San Jose Mercury: Harbaugh angers USC by going for two

Jon Wilner

The most memorable play of Stanford's 55-21 victory over USC had nothing to do with the outcome.

It was not one of Andrew Luck's touchdown passes or Toby Gerhart's overpowering runs. Nor was it Richard Sherman's victory-clinching interception return.  It was a two-point conversion attempt by Stanford with 6:47 remaining and victory assured. The Cardinal led 48-21 at the time — it was two points from an even 50. The run failed, but the Trojans were not happy. "I don't feel like commenting," said safety Taylor Mays, who walked toward the Stanford bench while glaring at Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh after the play.  Asked why he went for two points instead of kicking the extra point, Harbaugh provided a non-answer answer: "I thought it was an opportunity, the way we were coming off the ball, the way our players were playing — that it was the right thing to do," Harbaugh said. Was there more to it?

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San Jose Mercury: Cal's Shane Vereen shines in starring role

Gary Peterson

Twenty-nine carries into the heaviest lifting he's ever known as a collegian, Shane Vereen was as pristine as a blade of rubberized turf. That's his version of the truth, and he's sticking to it.  "It was different than normal," was as far from the script as Vereen would venture Saturday night, after helping Cal to a grinding 24-16 victory over Arizona. "But mentally and physically I was prepared. Coach G (Ron Gould, Cal's running backs coach) did a good job during the week getting me ready."

The special preparation was in order because Cal came into Saturday's game without its best offensive chess piece, tailback Jahvid Best. Still recovering from the heart-stopping fall he took in the Bears' previous game, Best's role against Arizona was strictly inspirational. He observed the pregame coin flip. He walked the home sideline, wearing his familiar No. 4.

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Cal Alumni Group in Green Bay?

A reader of this blog inquired as to whether there is an alumni group in the Green Bay area.  If you know of one, please post a comment below.

Arizona Daily Star: UA thrown for a loop

Strange penalty on late pass play costs Cats dearly

 

Climb the 75 rows from the field to the top of ancient Memorial Stadium and, on a clear day, you can see Alcatraz Island. The legendary prison is a perpetual monument to rash decisions, impossible escape attempts and — ultimately — despair.  The 18th-ranked Arizona Wildcats didn't need the institutional reminder Saturday. Following a disheartening 24-16 loss to Cal, they know.

Cal's Giorgio Tavecchio hit four field goals, including a 22-yard go-ahead kick with 4 minutes 46 seconds remaining, to boost the Golden Bears past a desperate UA team.  Arizona (6-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) can still earn a share of the Pac-10 title by winning its remaining games against Oregon, Arizona State and USC.  But Rose Bowl talk seems distant, almost silly, now.  "We lost focus this game," UA safety Cam Nelson said. "Everybody was too worried about Stanford, USC and what the other guys were doing this week instead of focusing on ourselves. That's why we came out flat. … We were so excited to be ranked and finally have something going that we lost track of what we were going after."

The Golden Bears were locked in all night, in part because of Tavecchio's left foot.  The Italian-born kicker hit four of his five attempts, including two 46-yarders, to pace Cal's scoring attack. Tavecchio contributed in other ways, too. After hitting the field goal that put Cal ahead for good, the kicker tackled Arizona's Travis Cobb on a kickoff return. Bolstered by Cobb's return, Arizona drove deep into Cal territory. Foles was finally making all the right decisions — until he made a disastrous one.

Arizona faced third-and-three from the Cal 25 when Foles dropped back and attempted a short pass. The ball deflected off a Cal defender and back into the hands of Foles, who rolled right and threw it forward again — this time for a completion to Delashaun Dean.

Foles was flagged for an illegal forward pass, and Arizona was penalized 5 yards from the spot of the penalty, 9yards behind the line of scrimmage. Arizona's field goal unit stood on the sideline when, on fourth-and-17 from the Golden Bears' 39, Foles attempted a desperate pass to David Roberts that was broken up. Coach Mike Stoops called Foles' flub "a natural reaction." The Cats quarterback was harder on himself. "I should have just batted it down," Foles said. "It's something I know." Foles' mistake was emblematic of the Wildcats' struggles. Arizona gained just 274 yards, 174 below its season average. Foles completed 25 of 41 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted once and sacked three times.  The Wildcats rushed for just 73 yards as a team, a 2.6 yards-per-carry average that rarely equates to wins. And yet Arizona had its chances.

Cal (7-3, 4-3) scored a late touchdown but botched a PAT attempt, leaving Arizona a chance to drive for a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion.  The Wildcats had hope, but struggled to make the simplest of plays. Their last drive included an incomplete pass, a holding call (which was declined) and two sacks. "I didn't feel like we got in any kind of rhythm offensively, at all," offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said. Things weren't much better on defense. Cal tailback Shane Vereen gained 159 of his team's 357 yards. Quarterback Kevin Riley struggled, but still threw for 181 yards and a touchdown.

"I'm so disturbed and disappointed, it's hard to even reflect back," defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said. "We felt like we were doing some good things, but I felt we really had to be on the money."

Instead, the Wildcats were — metaphorically speaking — on an island all night. Every escape attempt failed. "You're looking for a big play," he said. "We didn't really execute at the end, and it hurt us."

Cal 24, Arizona 16

Ron Kroichick

 

Given the challenge lurking ahead - a Stanford offense tossing out 50-plus points every time it takes the field - Cal's defense chose an ideal time to play one of its best games of the season Saturday.  The Bears scratched out a 24-16 victory over Arizona, mostly because their defense stymied the top-rated offense in the Pac-10. Cal twice stuffed late Wildcats drives to preserve the win before a boisterous crowd of 53,347 at Memorial Stadium.

Shane Vereen, starting in place of injured Jahvid Best, gained 159 yards on 30 carries to spark the offense. Vereen doggedly chipped away throughout the game, then busted loose for a 61-yard touchdown run with 1:21 left to stretch Cal's lead to eight points.  That seemed to cement the outcome, but the Bears missed the extra point to give Arizona another chance. The Wildcats moved the ball near midfield before faltering, in part because of Cal's invigorated pass rush.  Arizona, now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Pac-10 play, arrived with Rose Bowl hopes and an average of 448.6 yards per game on offense. They managed only 274 on Saturday, as Cal's defense - overwhelmed last week against Oregon State - rose to the occasion, especially in the secondary. "The defense just played unbelievably," coach Jeff Tedford said.

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Jahvid Best Concussion Video

Daily Cal: Cal Program Relieved by End of Best's Hospital Stay

Matt Kawahara

Jahvid Best, who suffered a serious concussion in the second quarter of the Cal football team's loss to Oregon State on Saturday night, was released from Highland General Hospital on Sunday after CT scans and X-rays came back normal.  "He's doing fine," Bears coach Jeff Tedford said. "He's sore. But we're all thankful that there's no severe damage and he's going to recover just fine."

Best was injured when he hurdled a defender into the end zone and was upended by Beavers safety Cameron Collins while in the air, landing violently and awkwardly on the back of his head and neck. The game stopped for about 15 minutes while medical personnel attended to Best, who was knocked unconscious by the impact. Tedford visited Best in the hospital Saturday night and said the junior tailback was awake and communicating, but was a little groggy from medication. When the two spoke on the phone Sunday, Tedford said, Best sounded much more alert. Best does remember the play and has seen replays.

Although Tedford said after the game that Best was "doing OK," it was still reassuring for him to have the Vallejo, Calif., native return home.

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Oakland Tribune: Inconsistent play just one of many concerns for Tedford, Bears

Gay Peterson

Jahvid Best took the direct snap from center, curled around left end and streaked for the goal line. Waiting for him there was Oregon State's Tim Clark, anticipating what was sure to be a glorious collision of chiseled brawn and youthful bravado.  It never happened. As he approached Clark, Best bounded into the air like a gazelle. Rather than run through the defender, Best had chosen to leap over him. Maybe to put an exclamation point on an arduous 15-play drive. Maybe to serve as an inspiration for a team that was trailing 14-0 and struggling to do anything well.

Maybe he did it because he could.  Regardless, in that moment Best personified all that the Cal football team believed itself to be and hoped for its future. He was unbounded by conventional physics, a dream in flight. It was exhilarating, a stupendous sight.  And then it was a horrifying vision. Best was nearing his apex — he wasn't going to clear Clark, but it was going to be close — when the pursuing Cameron Collins placed his hand on Best's hind end and gave him a shove.

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Best Update

The AP reports as follows:

“Cal spokesman Herb Benenson said that a preliminary evaluation showed Best sustained a concussion, but more tests were being done before a final diagnosis would be announced by the school. Best had movement in all of his extremities, Benenson said.”

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Jahvid Best Seriously Injured

Jahvid Best sustained what appeared to be an extremely serious back/neck injury while scoring the Bears’ first touchdown.  After approximately ten minutes of medical attention, he was taken from the field while being provided oxygen.  He did not raise his hand or acknowledge the crowd.

Contra Costa Times: Cal quarterback Kevin Riley learns from his mistakes

Jonathan Okanes

When Oregon State last visited Berkeley two years ago, it resulted in quarterback Kevin Riley's most forgettable moment at Cal. He tried to run for a touchdown with no timeouts remaining, and the clock ran out in a 31-28 loss. Now, Riley has come full circle. He made all the right decisions while orchestrating a flawless two-minute drive to beat Arizona State last weekend. It was the first time he had been in that position since the blunder against the Beavers. "If I was now in that situation, I just would have thrown the ball out of bounds right away," Riley said of the game two years ago. "It's just something you learn from, and I've learned from it and gotten better." Oregon State will see a much different quarterback Saturday than it did two years ago. Riley was forced into his first collegiate start because of an ankle injury to Nate Longshore and had an uneven performance. But he almost led the Bears back from a 31-21 deficit, first completing a 64-yard touchdown pass to Lavelle Hawkins, and then taking over at the Cal 5-yard line with 1:27 remaining and marching the team downfield before the stunning ending.

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AP: Cal QB looking to erase bad memory against Beavers

Two years after his fourth-quarter mistake against Oregon State cost California a shot at becoming the top-ranked team in the nation, Kevin Riley can't escape the images of his blunder.  At least now the Golden Bears senior quarterback can laugh about it.  Riley, who has No. 23 Cal back in the Top 25 after a six-week absence, chuckled when remembering the play that ended the Golden Bears' dreams of national recognition and made him a constant feature on highlight shows.  "You'd see it on TV, and a week after I remember everybody staring at it not saying anything," Riley said. "And I'd go, 'Hey everybody, I'm on TV,' trying to lighten up the mood a little bit."  Riley was forced to re-live memories of that infamous day against the Beavers in 2007 this week as the Golden Bears returned home to host Oregon State in a pivotal Pac-10 matchup for both teams on Saturday.  Cal (6-2, 3-2 Pac-10) has won three straight after consecutive blowout losses to Oregon and USC, and is coming off a 23-21 victory at Arizona State in which Riley engineered a late fourth-quarter drive that led to the game-winning score.  Instead of basking in the glow of that win, though, Riley has had to answer questions about that ill-fated play against the Beavers two years ago.

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Gazette Times: Cal's Riley puts hard lessons to work as he becomes a leader

The last time Kevin Riley led a last-minute drive, he made a critical mistake. It was 2007 and Riley, starting for the first time as a freshman quarterback for the University of California, was moving the Golden Bears down the field against Oregon State. Trailing 31-28, Riley drove the team 84 yards to the OSU 10, but he became known for what turned out to be the final play. Riley was chased out of the pocket and decided to scramble down the field as seconds ticked away. Time ran out. Not this time. This was an older, wiser, more experienced Kevin Riley.  Riley had to drive the Bears into field goal range for a chance to take a win at Arizona State last Saturday. He stepped in and calmly led Cal 74 yards in 11 plays, hitting five of six passes, all for first downs. When kicker Giorgio Tavecchio knocked through a 24-yard field goal with 21 seconds left, Cal had a 23-21 win and Riley had his game-winning drive.

Riley took it all in stride. He said the team moved the ball well on the previous drive. "We got the ball back with some time left and we were clicking," Riley said. "I was just seeing the field well and had confidence that we were going to pull it off." Riley finished the game with 351 yards passing and two touchdowns. Not even three fumbles could faze him.

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SF Examiner: Bears' Riley gets chance to vanquish a ghost

Ron Kroichick

Kevin Riley remembers the highlight airing time after relentless time. He would glance at the television and see himself scrambling out of the pocket, going down, hopping to his feet and hurriedly tossing the ball at the referee as Cal's field-goal unit rushed onto the field.  Then the clock ran out with the Bears on the short end of the score, and coach Jeff Tedford angrily slammed his play card and headphones to the ground. Riley, with friends when the highlight appeared, recalled the room growing silent as they stared at the familiar images. He tried to lighten the tension by announcing, "Hey, everyone, I'm on TV!" More than two years later, Oregon State returns to Berkeley on Saturday for the first time since Riley's memorable mistake in his inaugural college start. Safe to say, he's at a different stage of his career - as the established starting quarterback, on an unmistakable roll as he tries to guide the Bears (6-2) into a top-tier bowl game.

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ESPN: Cal-Oregon State a measuring stick for their season

How does a team define a successful season? Here's a guess that both California's and Oregon State's definitions includes a victory this weekend.  Considering that they are meeting in Berkeley on Saturday, the obvious point of contention is one will walk away with a high degree of disappointment.  A win guarantees nothing. But a loss probably will prelude a below-expectation finish in the Pac-10.

California (6-2, 3-2), ranked 20th in the BCS standings, has won three straight since since becoming a national punchline after losing consecutive weekends to Oregon and USC by a combined count of 72-6. A third-place finish and a potential Holiday Bowl berth -- if the conference gets two BCS teams -- are still appealing possibilities, though the Bears were thinking Rose Bowl in the preseason.

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SF Chronicle: Concussion limits Best

Cal running back Jahvid Best missed practice Wednesday with what doctors told him was a "mild concussion," but Best anticipates playing Saturday against Oregon State. Best sustained his injury Saturday against Arizona State, though he wasn't diagnosed with a concussion until Monday. He downplayed the symptoms, saying it "felt like a headache to me," but Cal kept him out of practice the past two days. Tight end out: Anthony Miller, the Bears' starting tight end and third-leading receiver with 17 catches, had arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday to repair meniscus damage in the knee, coach Jeff Tedford said. Tedford wasn't sure if Miller will recover in time to play Nov. 14. Skylar Curran will replace Miller as the starter Saturday. Briefly: Guard Matt Summers-Gavin and nose guard Derrick Hill, both of whom missed the ASU game with shoulder injuries, are considered doubtful for Saturday.

Gazette Times: Quizz vs. Best make interesting matchup in Beavers game

Two of the most dynamic running backs in the nation face off Saturday when the Oregon State football team plays California in a Pacific-10 Conference game.  OSU's Jacquizz Rodgers and Cal's Jahvid Best were the top two ball carriers in the Pac-10 last season and they've kept up similar paces this season.

Both are of vital importance in the success of their teams. When they are playing well everything goes smoothly. "If we win, many times our running back does pretty well," coach Mike Riley said. "That's our identity."  Best and Rodgers will never be on the field at the same time, but this is a rivalry of who can out-do who.

Winning the game is the most important aspect, but comparing them makes for interesting fodder going into the showdown.  "It's like a competition," Rodgers said. "You have to go out and compete and do the best you can. I just do it for my team and to win the game."  Best won the Pac-10 rushing title last season when Rodgers missed the last six quarters of the regular season with a shoulder injury. Best gained 1,580 yards with an 8.1-yard average per carry and scored 15 touchdowns.

However, Rodgers had done enough to be voted by the coaches the conference offensive player of the year. He gained 1,243 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. "They are both in their own way tremendous players," Riley said. "That's the unique thing about great backs. They have ability, and have a knack for seeing."

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Statesman Journal: Beavers in good hands when Rodgers has football

Gary Horowitz

Jacquizz Rodgers does it all for Oregon State.  The sophomore tailback is second in the Pac-10 in rushing (922 yards) and receptions (49) and is tied for second in the nation with 15 touchdowns.  He also threw a touchdown pass in last week's UCLA game from the Beavers' version of the wildcat formation.

Here's something Rodgers hasn't done: Fumble. In 510 career touches —431 rushes, 78 receptions, and one pass — Rodgers has yet to fumble. "I don't like talking about it," Rodgers said before Tuesday's practice. Rodgers credits running backs coach Reggie Davis for helping him with ball security.

"My coach always preached high and tight," Rodgers said. "Just make sure you secure the ball, that's the main thing. I make sure I keep the ball secure when I'm making cuts."  Talking about fumbles is sort of like approaching a pitcher when he has a no-hitter going. "I don't even know what you're talking about," offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said in jest.

OSU has fumbled just six times as a team this season, losing one after a James Rodgers reception at USC.  "To have a reliable person that you give the ball to a lot is a really, really good thing," coach Mike Riley said.  Jacquizz Rodgers is within reach of several single-season school records. He needs five rushing touchdowns to tie the school record of 19 held by Steven Jackson (2003) and Ken Simonton (1999 and 2000), and with 90 points and four regular-season games remaining, Jackson's record of 132 points (2003) also is in sight.

Rodgers and California's Jahvid Best, who were the first-team all-Pac-10 running backs last season, are tied for the conference lead in touchdowns.

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Seattle Post Intelligencer: Pac-10 matchup in Berkeley features Beavers and Bears

The Oregon State Beavers and the California Golden Bears will clash this weekend in what figures to be a competitive Pac-10 contest.  Oregon State has won three of its last four outings to move to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. The most recent triumph occurred over UCLA on Saturday by a 26-19 final in thrilling fashion. All three losses this season have come by 10 or fewer points, and OSU can become eligible for the postseason with a win over California.

Speaking of the Golden Bears, they have won their last three outings to move to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The win streak put the Bears back in the top-25 this week, coming in at 23rd in the nation. Prior to Saturday's tilt against Arizona State, all seven of their contests had been decided by double figures. The game against the Sun Devils was extremely close, however, and Jeff Tedford has to be proud of the fact that his team escaped the road affair with a 23-21 triumph. California owns a 33-28 series edge over Oregon State, but the Beavers have won the last two meetings.

Oregon State is scoring 29.4 ppg this season to go along with 408.6 total ypg. The Beavers have some talented offensive performers, but none more exciting than tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. Through eight games, he has rushed for 922 yards and 14 touchdowns while also hauling in 49 receptions for 371 yards and a score. Clearly, Rodgers is a frontrunner for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors. His brother, James Rodgers, is second on the team in rushing and first in receiving with 60 grabs for 706 yards and five scores. Sean Canfield has started all eight games at quarterback for the Beavers and has connected on 68.9 percent of his throws for 2,039 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. James Rodgers played hero for Oregon State last weekend, as he scored on a 17-yard run with 44 seconds remaining to break a 19-19 tie and lead his team to victory. Jacquizz threw a touchdown pass in the tilt, and the versatile talent posted 112 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards.

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SF Examiner: California Golden Bears next focus on Rodgers brothers

Rob Calonge

Seven catches for 55 yards, 30 carries for 166 yards, and two touchdowns. Oh, and more importantly, one big 'W' in the process. That 'W' made the difference between a bid at the Holiday Bowl or a near-home game at the Emerald Bowl.

Not that Cal didn't enjoy their game at AT&T Park, but if you can't go to the Rose Bowl, the Holiday Bowl is the next best get for Pac-10 teams.  So where do all the numbers responsible for the 'W' come from? They come from the Rodgers brothers combined stats from last year that led to the 'W' against Cal last year. A win which helped them tie Oregon for second in the Pac-10 with a 7-2 record. Cal's conference record was 6-3.

The Beavers have been a thorn in the side of the Golden Bears for some time now. In their last seven meetings, Oregon State has come away with the victory. Combining that thorn with the thorn created last season with the pairing of the Rodgers, and you can guess that Cal has their work cut out for them this weekend.

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