Arizona knew they would need to contain California’s run game if they were to come away with the win. The Wildcats held the Golden Bears nearly 80 yards under their season average but it was not enough. Marshawn Lynch ran for 110 yards on 21 carries. All things told Cal tallied 197 yards on the ground.
The Cats were far less successful on the ground as Mike Bell led the way with only 60 yards on 19 carries and after sacks the Cats gained just 37 yards on ground.
Arizona’s passing attack gained more yards than that of Cal, but Richard Kovalcheck threw three interceptions in the game. Kovalcheck, who was on the run for much of the night, completed 19 of 36 attempts for 169 yards.
Joseph Ayoob was an efficient 14 of 20 for 137 yards.
Cal got on the board late in the first quarter as Lynch ended a 45-yard drive with a one-yard scoring plunge.
Two drives later and Cal scored their second touchdown off of a one-yard rush by Ayoob. Ayoob ran the option, keeping when the Wildcat defensive end played the pitch.
Arizona received the ball to start the second half, but Kovalcheck threw his second interception of the game on the seventh play of the drive. Kovalcheck was flushed in the pocket and tried to force tha ball into coverage.
Cal scored six plays later on a broken play. A good Wildcat pass rush forced Ayoob to scramble. He bought enough time to find Robert Jordan slip behind the Wildcat safeties. Ayoob lofted the pass to the wide open receiver for a 39-yard score and a 21-0 lead.
Arizona began their final drive of the third quarter with great field position at the Cal 19 yard line after a long punt return from Syndric Steptoe. They got inside the two but were stopped on two runs and Kovalcheck misfired on two passes.
Late in the fourth quarter, Kovalcheck threw his third interception of the night. Cal took advantage of the opportunity moving 44 yards in five plays before Ayoob passed to Chris Manderino ten yards for the TD.
Arizona had 11 penalties for 60 yards, while managing just 206 yards of total offense.