534.

Tedford said he was proud of the way his team handled adversity. This was the first game since the season-opening loss at Tennessee his offense didn’t score in the first quarter. In fact, the Bears didn’t score until Tom Schneider made a 21-yard field-goal with two seconds left in the first half. By then, Bonnell had hit wide receiver Anthony Russo with a 49-yard touchdown pass to give Washington a 10-0 lead.

Associated Press: “Cal wins in overtime after miraculous Washington TD”

Marshawn Lynch played on two sprained ankles, and No. 11 California was on its heels all day — particularly after Washington scored the tying touchdown on the most improbable deflected pass either team had ever seen.

Yet Lynch finally got Cal into the driver’s seat with a 22-yard scoring run in overtime. A few seconds later, he was in another driver’s seat — careening around the field at the wheel of a stadium cart to celebrate the Golden Bears’ 31-24 victory Saturday.

Contra Costa Times: “Lynch does it all in carrying Bears to victory”

Truth be told, after warm-ups, Lynch probably would have played if he had a broken leg. By then, according to Tedford, Lynch was in a “frenzy” over what he considered to be an affront by the Huskies to Cal’s team honor.

The Huskies, apparently, decided to warm up near midfield, directly on Cal’s logo at the 50-yard-line.

“They’re out there saying this is their house and they’re going to win,” Cal linebacker Zack Follett said. “We usually do our jumping jacks at the 30. Marshawn grabbed the whole team and we did our jumping jacks at the 50.”

ESPN’s College Gameday recap (video):

Chris Folwer: Most impressive individual player Lee, what do you think?
Lee Corso: Marshawn Lynch from California. Obviously I like California but he made a great run in overtime to win it… over 150 yards rushing. Marshawn Lynch brought California back to a big win.
Kirk Herbstreit: That was big. Then he got the scooter and just took off running…

Seattle Times: “Bonnell’s good fails to outshine bad and ugly”

When it was over, when the wildest game of his injury-burdened college career ended with a 31-24 overtime loss, Washington quarterback Carl Bonnell fell at the 50-yard line. He just rested there, on his back, the last of five interceptions finally pinning him.

For all the good he did — 284 passing yards, 64 rushing yards, three touchdowns, a Hail Mary — the game’s recurring theme tortured him. Bonnell couldn’t stop throwing the ball to California defenders. It seemed like his spirals came with GPS systems.

Seattle Times: “Ecstasy and agony”

Instead, the Huskies were again left with nothing but the dreaded moral victory to assuage the pain of a 31-24 overtime loss to the Bears, who came in as 23-point favorites and played for much of the day like a team that wasn’t expecting much of a fight.

Once pushed against the ropes, however, the Bears didn’t flinch, scoring on the second play of overtime to take the lead.

“I will remember this game for the rest of my life,” Cal defensive tackle Brandon Mebane said.

U-Dub Dish blog (Washington): “The morning after”

But then Cal let everyone know who’s the boss and Marshawn Lynch, grill intact, took it to the house for the game-winning score.

Game over. Hit your head against a table. Tear out your hair. Scream so the neighbors get worried.

Sturdy Golden Blog: “Great Circle (Cal 31, Washington 24)”

Saturday’s Cal-Washington was memorable. But a bit too damned memorable, if you ask me.

TedfordIsGod blog: “First Five Thoughts on Near-Upset Saturday”

When all is said and done, the image that everyone will remember is of Marshawn driving the injury cart in circles around the Momentum turf. It was exciting, hilarious, pointless, dangerous and unlike anything I’d ever seen — kinda like Marshawn’s running style. He may not ever win the Heisman, but 20 years from now, that will still be funny and a somehow appropriate end to a bizarre game. And no, you weren’t the only one who thought that Marshawn was going to ghost ride an injury cart.