FOOTBALL

Cal-USC Live Blog

It’s over. I don’t want to hear from anyone how great Justin Wilcox has done at Cal.

Cal gets a consolation TD. It’s 41-17. Time to start thinking about USC-UCLA game. What time is kickoff?

Did Jack Yary see that? A tight end (Josh Falo) caught a TD pass. It’s 41-10.

Now I know why Cal was so eager to start Chase Garbers tonight.

End of third quarter, USC 34-10.

USC intercepts a pass, commits a personal foul and fumbles. Still Cal’s ball.

Even in a rout, USC’s defense has 12 men on the field.

The rout is on! USC 34, Cal 10. Thanks, Wilcox!

Chase McGrath field goal extends lead to 27-10.

Drake London had two penalties on one play but only one counts.

Michael Pittman with another deep ball and USC is punishing the Cal secondary.

Kedon Slovis completes a deep pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown and then finds Drake London in the end zone. USC 24, Cal 10.

The radio broadcast is entertaining. During a break, you hear “USC continues their quest for the Pac-12 championship against Cal.”

Halftime comes mercifully with USC leading Cal, 17-10.

If Clay Helton said he would kick again to Oregon just before halfitme, why is USC doing squib kicks just before half vs. Cal?

Michael Pittman catches a 33-yard TD pass from Kedon Slovis. Pittman’s moves caused the Cal corner to fall down on the play.

If Cal wasn’t dropping passes, USC might be in trouble tonight.

USC’s offensive line was a shambles that series.

Cal kicks a field goal and we’re all tied, 10-10. The Bears’ receivers are atrocious so far.

Chase Garbers is out after being tackled by Drake Jackson.

Chase McGrath‘s 41-yarder FG gives USC a 10-7 lead

Kedon Slovis makes something out of nothing for a big pass to Drake London.

Lucky for USC, Cal dropped a pass on third-and-19 for a first down.

USC with 40 yards of penalties and we’re not even 10 minutes into the game.

USC forces Cal to punt after a weird sequence where the refs stopped a play after the snap to review the previous play. I can’t remember seeing that before.

Amon-Ra St. Brown leaves cornerback in the dust and catches a TD pass from Kedon Slovis. It’s 7-7.

It looked like USC cornerback Olaijah Griffin was dancing as the ref announced Christian Rector was out of the game. Video below.

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I feel sympathy for Rector who made a nice play but it looked like targeting. Naturally, Pete Arbogast disagreed: “You just can’t tackle anymore in college football.

“That’s a textbook tackle, exactly how you teach it.”

Christian Rector called for targeting on big hit behind line of scrimmage. He’s out of the game.

USC’s defense having trouble stopping the pass and run on first series.

It’s a late start in Strawberry Canyon but we’re here to talk about the game.

49 thoughts on “Cal-USC Live Blog”

  4. Tough call on Rector.
    Pro–hard to tackle a 240 lb RB without full body and spine
    Con–If you don’t tackle M-F, you’ll screw it up on Saturday.

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      1. I know it was out. It was obvious. But if you get the next snap off the play can’t be reviewed and it stands. Cal clearly got the next play off.

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  9. Short field for Cal due to a stupid penalty by Falo.
    If I see it, Bohn must see it.

    This will lead to a Cal score.
    Classic USC FB with CCH

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    1. If only Slovis could get more protection…

      If JT hadn’t been hurt in the second game, he would have been hurt in a later game. He just doesn’t have the mobility to exist behind such poor pass blocking.

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      1. Slovis just seems to have a little more “game awareness.”
        Knows when to leave the pocket, etc.

        I’m officially off the JT bandwagon. Sorry.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. He graduated a year early from HS to play for USC.
        His Junior and Senior years will be the test.
        Like JT, but the next 2 years (or 3) are Kedon’s years.

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  14. If you don’t think this league is about money answer this question: Why did the league target rector for a full game suspension?This game was scheduled late so the Utah game would be over. If SC loses so what? They’re bowl eligible. Cal becomes bowl eligible with a win. Helton is gone. Ucla lost so SC isn’t in the running for PAC 12 sourh. The league wins if Cal wins. Watch the Bullshit calls follow.

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    1. But your fellows play for pride. They know the PAC 12 refs suck.

      After Thanksgiving we should aspire (or conspire) to send Larry Scott to the cornfield.

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      2. Did anyone notice Larry Scott was bumping his gums to the new A.D. Bohn when shown up in the booth and Bohn was ignoring him and was paying attention to the game. Hopefully Bohn puts Scott on notice about his shitty ref clan that think thet need to be involved on every play. Looks like they blew another call calling a flag on 41 Faliniko from USC, the wrong team. The flag should of been on Cal lineman who hit him late at end of the play. Let’s see if another suspension is coming for these so called refs, fucin pathetic. The targeting rule should be thrown out period.

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    2. While I stick by my original position on the referees pulling for the league, I began to wonder why the calls stopped. The TV crew have me the answer. Mike Bohn was in a booth with Larry Scott. I would like to have been a fly on the wall for that.

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      1. Looks like Bohn was ignoring him. Hopefully after Bohn makes the right higher for head coach he puts Scott on notice and restores power about who’s the premier university in the Pac 12 conference. He needs to make it clear/ known that you are not dealing with yes men and incompetents like the 2 previous ADs in Haden & Swann.

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    1. I’m inclined to agree, but I want to see what a new coach brings. Slovis should start going forward, but it wouldn’t hurt to have JT as a backup. Getting a good coaching staff with this cast of characters and maybe we look like a football team next year.
      The question is should Helton coach the bowl game?

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      2. The consummate question, Rialto.
        If you are the AD, do you ask the players?

        Seems that the fellas like CCH, but everyone knows that they need to move on to achieve to the level to which they aspire.
        This is CCH’s 4th full year.
        Beyond Pittman, no Senior has a chance of playing on Sunday.
        That is his indictment.

        Better days are ahead.
        I’m psyched.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Garbers had ’em rolling. As he left the game, Cal’s offense deflated.
      That said, Garbers seems to be having a fun time on the sidelines….
      That’s UC Berkeley.

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      1. Hopefully owns doesn’t gamble. He also had ucla upsetting Oklahoma, and holding them to 17 points earlier this year. No savvy whatsoever.

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  19. Helton is the right coach after all… Trojan Nation survives… Me? I’ve been wrong about C H., so I’m out…
    Lived through Tollner, Smith, Robo II, and Hackett…Kiffin, Coach O, Sarkisian, and this buffoon, Clay Helton….time to spend my time contemplating a future w/o Trojan football….

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    1. Hang in there, Ben.
      I’ve been at this for 50 years (Nov 1969) USCv UCLA.
      Lots of ups, and then some peroids of downs–often 10 years of such.
      You gotta stay with us. Been winners for 90 years.

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  20. Hey Flow. How come no comments about all the TV shots of Garbers all night on the sideline and losing and smiling his ass off? Apparently Garbers doesn’t mind his team’s ass getting handed to itself. You can call JT out but not the opposing team? Defines why you’re a complete douche.

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  21. Okay Owns what do call next week Ucla wins and USC loses Helton or USC wins and Helton stays? I mean there is the plus that if USC wins Chip goes on unemployment. I’m leaving town next weekend.

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    1. 1) I think the UCLA’s brutal 49 – 3 loss to Utah will on some level inspire the Bruins to atone with an 11/23 victory at the Crumbling Mausoleum.

      2) Like it or not, Helton has improved the bozo FB W/L record from 5 – 7 to 7 – 4. If Helton wins the rivalry game he stays.

      If he loses, it’s 50-50 he stays. However, if he loses Oregon style then he’s out.

      Chip’s not going anywhere; we lose only 2 or 3 O / D starting seniors.

      I hope you’re leaving town for a good reason.

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  22. The Slovis with the mostess better not save Clay Helton’s job. Between Darnold & Slovis, I’m starting to think Helton has a golden horseshoe up his ass.

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