Cal’s season spiraling after third consecutive loss
After a 3-0 start, Cal had dreams of earning its first bowl game berth since a young upstart named Jared Goff was at quarterback.
Now, Cal has lost three in a row, including most recently to previously winless UCLA, and the Bears might only be the favorite in one of its final six games.
UCLA earned its first win of the Chip Kelly era by crushing Cal 37-7 in Berkeley on Saturday, holding the Golden Bears scoreless in the first half, compiling 207 rushing yards and forcing five turnovers.
Cal’s passing game woes continued, as quarterback Brandon McIlwain went 21 of 40 for 168 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. On the other hand, running back Patrick Laird threw one pass and completed it for 11 yards.
Now, Cal ventures to Oregon State for a game on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. On paper, this is the Golden Bears’ top chance for a win — with Stanford, Washington, Washington State, USC and Colorado remaining.
“The only solution is to go fight through it. That’s the only answer,” said second-year head coach Justin Wilcox. “… We’ve all got to be part of the solution. We’ve got to give them answers, and then we’ve got to fight.
“These are pivotal moments, so we’ve got to fight.”
Cal (3-3, 0-3 Pac-12) committed five turnovers against UCLA, and McIlwain — two picks and two fumbles — was responsible for four of them. Cal earned two sacks against UCLA but had no interceptions; UCLA tailback Joshua Kelley had 157 rushing yards and three scores.
“It’s never going to be acceptable to give up the ball and commit turnovers, but we’re going to continue to work on it,” McIlwain said. “It’s now or never. It’s time to make a change and find a way to pick it up.”
Oregon State (1-5, 0-3 Pac-12) has been bludgeoned by power conference teams, including a season-opening 77-31 loss to Ohio State and lopsided losses to Arizona (35-14), Arizona State (52-24) and Washington State (56-37). Oregon State’s defense might offer opportunity for the woeful Golden Bears’ offense, although that’s only part of the problem for a spiraling team.
“At no point in the game was the offense, defense and special teams playing well together,” Wilcox said after the UCLA loss. “At no point.”
The Beavers’ bright spot has been freshman tailback Jermar Jefferson, who has 865 rushing yards and two touchdowns.