Cal-Illinois Postgame Notes
Christopher Brown Jr. runs down the Cal sideline on a 54-yard run vs. Illinois.

FB12/30/2019 5:42 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Cal-Illinois Postgame Notes

Bears Earn 35-20 Victory In Redbox Bowl

  • With the 35-20 victory, Cal completed the season at 8-5 and improved its all-time bowl record to 12-11-1.
  • The Most Outstanding Players of the Game were QB Chase Garbers (Offense) and DE/DT Zeandae Johnson (Defense).
  • Cal has increased its win total in all three years under head coach Justin Wilcox – five in 2017, seven in 2018 and eight in 2019.
  • Cal did not have a turnover in the game to mark the fifth time this season the Golden Bears did not turn the ball over and give the squad a school record for the fewest turnovers in a season with 13.
  • Garbers completed 22-of-31 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He tied his career high with the four TD passes (also at Ole Miss), while his rating of 187.25 is the highest of his career (previous: 186.86 vs. Idaho State in 2018).
  • Garbers also scored his third rushing TD of the year on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, which marked his third straight game with a rushing touchdown (also at Stanford and at UCLA).
  • RB Christopher Brown Jr.'s run of 54 yards in the first quarter was a career long and the longest rush by a Golden Bear this season (previous: 38 yards by Brown at UCLA), as well as the longest run in Redbox Bowl history.
  • Brown finished with 20 carries for 120 yards, his third 100-yard rushing game of the season (also 197 vs. UC Davis and 111 at UCLA).
  • Brown also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Garbers for his team-leading fourth of the season.
  • TE Collin Moore caught a 4-yard TD pass from Garbers in the first quarter, his first career touchdown and second career catch.
  • With a team-high nine tackles, LB Evan Weaver extended his school season record to 182. He moved up to fifth on the NCAA all-time single-season list (since 2003) and most for a Pac-12 player since 2000. Weaver finished his career with 412 tackles, which ranks fourth all-time at Cal.
  • WR Makai Polk finished with career highs of five catches and 105 yards receiving.
  • TE Jake Tonges tied a career high with three catches for 65 yards (the second-highest total of his career).
  • S Daniel Scott and CB Chigozie Anuseium both made their first career starts.
  • Cal's final drive of the second quarter – 97 yards – was its longest of the season and was one of five scoring drives of 56 yards or more with the Bears going at least 79 yards four times and at least 84 yard on three occasions..
  • Cal's 35 points were its highest since scoring 49 at Oregon State in 2018.
  • Cal improved to 4-7 all-time against Illinois and has won the last three games vs. the Illini (also 2003, 2005).
  • Cal has now allowed fewer than 25 points in 22 of its past 26 games.
  • Cal improved to 13-2 all-time when Garbers plays more than a half at quarterback, including 7-0 this season.
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