It’s amazing what a coaching change can do. With Karl Dorrell being fired a week ago Sunday, the same day I was typing yet again about how he should be fired, the Buffaloes made their new Interim Head Coach Mike Sanford look good in his debut game at home by knocking off Cal 20-13 in Boulder—the third game of the day where I saw the stands empty onto the field. Starting the year off at a dismal 0-5, he took over a team pretty demoralized and according to the AP recap for ESPN; “Sanford placed an immediate emphasis on physicality and takeaways, which paid off beginning with Colorado’s first defensive series when Tyrin Tyler set the tone with a diving interception, the Bears’ first turnover in four games.” Although feeling like a big upset, Cal was a 15.5 point favorite going in, it’s actually not that unusual for Cal to lose on the road to Colorado. Maybe it’s the altitude, but the Bears haven’t won in Boulder since 2011.
With Cal throwing an interception on their first possession, a three-and-out on their second, missing two field goals, and turning the ball over on downs twice, they had no points up on the board by the break. Fortunately for them Colorado started the game with three consecutive three-and-outs and threw an interception which set up Cal for one of their missed first half field goals before they finally scored via their Place Kicker Cole Becker putting them up 3-0 at the break. The scoring draught continued for the Buffaloes through the 3rd Qtr while Cal, on their 2nd possession after the half, finally broke through on a 7 play 47 yard drive that ended up in the end zone on a 14 yard Jack Plummer pass to J. Michael Sturdivant putting Cal up 7-3 at the end of three.
Colorado would come back two possessions later to score again—this time a TD to go up 10-7 right at the start of the 4th Qtr. Three plays later Cal fumbled the ball at their own 49 yard line giving Colorado a golden opportunity to increased their lead. Instead, they fumbled the ball as well which led to a Cal field goal and 10-10 tie with 10:20 left in the 4th Qtr. Twelve plays, 70 yards, and almost six minutes later Colorado found themselves 1st and goal at the Cal 3 yard line. But two runs for no gain and an incomplete J.T. Shrout pass brought out Cole Becker for another field goal to go up 13-10. Not to be out-fieldgoaled by their opponent Cal puts up another of their own with time expiring after working their way down to a 1st and goal at the Colorado 7 yard line, followed by two incomplete passes and a sack. Score tied 13-13 at the end of regulation.
Cal won the toss and chose to play defense to start the overtime. On 3rd and 7 from the Cal 22 yard line J.T. Shrout completes a TD pass to Montana Lemonious-Craig to take a 20-13 lead. On Cal’s first play QB Jack Plummer throws an incomplete pass but advanced half the distance to the goal on a defensive pass interference call, now 1st and goal at the Colorado 10 yard line. With 50,000+ fans holding their collective breath Plummer throws two incomplete passes and Cal gets moved back five yards on a false start penalty. Now 3rd and goal at the Colorado 15 yard line Plummer completes a pass to DeCarlos Brooks who is brought down at the 11 yard line as time runs out. The loyal fan base erupts and pour down onto Folsom Field in celebration—finally a win! A lot of the Buffaloes credited the win to their injured RB Deion Smith who was immobilized and taken off the field in the 4th Qtr. As reported by the AP; “The entire Buffaloe team gathered around Smith, many in prayer while medical staffs from both teams worked on him. ‘That was a moment that I’ll never forget in my coaching career, the brotherhood that was shown through that moment,’ said Sanford. Watching him get carted off ‘gave us a lot of fire,’ said Smith’s backup, Anthony Hankerson. And watching him walking around afterward was the really big boost.”
It’s not going to get any easier for either team as Cal goes back home to host the Huskies while Colorado heads to Corvallis to take on an Oregon State team that needs just one more win to become Bowl eligible before finishing off their season against Washington, Cal, Arizona State, and their in-state rival Oregon.