Arizona Edges Cal 45-44 in Double Overtime
BERKELEY - Justin Wilcox elected to go for two and the win in the second overtime, but Ross Bowers' pass for Jordan Duncan fell incomplete, and Arizona held on for a dramatic 45-44 win over Cal Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
Khalil Tate hit Bryce Wolma for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime to give Arizona (5-2, 3-1) a 45-38 lead. Vic Enwere answered with a 1-yard TD run on fourth down to bring the Bears within one.
Cal (4-4, 1-4) got the ball first to start the first overtime and Ross Bowers connected with Kanawai Noa for a 13-yard touchdown. Arizona answered in one play, as Zach Green ran for a 25-yard touchdown to force a second overtime.
The Bears trailed 31-28 late in the fourth quarter, until Matt Anderson drilled a career-long 52-yard field goal to tie the game at 31 with 1:41 to go. Arizona got the ball back with all three timeouts, but Ashtyn Davis intercepted Tate to preserve the tie for Cal.
Tate ran wild in the first half, carrying 10 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. But the Bears defense held him to just 10 rushing yards in the second half and the overtimes. For the game, Tate ran 17 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also went 10-of-15 passing for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Zach Green added 130 yards and two scores on 20 carries.
For the Bears, Patrick Laird rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries after missing the last game due to injury. He also added five receptions for 42 yards. Enwere carried 13 times for 29 yards and a score.
Ross Bowers went 29-of-49 for 301 yards, two touchdown, and two interceptions. He also carried four times for 13 yards and a score. The passing touchdown went to Malik McMorris, his first TD reception of the season.
Vic Wharton III hauled in a career-high eight receptions for 96 yards. Kanawai Noa make six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Jordan Kunasyzk recorded a career-high 14 tackles, including two for loss. Gerran Brown and Cameron Goode also set career marks with 10 and nine tackles respectively.
Stay tuned for postgame reaction from Wilcox and the players.