Cal's Jahvid Best ran for an Emerald Bowl-record 186 yards and two touchdowns, and a late Bears touchdown set up by Jacory Harris' fumble sent UM to defeat.
SAN FRANCISCO -- California running back Jahvid Best once wanted to be a Miami Hurricane. The Hurricanes only wish he were. After winning five games in a row to carry them into late November, the Hurricanes fizzled in their last three, including Saturday's 24-17 heart-pounding loss to California in the Emerald Bowl. On third-and-8 from the Miami 22-yard line, Cal linebacker Zach Follett grabbed UM quarterback Jacory Harris from behind and sacked him with 3:28 left, forcing the fumble that changed the game. Cal teammate Cameron Jordon scooped up the ball and charged 6 yards to the 2-yard line.
Two plays later, tight end Anthony Miller caught the 2-yard play-action pass for the deciding touchdown in front of an Emerald Bowl record crowd of 42,268 at AT&T Park. ''We said if we could get into the fourth quarter we'd have a great shot to win it, but unfortunately they made a play we couldn't make,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. Down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Hurricanes made a valiant comeback to tie the score at 17 with 9:13 left in the final quarter.
UM's last score came on a 22-yard field goal by Matt Bosher, the drive propelled by a running-into-the-kicker penalty by Cal's Brett Johnson. Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio could have put Cal ahead with 4:24 left in the game, but his 34-yard field-goal attempt was wide right. Best, the offensive player of the game, set an Emerald Bowl rushing record with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. ''We're after a national championship next year,'' Best told the crowd after being announced as a Heisman hopeful for next season.
UM ended its 2008 season 7-6, and Cal was 9-4. Freshman Harris, who started his second game of the season after usual starter Robert Marve was suspended, completed 25 of 41 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked twice. ''My shoulder is messed up,'' said Harris, who injured his throwing shoulder Nov. 29 at North Carolina State, ``but at the same time I've got to go out there and play a football game. Injured or not, I've got to make the throws.'' Cal quarterback Nate Longshore, a senior, completed 10 of 21 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. UM had 313 yards and Cal had 338. Graig Cooper led UM runners with 63 yards. But it was redshirt freshman Lee Chambers who dazzled in the second half.
Chambers, who entered the game with nine rushes all season, had nine carries for 60 yards late in the game. His carries, which included runs of 10, 17 and 14 yards, helped the Hurricanes get close enough for the game-tying field goal. The Hurricanes got the game's first turnover with 11:06 left in the opening quarter, but didn't make it count. UM linebacker Romeo Davis stripped the ball from running back Shane Vereen, and safety JoJo Nicolas recovered. But the Canes went backward two of three plays and were forced to punt. It was almost all Cal for the rest of the first quarter. The Bears charged 74 yards down the right sideline on a pass from Nate Longshore to wide receiver Verran Tucker on the next play -- the longest pass play allowed by UM in bowl history. Cornerback Brandon Harris was the initial defender and sprinted down the field behind Tucker. Safety Ryan Hill finally tackled Tucker as he approached the end zone. The play was initially called a touchdown, but UM challenged it and officials said Tucker's knee had touched the turf at the 2-yard line. No matter. Best scored two plays later from 1 yard out.
Cal led 7-0 with 7:15 left in the first quarter. Again, UM was stopped, and Best needed only one play to sprint 42 yards through the heart of the Hurricane defense for a touchdown, 14-0 lead and longest rushing score in Emerald Bowl history. After an exchange of possessions, UM took over with 2:22 left in the first quarter. On third-and-2 from the UM 28, Hurricanes fans must have done a double take. Harris threw a short pass to a person wearing No. 84, normally tight end Richard Gordon. But Gordon was suspended for the game and it was, instead, usual UM offensive tackle Tyrone Byrd converted into a tight end.
The ball skimmed off Byrd's hands and into the hands of teammate Javarris James for UM's initial first down of the night. On the final play of the quarter, Harris connected to Leonard Hankerson for a 41-yard completion. UM continued the spark with Harris' 11-yard run on third-and-8 from the Cal 26. Javarris James dropped what would have been a touchdown in the left back corner of the end zone, but two plays later, freshman LaRon Byrd leaped over cornerback Darian Hagan in the end zone for a touchdown.
With 12:54 left in the first half, UM trailed 14-7. The 10-play, 80-yard drive took 4:28 to unfold. At halftime, Cal had outrushed Miami 105 to 31 -- Best gaining 106 and two running scores. Harris had 93 passing yards with the one touchdown and one pick. Longshore had 92 yards.
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