Cal upset Auburn 21-14 within the Bears’ first highway sport of the season on Saturday afternoon at sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Fernando Mendoza performed practically the complete sport at quarterback for Cal. He was excellent within the first half and fewer productive within the second half.
Auburn, which scored 73 factors towards Alabama A&M final week, scored simply 14 factors towards Cal, which pressured 5 Auburn turnovers
The Recreation Abstract
CAL 21, AUBURN 14
RECORDS: CAL (2-0), AUBURN (1-1)
PLAYER OF THE GAME OFFENSE: Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza accomplished 16 of his first 17 passes with two landing passes in that stretch. His solely incompletion in that span got here when he deliberately threw the ball away to keep away from a sack. He was far much less productive within the second half but it surely was sufficient. He left the sector late within the sport with a knee damage however later returned.
PLAYER OF THE GAME DEFENSE: Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan. Buchanan had 11 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. He utilized strain to the quarterback that led to a 3rd Cal sack. He pressured a fumble by ripping the ball away from Jarquez Hunter that Cal recovered on the 36-yard line, and Cal turned it right into a fourth-quarter landing.
STAT OF THE GAME: Cal dedicated no turnovers; Auburn turned the ball over 5 occasions.
CAL PLAYER AVAILABILITY: Cal operating again Jaydn Ott (ankle) was within the beginning lineup regardless of being thought-about a game-time choice with an ankle damage. Vast receiver Tobias Merriweather, huge receiver Kyion Grayes, guard Sioape Vatikani and middle Will McDonald are all projected starters, however all 4 missed their second straight sport Saturday. Cal beginning nickelback Matthew Littlejohn additionally was out with an damage.
TURNING POINT: With the rating tied 7-7 after Cal missed a 25-yard area purpose, Cal cornerback Nohl Williams intercepted a deflected Payton Thorne move on the Auburn 35-yard line and returned it to the Tigers’ 21-yard line. It led to Fernando Mendoza’s 13-yard landing move to Nyziah Hunter that gave the Bears 14-7 lead with 10:39 left within the first half.
KEY PLAY 1: On Auburn’s first possession, Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne accomplished a 41-yard move to Cam Coleman, placing the ball on the Cal 20-yard line. That led to Thorne’s 15-yard landing move to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, giving Auburn a 7-0 lead with 11:42 left within the first quarter.
KEY PLAY 2: Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza accomplished a 19-yard landing move to Nyziah Hunter, tying the sport 7-7 with 7:17 left within the first quarter. Mendoza was 6-for-6 on that 75-yard drive, which included a 27-yard completion to Jonathan Brady.
KEY PLAY 3: Auburn’s Payton Thorne threw an incompletion on a fourth-and-2 play from the Cal 48-yard line with 4:53 left within the first quarter.
KEY PLAY 4: Cal kicker Ryan Coe missed a 25-yard field-goal try from a pointy angle that bounced off the fitting upright. That saved the rating at 7-7 with 12:15 left within the first half.
KEY PLAY 5: Cal cornerback Nohl Williams intercepted a deflected Payton Thorne move on the Auburn 35-yard line and returned it to the Auburn 21-yard line with 12:06 left within the first half.
KEY PLAY 6: On the Cal possession that resulted from the turnover, Fernando Mendoza accomplished a 13-yard landing move to Nyziah Hunter, giving Cal a 14-7 lead with 10:39 left within the first half.
KEY PLAY 7: Cal’s Ja’ir Smith intercepted a Payton Thorne move on the ultimate play of the third quarter, giving the Bears the ball on the Auburn 47-yard line.
KEY PLAY 8: Cal kicker Ryan Coe missed a 55-yard area purpose try huge proper, conserving the Cal lead at 14-7 with 12:55 left within the fourth quarter.
KEY PLAY 9: Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan ripped the ball away from Auburn operating again Jarquez Hunter, and the fumble was recovered by the Bears’ Craig Woodson on the Auburn 36-yard line.
KEY PLAY 10: On the possession that resulted from that turnover, Jaivian Thomas scored a landing on a 32-yard run, giving Cal a 21-7 lead with 11:33 remaining within the fourth quarter.
KEY PLAY 11: Cal cornerback Marcus Harris was ejected for concentrating on, giving Auburn the ball on the Cal 18-yard line.
KEY PLAY 12: An interception by Cal’s Nohl Williams ultimately zone was negated by a questionable move interference name on Williams. Auburn scored on the subsequent play, on Payton Thorne’s 2-yard landing run, decreasing the Cal result in 21-14 with 6:06 remaining within the fourth quarter.
KEY PLAY 13: With 4;38 left within the fourth quarter, Fernando Mendoza ran for a primary down,however left the sport with a knee damage. He was changed by Chandler Rogers.
KEY PLAY 14: Cal cornerback Nohl Williams intercepted a Payton Thorne move on the Cal 44-yard line with 2:13 left within the fourth quarter.
INDIVIDUAL STAT OF THE GAME: Cal operating again Jaydn Ott, slowed by a sore ankle, rushed for simply 11 yards on 10 carries.
INDIVIDUAL STAT OF THE GAME II: Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan had 11 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. He utilized strain that led to Cal’s third sack, which was recorded by Ja’ir Smith. Buchanan additionally pressured a fumble that Cal recovered within the fourth quarter, ripping the ball away from Jarquez Hunter.
INDIVIDUAL STAT OF THE GAME III: Cal cornerback Nohl Williams intercepted two passes, together with a decide with 2:13 left within the sport. Williams has three interceptions for the season.
QUARTERBACK STATISTICS: Cal’s Fernando Mendoza was 25-of-36 for 233 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Auburn’s Payton Thorne was 14-for-27 for 165 yards, one landing and 4 interceptions.
WHAT IT MEANS: Cal is 2-0 for the fifth time in Justin Wilcox’ s eight years as head coach. With a winnable sport subsequent week at house towards San Diego State, the Bears have an opportunity to enter ACC play with a 3-0 report.
CAL’S BOWL BAROMETER: Cal has a 65% likelihood of touchdown a bowl berth. If Cal wins subsequent week towards San Diego State, the Bears will likely be midway to turning into bowl eligible.
NEXT GAME: Cal (2-0) vs. San Diego State (1-1) at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, on Saturday, September 14. Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. TV: ESPN. San Diego State misplaced to Oregon State 21-0 on Saturday night time in San Diego.
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