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Get Your Cal Gear Right Here! | Gameday Central
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
STANFORD, Calif. - Geoff McArthur set a California record with 16
catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and the Golden Bears rallied in the
second half to beat Stanford 28-16 Saturday in the 106th Big Game.
Aaron Rodgers passed for a career-best 359 yards and three touchdowns as Cal
(7-6, 5-3 Pac-10) kept the Axe and became bowl-eligible for the first time in
seven years. Stanford (4-6, 2-6) was eliminated from postseason contention in
its first home loss to Cal since 1993.
Adimchinobe Echemandu rushed for 87 yards, including a clinching 17-yard
score with 1:39 to play. The huge Cal rooting section at Stanford Stadium
didn't charge the field, but the fans roared for the Bears' second straight win
over their biggest rivals following a seven-game losing streak.
Vincent Strang caught the go-ahead TD pass for Cal, which won despite
fumbling seven times - losing three of them - and facing a 10-0 deficit in the
third quarter before its powerful offense finally stopped thwarting itself with
turnovers. The Bears had 533 total yards.
California, the only team to beat second-ranked USC this season, will
receive its first postseason berth since making the Aloha Bowl in 1996. With a
bowl victory under second-year coach Jeff Tedford, Cal would have its first
back-to-back winning seasons since 1990-91.
McArthur, the nation's second-leading receiver behind Pittsburgh's Larry
Fitzgerald, had the second-biggest receiving yardage total in school history.
The remarkable junior exceeded his career highs for the second straight week
while surpassing Dameane Douglas' record 15 receptions in 1998.
His 44-yard TD reception in the third quarter was Cal's first score. The
Bears dominated the rest of the game, with Strang scampering for a 14-yard TD
on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Cal its first lead.
Rodgers went 26-of-37 in his first Big Game, relying heavily on McArthur's
uncanny ability to find seams in the Stanford defense for medium-sized gains.
In the first half, however, the Bears hardly resembled the offensive
powerhouse that racked up a school-record 729 yards last week against
Washington.
Cal fumbled four times in the first quarter, losing three, and threw an
interception early in the second. Even when the Bears held on to the ball,
Stanford's defense - which yielded 756 yards to Oregon State in a 43-3 loss
last week - kept them off the scoreboard.
After James Bethea fumbled the opening kickoff, Michael Sgroi kicked a
22-yard field goal. Star Cal running back Adimchinobe Echemandu fumbled moments
later, and Lewis hit Powell with a 24-yard scoring pass across the middle.
Freshman quarterback Trent Edwards relieved Stanford starter Chris Lewis in
the fourth quarter, but Sid Slater got an interception on Edwards' first play.
Moments later, McArthur slipped behind the Stanford secondary for a 21-yard
score.
Cal's 30-7 win over Stanford last season snapped a seven-game losing streak
in the nation's ninth-oldest rivalry game. The Bears paraded the Axe around
Memorial Stadium, and fans tore down the goalposts.
The celebration was much more subdued this time. The blue-and-gold fans
chanted "We've got the Axe!" and roared from their seats, but a long blue
line of police wearing riot gear prevented anybody from charging the field
after Mark Bradford caught a 30-yard TD pass from Lewis as time expired.
Cal senior lineman Chris Murphy ran along the Stanford track, waving the
school flag, while his teammates danced on the "S" at midfield. The team then
took a victory lap, acknowledging its fans with waves and cheers.
