Bears Scrimmage Before Final Week Of Spring
BERKELEY – There was a little something for everyone at Cal's 11th football practice session of the spring on Saturday at California Memorial Stadium with the offense picking up five touchdowns, Michael Luckhurst successful on all five of his field goal attempts, and the defense scoring its fourth touchdown of the spring on a 63-yard interception return by Raymond Woodie III.
Sam Jackson V hit Jeremiah Hunter for 36 yards on the first play of the scrimmage and the offense marched down the field to score on its first two drives on touchdown passes of 14 yards from Jackson V to Monroe Young and 36 yards from Fernando Mendoza to Kenden Robinson Jr. The Golden Bears also kicked field goals after each drive with Luckhurst good from 30 and 45 yards out.
"The offense came out, put the ball in the end zone and scored points," said a pleased Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox during his post-practice media availability session.
The defense prevented the offense from getting into the end zone on its next five drives, but Luckhurst made field goals from 43, 48 and 25 yards to get the offense points on each of the final three.
The offense and defense then traded touchdowns on each of the next two drives with Woodie's interception followed by a five-yard touchdown run from Mendoza.
The offense got back into the end zone on the final two drives on a 20-yard scoring pass from Mendoza to Trond Grizzell and a three-yard touchdown run from Mendoza with the signal caller live.
Mendoza completed 15-of-22 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while scoring twice on the ground. Jackson was 9-of-19 for 121 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Grizzell was the leading receiver of the scrimmage with six catches for 75 yards and one touchdown, while Young finished with three receptions for 43 yards and his score, and Robinson had two grabs for 56 yards and one touchdown. Jordan King (4-38), Jaiven Plummer (2-28) and Chris Rogers (2-13) also had multiple catches.
Jaydn Ott (7-33) and Ashton Stredick (4-33) shared scrimmage-high rushing honors.
Matthew Littlejohn and Cam Sidney each had four tackles, while Littlejohn added 0.5 tackles for loss (-3 yards) and one quarterback hurry. David Reese had the only sack of the scrimmage for a four-yard loss, while the defense registered six pass breakups with Lu-Magia Hearns III's pair leading the way.
Cal will practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week (8:45 a.m. start) before concluding their 15 spring workout sessions with the annual Cal Football Spring Showcase on Saturday, April 15. Gates for the showcase open at 12:30 p.m. with Pac-12 Networks live coverage beginning at 2 p.m.
All practices including the showcase are open to the public and free of admission.
Fans can enter California Memorial Stadium via Gates 1, 2 and 5 on the west side of the venue and follow signage to adjacent seating areas on the west side of the venue. The Field Club will also be open to the public for the showcase. Scheduled showcase activities include …
Cal football scrimmage
Food and Bud Light Beer Garden
Fun activities for kids on the plaza
Youth combine (11:30 a.m. start)
Appearances by Cal football legends
Post-game autograph opportunities with current Golden Bears' players and coaches