TV Take: Plenty of ‘wacky’ moments in California’s 33-20 victory over Washington State
Washington State’s bowl hopes took a hit Saturday night in Berkeley, driven back by a California defense that limited the Cougars to two touchdowns and forced two turnovers en route to a 33-20 Pac-12 upset.
With the game on the Pac-12 Network, those watching at home listened to Ted Robinson on the play-by-play, Yogi Roth with the analysis and Lewis Johnson on the sidelines.
What they saw
• The game began with an emphasis – as they all do. What was different about this one was the contrast between two players focused upon.
California linebacker Evan Weaver grew up in the Inland Northwest and plays his college football in the Bay Area. WSU quarterback Anthony Gordon grew up in the Bay Area and plays his college football in the Inland Northwest.
With Weaver, Johnson’s first appearance came after a showing of the linebacker’s university-produced promo video, featuring a series of simulated hits around the Berkeley campus. It led into a conversation about the nation’s leading tackler – a former Gonzaga Prep star – and how he loves to hit.
Gordon’s nation-leading passing statistics came up as well, though they weren’t part of the discussion when Weaver hit the WSU quarterback too late early in the game.
It resulted in a roughing-the-passer penalty. None, however, were called on the video.
• Cal (5-4 overall, 2-4 Pac-12) hasn’t forced many turnovers this season – nine coming in – but forced them on WSU’s first possession of each half. It might have been part of the reason the Bears were touchdown underdogs coming in despite being at home.
The turnovers were crucial, or as Robinson called the first one that led to Cal’s initial touchdown: “What a gift.”
That was part of an early sequence that included a Gordon interception, one of California’s half-dozen explosive offensive plays and a blocked extra point returned for two Cougar points.
“This could be a wacky one,” Roth said.
Other than the Bears scoring five touchdowns while outgaining WSU (4-5, 1-5), it really didn’t turn out that way.
What we saw
• A conference’s broadcasting network is going to focus on the positives, especially when two conference members are playing. Which explains why Roth didn’t spend much time in the first half pointing out Washington State’s problems on the offensive line.
They were numerous.
The Bears’ front seven manhandled the Cougars for most of the game. It wasn’t just their stunts, twists and blitzes. There were many times when WSU’s line struggled to stand their ground.
Roth and Robinson focused on California’s scheme and hustle, the former causing Gordon to struggle with his reads, the latter helping the Bears make up for any mistakes.
Roth loved the disruption caused by 6-foot-6 inside linebacker Kuony Deng and 6-3, 240-pound outside linebacker Ben Hawk Schrider. But Schrider’s big play – a first-half sack – only occurred because three WSU linemen blocked two Bears and left Schrider free.
One indication of the offensive line’s issues? That would be Max Borghi’s tough night, with just 19 yards on eight carries and 36 yards on eight catches, two of those in the final minutes.
Or maybe it was the pressure Gordon dealt with at times, leading to two sacks and a handful of balls thrown away.
He finished 45-of-58 passing for 407 yards but just two touchdowns.
• What is a Pac-12 late Saturday game without a strange sequence that includes penalties? OK, any game.
On a third-quarter California drive, the Cougars’ Tyrese Ross was flagged with a 15-yard personal foul for a late hit out of bounds on Ben Skinner. It was the correct call but came on the heels of two questionable plays by California on the Cougar sideline that were not flagged.
That seemed to be the point being made forcefully by a couple of WSU staffers, which umpire Matt Jordan took exception to. When one staffer didn’t stop, Jordan threw a flag for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The 30 yards in penalties didn’t hurt as the Cougars blocked the ensuing field goal.