Postgame Notes: Cal At Wake Forest (Nov. 8, 2024)
Al Sermeno/KLC fotos
Fernando Mendoza threw for a career-high 385 yards.

FB11/8/2024 10:31 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Postgame Notes: Cal At Wake Forest (Nov. 8, 2024)

Bears Record First-Ever ACC Victory

  • Cal recorded its first ACC win ever with tonight's victory over Wake Forest in its first-ever meeting with the Demon Deacons.
  • Cal won its fourth straight game played in November dating back to its final three regular-season games of the 2023 campaign.
  • PK Ryan Coe made two 54-yard field goals, one yard shy of the school record of 55 yards shared by Robbie Keen (vs. Washington, 1988) and Tom Schneider (vs. Stanford, 2006). 
  • QB Fernando Mendoza completed 40-of-56 passes for a career-high 385 yards and two touchdowns. The passing yards were the most by a Cal quarterback since Jack Plummer had 406 at USC on Nov. 5, 2022.
  • Mendoza's 56 passing attempts were the most since Davis Webb had 57 against Stanford in 2016
  • DB Nohl Williams recorded his seventh interception of the season in the third quarter to extend his national lead and move into a tie for seventh on Cal's all-time single-season list with five others. Williams' seven interceptions are the most by a Cal player in a single season since Daymeion Hughes' eight in 2006. Williams is two interceptions shy of Deltha O'Neal's single-season school record of nine in 1999. 
  • Cal extended its streak of consecutive games with a takeaway to 11 and now has at least one in 44 of its last 47 contests. Hunter Barth forced a Wake Forest fumble on a kickoff return in the first quarter and Miles Williams picked it up and ran 16 yards for his first collegiate touchdown and Cal's second defensive touchdown of the 2024 season, In addition to Williams, Liam Johnson and Craig Woodson also had interceptions.
  • Cal had a season-high eight sacks. Linebacker Hunter Barth led the team with three while fellow linebackers Xavier Carlton and David Reese each recorded two and Ryan McCulloch added another. Carlton leads the Bears with nine total sacks this season.
  • Cal played Wake Forest to a 7-7 tie in the third quarter today and has now outscored its opponents 68-15 in the third quarter this season.
  • Cal's field goal by PK Derek Morris on its opening drive extended its scoring streak on its first drive of the game to four straight games (TD at Pitt, TD vs. NC State, TD vs. Oregon State, FG at Wake Forest) and was the fifth time Cal has scored on its opening drive this season (also TD at Auburn).
  • Morris made both of his field goal attempts (29, 38) and has now made seven field goals in row dating to his 5-of-5 performance against Oregon State. Morris has made 9-of-10 on the season.
  • DL T.J. Bollers' blocked field goal in the third quarter was Cal's second in as many games with DL Derek Wilkins' also blocking a field goal in Cal's previous contest against Oregon State.
  • Cal had a season-high 11 different receivers.
  • Wide receivers Tobias Merriweather (6-52, 1 TD) and Kyion Grayes (2-22) made their Cal debuts and had their first receptions for the Golden Bears. Merriweather's touchdown reception was also his first at Cal and the third of his career
  • WR Mikey Matthews had career-highs of eight catches for 83 yards. He also had his first collegiate touchdown reception.
  • QB Chandler Rogers also had his first reception at Cal and the second of his career.
  • Cal Offensive Starters: X Nyziah Hunter, LT Nick Morrow, LG Sioape Vatikani, C Will McDonald, RG T.J. Session, RT Frederick Williams III, TE Jack Endries, QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Jaydn Ott, SLOT Trond Grizzell, Z Jonathan Brady
  • Cal Defensive Starters: DT Ricky Correia, DT Aidan Keanaaina, OLB Xavier Carlton, ILB Teddye Buchanan, ILB Cade Ulauve, OLB Ryan McCulloch, CB Marcus Harris, S Miles Williams, S Craig Woodson, CB Nohl Williams, NB Matthew Littlejohn
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