Cal Football Shocks Top-25 SMU Mustangs, 38-35

Photo courtesy of Rob Hwang

Southern Methodist University (8-4, 6-2 ACC) and the Cal Bears (7-5, 4-4 ACC) began the game by giving away possession in brief, unfruitful outings by their offensive units. Cal played their first game without Coach Justin Wilcox in nine years, with SMU looking to make it to the ACC Championship game for a second season in a row. With just under ten minutes left in the first quarter, the California Golden Bears put together a long drive that resulted in a kick after a touchdown to Trond Grizzell was called back for holding. Chase Meyer put through a field goal, giving them a three point lead late in the first quarter. Cal started their first drive of the second quarter deep in their own territory, but maintained patience and found fresh sets of downs to lead them to midfield, where JKS found an open Jaiven Plummer with a perfectly feathered in ball for a long touchdown bringing the score to 10-7 in favor of the Bears..

Trickery began later in the stanza, with a play that saw backup QB Devin Brown join JKS on the field for a simple, successful run by Kendrick Raphael, (on the way to his third 100+ yard game of the season), eventually setting up a quick touchdown pass to Jacob De Jesus, making it a two-score game in Cal’s favor, 17-7. SMU picked the ball up after a missed field goal with under two minutes left in the half, bringing it to midfield before engaging in a bizarre series of play calls, finally ending in Chris Victor’s second sack of the game to close out the half.

Although several penalties took them from 1st and goal at the 9 to 1st and goal near the 30 on the first drive of the second half, JKS found WR Cole Boscia for a leaping grab for the touchdown, on his 3rd catch of the season. On the next drive, Derrick McFall ripped off a big run, bringing the Mustangs to the Cal 18, before Kevin Jennings fired it to TE Matthew Hibner for the first touchdown of the second half. SMU’s scoring drive saw them go 75 yards in three and a half minutes.

The next drive saw Cal eating up nearly five minutes of clock, which brought them to the SMU 32 to end the quarter. At the start of the 4th, JKS immediately fired to an open QuaRon Adams racing down the sideline, who found paydirt, bringing the score to 31-14, resulting in JKS’ first career 4 passing TD output.

SMU scored again on their next drive, thanks to a great run by RB Chris Johnson Jr. who muscled the ball to the Cal 1. SMU QB Kevin Jennings took the ball in for a score the next down, once again making it a 10 point game in Cal’s favor; 31-21. SMU’s defense followed this effort by giving Cal’s offense their first 3 and out since the first quarter, setting up their next quick scoring drive, which ended with Kevin Jennings finding Jordan Hudson for another touchdown, cutting Cal’s lead to a field goal, 31- 28. The next Cal drive floundered around midfield, with JKS holding his hand as he left the field. SMU wasted no time gashing up the field, running in another touchdown to take the lead 35-31 with 2:22 remaining.

Cal pushed the ball up the field with the same energy and success they had found in the first three quarters of the game, with a key catch from Cole Boscia bringing them to 1st and goal, and Kendrick Raphael finding the endzone shortly after and giving the Bears a three point lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Jennings led SMU into Cal territory in short order but could not make anything happen. With eight seconds remaining, their field goal unit took the field for a 53 yard attempt that was no good.