Cal takes down North Texas 58-21 in Denton, TX

Photo credit: @CalFootball

By: Mary Anne

The California Golden Bears started the 2023 NCAA football season against the North Texas Mean Green. Cal defeated North Texas 58-21 at DATCU Stadium and did the Texas two-step. Cal improved to 1-0, while North Texas fell to 0-1.

The Golden Bears were ready to roll in their week one uniforms and got on the board first. Jeremiah Hunter caught a 23-yard pass from Sam Jackson V for the game’s first touchdown. Michael Luckhurtst kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead at 12:53.

The Mean Green tied the game a little under two minutes later. Ja’Mori Maclin caught a 3-yard pass from Stone Earle for the game-tying touchdown. Noah Rauschenberg kicked the extra point for a 7-7 tie at 11:04.

The Golden Bears responded late in the first quarter. Jaydn Ott rushed for a 4-yard touchdown. Michael Luckhurst kicked the extra point for a 14-7 lead with 1:04 left in the first.

The Golden Bears led 14-7 after the first quarter.

The Mean Green opened the second quarter with a scoring play. Ja’Mori Maclin caught a 59-yard pass from Stone Earle for the game-tying touchdown. Noah Rauschenberg kicked the extra point for a 14-14 tie at 14:33.

The Golden Bears regained the lead with back-to-back touchdowns. Isaiah Ifanse rushed for a 26-yard touchdown. Michael Luckhurst kicked the extra point to make it 21-14 with 7:30 left in the second quarter. Jaydn Ott rushed for a 66-yard touchdown. Luckhurst’s extra point kick failed, so the Golden Bears settled for a 27-14 lead with 5:42 left in the second.

The Mean Green made it a six-point game with under two minutes left in the second quarter. Xzavior Kautai caught a 12-yard pass from Stone Earle. Noah Rauschenberg kicked the extra point and cut the Golden Bears’ lead to 27-21 with 1:47 left in the second.

The Golden Bears had the last word of the second quarter. Isaiah Ifanse rushed for an 8-yard touchdown. Jaydn Ott tried the 2-point conversion, but it was no good, and Cal settled for a 33-21 lead with seven seconds left in the second.

The Golden Bears brought a 33-21 lead to the locker room at the half.

The Golden Bears continued to dominate offensively in the third quarter. Isaiah Ifanse rushed for a 1-yard touchdown. Jack Endries tried the 2-point conversion, which was good, and Cal took a 41-21 lead at 11:24. Taj Davis caught a 4-yard pass from Ben Finley for the touchdown. Michael Luckhurst kicked the extra point for a 48-21 lead with 8:02 left in the third.

The Golden Bears had a commanding 48-21 lead after three quarters.

The Golden Bears continued their offensive dominance in the fourth quarter. Ashton Stredick rushed for a 5-yard touchdown. Michael Luckhurst kicked the extra point for a 55-21 lead at 11:42. Luckhurst kicked a 52-yard field goal to make it 58-21 with 6:27 left in the fourth.

Notes
Cal will join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in August 2024.

Cal had a good visit with Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger on Friday. Anger will start his 12 NFL season next week. He played college football for Cal and was drafted 70th overall in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Up Next
Cal will return home to Memorial Stadium to host the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific.

Headline Sports podcast with Bruce Magowan: 49ers Lance needs more chances; Which Giants team will show up; plus more news

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) throws under pressure from Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Jordan Willis (99) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Bruce:

#1 Bruce, what is your take away regarding all the criticism that 49ers quarterback Trey Lance had been receiving about his performance last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

#2 Which Giant team will show up, the Giants before last night who lost 10-2 on Monday night or the Giants of last night who got some hitting and used four pitchers to get a 7-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Rays.

#3 Bruce what do you make of the possibilities of the Baltimore Orioles relocating. It sounds preposterous but Orioles managing partner John Angelos said recently that the Orioles would never leave Baltimore but Orioles are looking for prime downtown property and although they would get $600 million for Camden Yards improvements Angelos whose wife owns a music entertainment company in Nashville makes the idea of moving all the more interesting.

#4 Bruce the Pac 12 reportedly will incur 11 teams from the ACC. It was first mentioned the four remaining Pac 12 teams Cal, Stanford, Washington State, and Oregon State would join the ACC but that has been reversed with the ACC planning to not charge 11 schools exit fees and move to the Pac 12.

Join Bruce Magowan for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pac 12 podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Conference down to only four teams Commissioner says Apple could attract new teams

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff speaks at the NCAA college football Pac-12 media day Friday, July 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP News photo)

Pac 12 podcast with Michael Wagaman:

#1 Jerry since last week’s Colorado Buffaloes announcement regarding leaving the Pac 12, Pac 12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff has not made any statements regarding the Buffaloes and also with additional departures from Washington and Oregon.

#2 Washington State Cougars team president Kirk Schulz and athletic director Pat Chun said that while it’s disappointing that up to five teams are leaving there is always a possible positive outcome that could unfold. They both are hopeful over the Pac 12’s deal proposal with Apple.

#3 Teams remaining after four teams that have left, Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State, Kliavkoff will have to do some quick work after this season in getting other schools to join the conference.

#4 In terms of how this works for the Cal the school you cover their alumnus and donors have to be concerned that they no longer will get to see the rival teams especially USC and UCLA.

#5 One interesting note is that Oregon and Washington will be entering the Big Ten on a reduced payout while USC and UCLA will get more than $60 million each for media rights. That’s the rewards of being in the second media market.

#6 Jerry you had a chance to cover two Stanford Cardinal appearances in the Rose Bowl how does this break up of the Pac 12 effect the Rose Bowl tradition.

Jerry Feitelberg podcasts Stanford Cardinal football at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: Bears suffers it’s seventh consecutive loss; Drops close game to Utah 76-75

Cal Bears Matt Bradley drives toward the basket against the Utah Utes on Thu Feb 11, 2021 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (utahutes.com photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael:

#1 The Cal Bears (7-15) almost did what they did in Utah and that’s beat the Utes but took a tough one point loss at Haas Pavilion 76-75.

#2 After only scoring 24 points in the first half of the game the Bears roared back with 41 second half points only to fall a point short. On the Utes side of the ball after losing to Cal at home in their last meeting the Utes were determined not to lose again to the Bears.

#3 The Bears Matt Bradley led Cal in scoring and kept busy on the floor as he was basically the go to guy in the second half finishing up with 20 points.

#4 In any close game everyone’s offensive effort counts and Grant Anticevich  with 18 points finishing second in scoring. Anticevich has had some good games offensively for Cal this season.

#5 Cal hosts the Colorado Buffaloes this Sat Feb 13th at Haas Pavilion. The Buffaloes defeated Stanford on Thursday 69-51 and have won five out of their last six games. Will the Bears have their hands full on Saturday?

Join Micahel Duca on Cal basketball podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca Fri Feb 12, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: Tale of the two halves defense picked up in second half Cal still lost

Cal Bears Matt Bradley takes a free throw shot against the Pepperdine Waves Wednesday night in Malibu. This was Cal’s second straight road trip as they return back to Berkeley on Saturday against USF (calbears.com photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, how big is it for Cal that they didn’t have to suffer too many postponed games, rescheduled games and pretty much rely on playing their home games at Haas Pavilion during this very strict Covid-19 shutdown.

#2 In Cal’s last game men’s basketball game at Pepperdine it was the tale of the two halves. The first half the Pepperdine dominated with a 44-30 whereas Cal improved the defense in the second half with the Waves just edging out Cal 32-30 but as you know it’s what the scoreboard shows at the end of the game as it was 74-62 Pepperdine.

#3 All things considered Michael did that second half show any improvements for Cal as they played a close second half against a very good Waves team who have made handy work of post season tournaments.

#4 Cal has now lost two straight including a loss to UCLA the game before Pepperdine they come back to Haas Pavilion for Saturday night’s game against USF (4-2). The Dons have won four straight after going 0-2. Knowing how well coached USF is how do you see this match up on Saturday?

#5 Michael talk about two of Cal’s top scorers from Wednesday’s game Grant Anticevich with 21 points and Matt Bradley who lead Cal with 27 points they had to work hard against the Waves.

Join Michael for Cal podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal basketball in the win column with blowout of Northwest WA, 86-61

The Cal Bears Ryan Betley (00) led all scorers on Thanksgiving night at Northwest University at Gill Coliseum with 14 points in the Bears first win of the 2020-21 season (KLC Photos)

By Morris Phillips

It’s not the distinction the Cal athletic department was looking for but hey, it’s 2020 and just about anything goes.

The Cal men’s basketball team has a win at least a day before the Cal football team gets its initial win. Call it calendar confusion or a COVID cancelations conundrum, the Bears hoopers have their first win, 86-61 over Northwest (WA) a day before the Cal football team (0-2) faces Stanford in the Big Game.

Normally, the overlap between college football and college basketball is brief, but nothing is normal this season. In fact, it wasn’t until midway through this week that the Bears found out they would be playing on Thanksgiving day.

But once the novelty of it all played out the Bears got down to business, decimating the NAIA Eagles with a 27-4 run early in the first half on their way to a 20-point halftime lead and a 25-point win.

Five Golden Bears scored in double figures led by Ryan Betley with 14 points, nine rebounds. Andre Kelly an Matt Bradley each scored 11 points, Makale Foreman and Joel Brown each had 10.

Mark Fox jumbled his lineup, inserting Foreman, Kuany Kuany and D.J. Thorpe as starters after the team started sluggishly on Wednesday versus OSU. Fox took advantage of the big lead by getting playing time for his entire roster with Logan Alters, Blake Welle and Jalen Celestine making their season debuts.

The two schools were originally scheduled for Friday afternoon but the late scratch of the Colorado State Rams due to COVID issues forced the teams to move up 24 hours to accommodate a newly scheduled Northwest (WA)-Oregon State matchup on Friday.

The Bears return to the Bay Area early in anticipation of their home opener against Nicholls of the Southland Conference on Monday night.

 

 

Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca: Covid cancels another game for Cal; Trip to ASU all for naught

Cal Bears and ASU Sun Devils kickoff on Sat Nov 14th at Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium (photo from calbears.com)

Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Outbreaks have been the norm in college football Cal’s opener last week against Washington and this week at ASU was cancelled as in week one a player tested positive and his linemates were quarantined those same players are still in quarantined shortening the Bears defensive line forcing the game to be canceled.

#2 Midweek Cal head coach Justin Wilcox had to wonder if there would be a game at all. This week how hard is that on a coaching staff and the players when you have to stop and then prepare again.

#3 I know you’ve talked about the tight Covid-19 protocols from the Berkeley Public Health Department which has Cal’s entire defensive line under quarantine which expires Saturday night.

#4 The game for Saturday at ASU had been a question mark and the players have been working out and the defensive line have been allowed to do some individual supervised workouts.

#5 Wilcox said he’s complained regarding the way the Berkeley Public Health Department has handled deciding who sits on the Bears. Wilcox said they would like to know why that some of the players he has are in quarantine when they are negative.

Join Michael for the Cal Bears podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal-Stanford Football podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal’s Garber and Stanford’s Mills looking forward to invite family to games

The Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers (7) looks for a receiver in this file photo as Garbers says he’s looking forward to the Pac 12 allowing family and fans in the stadium for Pac 12 games this season (file photo from sfgate.com)

On the Cal/Stanford podcasts with Morris:

#1 Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers was asked how much it means to him to quarterback against his younger brother Ethan quarterback for the Washington Huskies on Nov 7th at Berkeley.

#2 Garbers did say if it’s safe he would be excited to see players parent but his own parents there for the game against his brother Ethan and the Huskies. Just to have family there Garbers said would be extra special.

#3 Right now fans are banned from Pac 12 games but last September 24th the Pac 12 Conference board voted for student athlete familes to be able to attend Pac 12 games.

#4 Stanford Cardinal quarterback David Mills family who live in Georgia got to see Mills on the last day of last season in Central Florida. Mills says his family is ready to travel see Mills for home games at Stanford this season family and fans permitted.

#5 Morris WSU running back Max Borchi said that it’s important to the student athletes to have family at games it’s the backbone of having your family’s support at the games.

Morris joins the Cal/Stanford Pac 12 podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Pac 12 Foootball podcast with Morris Phillips: Can Scott get the Pac 12 on network television?

What will be the next move for Pac 12 Commissioner Larry Scott as major network television are not interested in broadcasting Pac 12 games (awfulannouncing.com)

On the Pac 12 Football podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris how much trouble is the Pac 12 in when they can’t get a TV deal?

#2 Morris talk about the networks who didn’t want any part of the Pac 12 CBS, Fox, and ESPN.

#3 Morris turning to Cal Bears football, outside linebacker Tevin Paul had opted out and lineman Luc Bequette transferred. Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said that since the season was switching to the fall from spring he had little time to find replacements and is working with what he has to get ready for the season.

#4 Sirmon said that he has enough players to develop outside linebackers in place of Paul’s departure for example Sirmon said he has Cam Goode is an excellent rusher and Braxton Croteau physically has developed into a good linebacker. Sirmon sounds pretty confident in the linebacking position.

#5 Cal lineman Brett Johnson had Covid 19 during the summer but has been cleared for practice. Johnson said while he had it he didn’t take a second test during his time in quarantine because of dead traces of the virus in your body. Johnson said he just stayed in his house playing video games and eating chicken pot pie.

Join Morris Phillips for the Pac 12 podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca: Is bringing back the Pac 12 all about health and safety or the big bucks?

Cal Bears and Pac 12 Football will return on November 6th the first of a seven game schedule and will be headed up by Cal Bears head coach Justin Wilcox (USA Today file photo)

On the Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 There have been arguments already about the return of Pac 12 football namely that it is a mistake for them to return after it was originally postponed. The Cornavirus count has not gone down and could hit as many as 250,000 into January and February. Is the Pac 12 making the responsible decision in enacting a new season next month?

#2 The Pac 12 CEO and University of Oregon president Michael Schill said Thursday that health and safety is one of the Pac 12’s number one priority. Do you still see right through the real motive here that these universities are under immense pressure by the alumni donars, sponsors and parents of the student athletes because it’s really about the bottom line?

#3 The Mountain West also with the Pac 12 announced they will return in November and like the Pac 12 the MWC will tell you this is all about that the students and their academics come first, and as student athletes that their health and safety and following the safety protocols for the players and it’s team personnel and education come first before anything else.

#4 The Pac 12 has a seven game season starting Nov 6th and the MWC plans to have a eight game season starting October 24th. Did the conferences decide to play this fall because they feel it was better for more interest to than in the spring?

#5 Pac 12 men’s and women’s basketball is also set to return on Nov 25th which gives basketball just a month to prepare and get ready for regular season play other than the safety issues do you see this being like any other Pac 12 basketball season and being competitive and worry free?

Michael Duca does analysis on the Cal Bears at http://www.sportsradioservice.com