A play-fake caused the Michigan State defense to flow right as California quarterback Kevin Riley rolled out to the left. Riley looked downfield. He saw one receiver covered. Then another. Finally, he cocked his strong right arm and hurled the football about 40 yards. In response, the majority of the 62,956 paying customers inside Memorial Stadium, and a couple of hundred freeloaders up on Tightwad Hill, roared approval. Never has an incomplete pass caused such a stir.
But progress has many faces. The last time Riley played a game on his home field, he didn't throw the ball away and instead ran on an ill-advised scramble that allowed the clock to expire and cost the then-No. 2 Bears a chance to force overtime in a 31-28 loss to Oregon State last October. "I thought he did a nice job of making good decisions," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. Dumping the ball showed Riley has learned from his mistakes. Perhaps the Bears have, too. In recent seasons, victories such as Saturday night's 38-31 win over Michigan State were seen as evidence the Bears were on the verge of national prominence. And it would be tempting to think that again.
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