Cal vs. Florida State Football Insta-Recap & Rate the Game: Golden Bears Fail to Score a Touchdown, Lose 9-14
California loses its first conference game as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference
The California Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1 ACC) fell to the Florida State Seminoles (1-3, 1-2 ACC), 9-14, after failing to score a single touchdown in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Golden Bears had a shot at winning their first match-up against the Seminoles and their first conference game as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
California out-gained Florida State 410 yards to 284 but could only score twice out of five trips to the red zone. Senior place kicker Ryan Coe missed two field goals in the second half, a 36-yard kick and a 38-yard kick, despite making a 51-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter, which gave Cal a 9-7 lead.
Golden Bear quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 303 yards and one interception, connecting with nine receivers.
California star running back Jaydn Ott had 73 rushing yards on 16 touches of the ball, returning to play after missing last week's game against San Diego State with an injury.
Share your insta-reactions below. Rate the Cal v. Florida State college football game!
Play calling, O Line, and FG kicking needs vast improvements in the next two weeks.
We've all let our frustrations out about our placekicker here during the game, and i think that's okay, but it's totally unacceptable to be leaving trash comments on Coe's social media. That is just not not right. It's sad.
Here's my sunshine:
Defense held to 14 points- they did their job. Yes, there were a few mistakes, but they battled like champions. Remember, last year the Beavers lit us big time with DJU. IMHO, DDJU's accuracy was about the same last year, he just had more shots and an unstoppable run game last year. This year's D may be our best yet under JW. Our LBs and DBs are elite. Our D line and edge are damned good..
Nando continues to show leadership, strength, improving skill, and intelligent decision-making.
Jet was brave and made progress.
Ott was finally making some rushing progress and opened up the pass game.
The Oline was brave, despite being overmatched in many cases. Prayers for Siope Vatikani.
The offense was challenged more so than ever, but was in the game to the end.
Instead of criticizing our kicker, personally, I would morally seek to out answers that would be constructive and helpful. Clearly something is affecting his established skills. And, yet, he makes some long ones. I'm not sure why we're favoring the right hash mark, when he mails it from center.
Our punter is lights out. IMHO, he may be one of the best in the country.
Yes, our expectations (demands) were ratcheted over the red line for this game. We always knew FSU had elite talent, because we put our pride into slapping the face of a program that paid us insult, we set ourselves up for a greater fall than usual. Most Cal-centric pundits figured we only had a chance to win 1 of the three out of Auburn, FSU, and Miami. I won't throw shade on our team, when we knew, from the beginning, that the odds did not favor us and the most optimistic amongst us were forecasting an eight win season. The win at Auburn raised our expectations to fanciful levels and I, for one, upon reflection, see our program making continued improvement. It's a marathon, not a dash.
We definitely should have a football program that is worthy of our academic reputation. We should consistently be in the top twenty five. It will be interesting to see how our final record bears out, but sometimes fans can create a self-fulfilling prophecy of defeat by disheartening the people fighting for them. If I could do it better, I'd suit up and do it. If I can't, then I'd shut up or give them my heart-felt support. We need to shift the culture of the whole campus and alumni network. IMHO, we are the ones who can restore our program to glory- it's been 100 years, so, I would call it "about time."