BERKELEY – With its back to the wall and only a yard separating what could perhaps be another landmark win from a disappointing near-miss, the Cal football team couldn't give another inch if it wanted to walk out of Memorial Stadium with a victory over No. 18 Utah.

James Looney provided a very large – and very effective – last line of defense.

Utah's last-ditch effort to score the game-winner with time running out ended in the arms of Looney as he took Zack Moss down at the 1-yard line to preserve Cal's 28-23 victory on a joyous evening at California Memorial Stadium.

Another big offensive day came on the strength of Davis Webb's right arm as the senior completed 22 of 35 passes for 306 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Chad Hansen hauled in five passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns while freshman Demetris Robertson added four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Utah ran 97 plays to Cal's 49 but the Bears made the plays when they needed them to finish off their second win in a row over a ranked team (No. 11 Texas) for the first time since 2009 .

With Cal (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) clinging to a five-point lead, Utah got one final chance to change the game's outcome. Facing fourth and goal from the Bears' 11, a pass interference call in the end zone moved the ball to the Cal 2 with 14 seconds left and gave the Utes a fresh set of downs. Utah's first two tries from close range resulted in a one-yard run, stopped on that instance by Khari Vanderbilt and Raymond Davison, and an incomplete pass. With three seconds left and the ball on the 1, Looney shed his blocker and brought Moss down at the line of scrimmage to finish the win.

"You've got to give Art Kaufman and his staff a lot of credit. We took our lumps because we play a lot of young guys," Cal head  coach Sonny Dykes said. "You go back and look at the Hawai'I game and we gave up some points and some yards but we played a lot of young kids. We played a lot of young kids against San Diego State and Texas and Arizona State. Our defense had to play 97 plays tonight, so as a result of playing some of those young guys, our defense was fresh enough to stop them six plays inside the 10-yard line."

Cal held onto a slim lead entering the final minutes of the game. A 1-yard touchdown run by Moss made it a one-score game with 6:41 to play, but a key pass breakup on Troy Williams' 2-point pass attempt helped the Bears maintain a 28-23 lead with possession of the ball.

A three and out on Cal's next possession gave the Utes another chance. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bears put Utah (4-1, 1-1) on the Cal 49 to start the drive, and the Utes drove into the red zone, only to stall temporarily on the 11 thanks to a third down sack by Cameron Saffle and Devante Downs.

"After the pass interference, I just tried to make sure guys stayed up. We still had a chance," Looney said. "The defense played phenomenal. We ran to the ball, we played as a team and we believed. We had faith and I think we just came through."


James Looney stopped Zack Moss just short of the goalline on the game's final play to preserve a 28-23 Cal victory over Utah.

Cal's defense came up with yet another big play as the Utes tried to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. After converting a 4th and 2 on the Cal 25 with a run up the middle, Utah tried the same tactic when faced with 4^th and 1 from the 10. This time, Tony Mekari and Looney plugged the hole, forcing a turnover on downs with 10:47 left.

That defensive stand set the stage for Webb to strike with another big play, finding Robertson for his second touchdown of the day as the freshman ran away from the defense for a 56-yard touchdown that put Cal up 28-17 with 9:03 to play.

Utah took its first lead of the day in the third quarter, rumbling its way down the field on a 13-play, 59-yard drive that running back Armand Shyne punctuated with a 1-yard touchdown run to put Utah ahead 17-14. 

That lead was short-lived. Webb re-established his connection with Hansen, and the nation's leader in per-game receptions coming into the week capped an eight-play, 74-yard drive by looking back into the sun to grab a a 24-yard touchdown that made it 21-17 with the third quarter drawing to a close.

The anticipated contrast in offensive styles didn't take long to materialize Saturday as Cal's quick-strike ability staked the Bears to an early 14-0 lead and the Utes countered with a grind-it-out drive of their own to draw to within 14-10 at halftime.

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkk @CALCoachDykes with the UPs!!!!!! #STAYGOLDEN pic.twitter.com/ZHBx0iVrNz

— Davis Webb (@Davis_Webb7) October 2, 2016

Cal hit the scoreboard in a matter of five plays, with Webb finding Hansen behind the defense for a 40-yard strike that put the Bears ahead 7-0. After the teams traded stops, Webb again showcased his ability to throw downfield, staying patient in the pocket and finding Robertson ahead of two defenders for a 39-yard touchdown that left Cal up 14-0.

Utah stayed true to its script, finishing off an 11-play drive with a 40-yard field goal by Andy Phillips. After a Cal punt pinned the Utes at their own 5, Utah proceeded to march 95 yards on 21 plays, finishing off a drive prolonged by a key Cal penalty with a 4-yard touchdown run by Shyne. The drive took 9:08 off the clock and finished the first half scoring.

Cal hits the road next week when it travels to Oregon State for a 6 p.m. game against the Beavers that will be televised live by Pac-12 Networks. After a bye week, the Bears return to Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 21 to host Oregon at 7:30 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN.