Cal-USC Postgame Notes
Jordan Kunaszyk celebrates a safety early in the third quarter.

FB11/10/2018 11:00 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Cal-USC Postgame Notes

Bears' Defense Shuts Out Trojans In Second Half

  • With the 15-14 win, Cal improved to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the Pac-12.
  • The victory was Cal's first over USC since defeating the Trojans, 34-31, in triple overtime in 2003. Cal's last win at the LA Coliseum was a 28-16 decision in 2000.
  • Cal's defense has allowed a total of 50 points (12.5 ppg) over its past four games – 7 at Oregon State, 10 vs. Washington, 19 at WSU and 14 at USC.
  • The Bears' defense allowed USC 41 yards in the second half after giving up 237 yards in the first half.
  • Cal has shut out opponents in its last three third quarters (Washington, Washington State and USC).
  • QB Chase Garbers finished 14-for-26 for 93 yards and a TD. He also ran for a score and added a career-long 27-yard run.
  • Traveon Beck had perhaps his best game at Cal, finishing with a career-high 6 tackles. Among them were a tackle for loss on a fake field goal attempt in the first quarter. He also intercepted a pass in the third quarter that led to a Cal touchdown and broke up two passes.
  • Evan Weaver joined fellow linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk tonight in reaching 100 tackles this season. Weaver now has 108 stops (team-high 12 vs. USC) and Kunaszyk has 113 (10 vs. USC). The last time Cal had multiple players with 100 tackles in a season was 2007 (Thomas DeCoud 116, Worrell Williams, 105, Anthony Felder 101).
  • Kunaszyk recorded a safety on the opening drive of the second half, Cal's first safety since Mustafa Jalil garnered one at USC in 2014.
  • Cal collected four sacks on the night, two each by Evan Weaver and Luc Bequette. Bequette also forced a fumble during the game.
  • Vic Wharton III hauled in his first touchdown reception of 2018 and seventh of his career – a 29-yard pass play – on Cal's opening drive of the second half.
  • Chris Palmer knocked down the first pass of the game for USC, giving him four passes defensed this season, which ranks third on the team.
  • CB Ricky Walker III played in the slot and caught his first career pass in the first quarter.
  • Tonight marked the first time in a Cal game that neither team scored in the first quarter since 2011 against Utah at AT&T Park.
  • Tonight marked the first career starts for Ricky Walker III and Siulagisipai Fuimaono.
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