SEATTLE — Jared Goff threw for 342 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and California held off Washington’s second-half rally for a 30-24 victory in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.
California improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2007 and may find itself back it the Top 25 next week for the first time since 2010 after winning on the road for the second straight week.
This time there was no late escape for the Bears thanks to special teams mistakes like last week at Texas. Goff was 24-of-40 passing and had touchdowns of 28 yards to Bryce Treggs and 8 yards to Kenny Lawler. Matt Anderson hit three field goals, including a 37-yarder with 5:34 left to give the Bears a 30-21 lead.
Washington (2-2, 0-1) got a 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Sidney Jones to cut the deficit to 27-21 late in the third quarter but the Huskies fumbled on their next possession in California territory and could not get closer.
Washington freshman Jake Browning didn’t complete a pass until the 5:42 mark of the second quarter but finished 17 of 28 for 152 yards and two interceptions. Dwayne Washington rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown in the first half, but fumbled with about 11 minutes remaining inside California territory one play after he couldn’t haul in Browning’s pass down the sideline that could have gone for a go-ahead touchdown.
Goff completed a 27-yard pass on third down to Treggs on the ensuing drive to the Washington 25 that was initially ruled incomplete before a review. Anderson capped the drive with his third field goal and a nine-point advantage.
Cameron Van Winkle hit a 36-yard field goal for Washington with 3:57 left and Goff was sacked for the fifth time on third down with 3 minutes remaining. Washington got the ball back with two timeouts remaining but Browning was pressured and intercepted by Damariay Drew with 1:57 left. Washington committed five turnovers.
California looked on its way to a blowout after taking a 27-7 lead when Goff hit Lawler for an 8-yard TD on the Bears’ first drive of the second half. That TD pass pulled Goff even with Kyle Boller for California’s career touchdowns passing record with 64.
That’s when the Huskies rally started. Browning hit 6 of 7 passes on Washington’s next drive and Chico McClatcher went the final 2 yards on a fly sweep trimming the deficit to 27-14. That was followed by Jones’ triple play of forcing the fumble, recovering the loose ball and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown to make it a one-score game.
Washington played without standout safety Budda Baker because of an ankle injury, while Cal starting running back Daniel Lasco missed his second straight game with a hip injury. Vic Enwere rushed for a career-high 84 yards and a touchdown in Lasco’s absence.
