Nov. 8, 1997
Arizona State Holds Off Late Cal Rally, 28-21
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Despite a spirited second half rally
by the California Golden Bears Arizona State's 17-0 halftime
bulge proved to be too much to overcome as ASU held on for a
28-21 victory before 33,000 fans in Berkeley.
The win kept the Sun Devils in the hunt for a second
consecutive Rose Bowl, while Cal lost the chance to post a
winning record in falling to 3-6 on the season.
|
|
Derrick Gardner returned a fumble 72 yards for a score to ignite Cal's second half comeback. (File Photo)
|
After turning in an outstanding performance a week ago against
Oregon State, the Cal defense picked up right where it left
against Arizona State. Despite losing the battle of field
position --the average start of the Sun Devils four first
quarter drives was the ASU 38 -- Cal was able to keep the high
scoring Sun Devils off the board with a combination of
quarterback pressure and solid tackling.
Starting at its own 49, Arizona State took its opening
possession deep in to Cal territory. After a Ryan Kealey
completion to Lenzie Jackson, Cal's Kato Serwanga stripped the
ball from the ASU receiver and Gardner pounced on the loose
ball at the Cal 26 for the first of three Cal fumble recoveries
on the night.
Arizona State also moved the ball on its second possession,
driving from its own 35 to the Cal 31. But a sack by Brandon
Whiting pushed the Devils out of field goal range and ASU was
forced to punt.
The Sun Devils finally got on the board midway through the 2nd
quarter thanks to a major Cal mistake. On 1st-and-10 from the
Cal 8, Vedder fumbled the snap from center and the Sun Devils
were in business at Cal 9. Two plays later, J.R. Redmond busted
through the Cal defensive front from 5-yards out for the game's
opening score. Robert Nycz add the extra point the ASU had
itself a 7-0 lead.
Only 1:24 later, after Cal was unable to generate a first down
in its ensuing possession, the Sun Devils upped their lead to
14-0 when Kealy hit Creig Spann with a 67-yard touchdown pass.
It was just a simple 7-yard hitch pattern, but he juked Cal
cornerback Chidi Iwuoma and sprinted in for the score.
A 19-yard punt return by Ricky Boyer again set ASU up inside
Cal territory at the Bears 42 and ASU appeared ready to add to
its lead. But this time the Cal defense was equal to the task.
On 2nd-and-10 at the Cal 27, Matt Beck broke through protection
and sacked Kealy who fumbled the ball. James Gibson recovered
for Cal.
Taking over at their own 33 with only 1:31 remaining in the
half, Cal drove the ball to midfield. But on 2nd-and-4 at the
ASU 48, the Bears committed their third turnover of the half.
Under pressure and rolling left, Vedder was unable to find a
receiver and his attempt to get rid of the ball was intercepted
by Larry Johnson at the Sun Devils 49.
Four plays later Nycz connected from 42 yards out with no time
remaining in the half to give Arizona State a 17-0 halftime
lead.
Arizona State's string of excellent fields possession continued
in the second half as Redmond returned the second half kickoff
47 yards to the Cal 45. But this time the Cal defense answered
with a big play of its own. On the second play of the drive,
Redmond's was stripped by Andre Rhodes at the Cal 31. Gardner
scooped up his second fumble recovery of the game and returned
it 72 yard for the Bears first score of the contest. Tim
Wolleck knocked through his first extra point attempt of the
year and Cal narrowed the ASU lead to 17-7 just 0:45 into the
second half.
Arizona State answered the Cal score with its first long drive
of the game. Taking over at its own 18, the Sun Devils drove
the Cal 6. However, the Cal defense stiffened and forced the
Sun Devils to settle for a 23-yard Nycz field goal which
extended the Sun Devil's advantage to 20-7.
The Sun Devils tallied their third touchdown of the game and
appeared to put Cal away with 4:40 remaining in the third
quarter. Arizona State marched 73 yards on six plays with
Redmond capping the drive on a 28-yard catch and run. Kealy
connected with Tariq McDonald on the two-point conversion and
ASU had a 28-7 lead
But the Bears refused to go away. Cal got its first offensive
touchdown of the game with 9:00 left in the 4th quarter. Taking
over at their own 10, Vedder led the Bears on a methodical
16-play, 90-yard march. Under pressure from a swarming ASU
defensive front, Vedder effectively used his scrambling to gain
39 yards rushing on the drive. Tarik Smith scored his third
touchdown of the season on a 18-yard blast off left tackle and
Cal had trimmed the lead to 28-14.
ASU was able to move to the Cal 33 on its next possession but a
50-yard Nycz field goal attempt fell far short of its target
and returned the ball to Cal. Just 2:06 later, the Bears cut
deeper into the Sun Devils lead when they moved the ball 67
yards in 9 plays. Vedder hooked up with Bobby Shaw on a fourth
and goal from the Sun Devil 8 for the touchdown and made the
score 28-21.
It was Shaw's ninth touchdown catch of the season and capped a
memorable day for the senior receiver. Earlier in the game, he
broke both the Cal career and single-season receiving marks on
different receptions. He finished his final game in Memorial
Stadium with six catches for 76 yards, including a 29-yarder.
But it wouldn't be enough as Arizona State was able to string
together four first downs to run out the remaining 4:39 of the
ball game and secure the victory.
Arizona State improved to 7-2 (5-1, Pac -10) while Cal will try
to get back on track when they visit the Arizona Wildcats next
week in Tucson.
