Cal battles but falls short at Oregon
Cal’s defense pitched a shutout for a half, but No. 13 Oregon gradually wore down the Bears and escaped with a 17-7 victory at Autzen Stadium on Saturday night.
The Ducks (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12) had scored 40 points or more in the past eight meetings vs. the Bears. They didn’t approach that this time, but their own defense was more than up to the task. Oregon hasn’t allowed more than seven points in its past four games,
Cal (4-2, 1-2) lost for the second straight game after reaching No. 15 in the AP Top 25 and now has dropped 10 of its past 11 games against Oregon.
Devon Modster, replacing injured starter Chase Garbers, got his first career start for the Bears and performed capably for a half as Cal used three takeaways to build a 7-0 lead.
But offensive line starters Michael Saffell and Valentino Daltoso were lost to injuries during the game and the Oregon defense took over. Cal managed just four total yards and no first downs in the third period and only 93 yards in the second half.
It didn’t help that Greg Thomas, who entered the game 8-for-9 on field-goal tries, missed twice. When he was wide right on a 46-yard attempt with 2:59 left, Cal’s chances were pretty much done.
It was small consolation for the Bears that they held an opponent to fewer than 25 points for a 13th consecutive game.
The Ducks finally got on the board when Camden Lewis converted a 28-yard field goal with 7:32 left in the third.
Javon Holland put them in position to take the lead, returning a punt 24 yards to the Cal 30 late in the third quarter. Herbert got Oregon to the 1 with a 29-yard completion to tight end Jacob Breeland before St. Francis High grad Cyrus Habibi-Likio, a 6-foot-1, 222-pound sophomore, powered in for a 10-7 lead with 1:38 left in the period.
Cal finally got its first first down of the half with 11:43 left in the game, but that possession died when Modster’s pass over the middle was deflected and intercepted by linebacker Troy Dye.
Herbert cashed in that opportunity, throwing a 1-yard TD pass to Jaylon Redd for a 17-7 lead with 7:14 to play. Herbert extended his streak to 33 consecutive games with at least one TD pass, longest in the nation.
Oregon had turned the ball over just twice in its first four games, but the Bears got three takeaways in the first quarter alone to build a 7-0 lead.
Safety Ashtyn Davis got the first, an interception against Justin Herbert — his first of the season — and a 31-yard return to the Cal 37.
Modster used a 36-yard completion to Jordan Duncan to get deep into Oregon territory, then threaded a 22-yard touchdown passes to running back Christopher Brown with 6:58 left in the opening quarter.
It was the first touchdown allowed by the Ducks in the first half all season.
Cal got takeaways on Oregon’s next two possessions as well, with Kuony Deng and Lone Toailoa each recovering fumbles by Ducks running back Travis Dye.
Neither team scored again in the half, each missing a field-goal try.