Cal Drops Another ACC Match-Up, Falls 25-33 to Syracuse Orange
California quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw two interceptions in the first quarter
Despite some late-game heroics, the California Golden Bears (5-5, 1-5 ACC) fell to the Syracuse Orange (7-3, 4-3 ACC), 25-33, Saturday afternoon.
California quarterback Fernando Mendoza found his junior wide receiver Jonathan Brady with a short five-yard pass to the left to bring the score to 23-33 with 1:01 remaining in the game. A quick pass to tight end Jack Endries for a successful two-point conversion narrowed the Bears' disadvantage to 25-33, but a failed onside kick put the game out of reach.
"My personal game—miserable. I lost us the game," Mendoza told reporters in the post-game press conference. "You can't turnover the ball like that... It was my worst turnover game of the season by far, and [it] just simply was not my day."
Mendoza finished the day with 225 passing yards and one touchdown. He threw two interceptions, both in the first quarter.
"We certainly were outplayed today. There's no doubt about that," California head coach Justin Wilcox said in the post-game press conference. "Out coached, out played, out rushed, out caught, out covered, out sacked—everything... We had some poor plays on special teams."
Coach Wilcox continued: "I don't see anything we did very well."
Syracuse outplayed California and dictated the terms of the game, dominating both sides of the ball. The Orange limited the Golden Bears to only 29 yards in the first quarter and racked up 299 total yards by halftime, going a perfect three-for-three on fourth-down conversions before the break.
Orange senior quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 323 passing yards and one touchdown, connecting with seven receivers, but Syracuse's rush attack shined, too.
"The run game moved forward nearly every single time," Coach Wilcox said after the game, referring to Syracuse's rushing game.
Syracuse starting running back LeQuint Allen, Jr. frequently found holes against a porous California defense, finding 109 rushing yards and hauling the rock for two scores. Syracuse out-gained California 471 yards to 391.
Read everyone’s insta-reactions to the Cal v. Syracuse game. Don’t forget to rate the Cal v. Syracuse game.
Seriously, what the hell was THAT? Favored at home with a chance to clinch a bowl game and you're completely flat on both sides of the ball? Seen it too often under this coach.
Worst game in a long time. Terrible offensive and defensive game plans, team not ready to play. All with bowl eligibility on the line. A real low in the Wilcox era.