Young & Hungry | A California Golden Bears Dynasty by CB4 (NCAAF 11)

[CB4]

Bears Hold Onto Win, Avoid Upset

Picture: Kendricks recovers a fumble after hitting RB Rodney Stewart hard.

California played very sloppy today on the offensive side of the ball. This resulted in a near upset loss to the university of Colorado. Senior quarterback Kevin Riley played easily his worst game since arriving on Campus 4 years ago. With the Bears offense lacking this gave Colorado a total of 3 opportunities to tie the game at 27 late in the fourth quarter. Thanks to the Bears defense led by Mike Mohamed, the Bears would get two fumbles and a pick not letting to tie it up. Back-up QB Billy Mansion went onto score the game deciding touchdown to put Cal up by a 2 touchdown lead with only a minute to go in the quarter.

Second string runningback Chris DeBoskie played well again, replacing an injured Shane Vereen. Many though DeBoskie's last game was a fluke but he proved the critics wrong.

[CB4]

Week 2+3 Recap

[CB4]

Kevin Riley Off To Horrible Start

Picture: Riley gets hit after throwing the ball which would eventually turn into an INT.

Just a couple of months ago it looked like California's senior QB Kevin Riley and Javhid Best would declare for the NFL Draft after a very successful season that ended in a bowl victory. However Cal coach Jeff Tedford would be able to persuade one of the two players to stay another year. That player would be Kevin Riley.

Coming into this season, it looked like Kevin Riley would have a career year at California. Since he had improved every year playing QB at Cal, but what we have seen from Riley in his first two games of the season has not been promising. Riley has thrown 7 interceptions in only 2 games along with 5 touchdown passes. Last game against Colorado Riley threw a career high of 5 interceptions in a game, forcing Cal's defense to carry the load and win the game.

Despite his horrible performances, California is still off to a good start. They will stay at home to play their next game against Washington St. The first divisional opponent of the year. Now is when Riley's performance will really make a huge impact on how the game goes and after a week 3 Bye lets hope that Kevin Riley has his head screwed on properly because with a bad season, he will undoubtedly regret not declaring for the draft next year and opting to play another year.

[CB4]

Riley Leads Cal To Pac-10 Opener Blowout

Picture: Kevin Riley weighs out his options.

The Golden Bears were nothing but solid tonight in their Pac-10 opener against Washington State. Kevin Riley finally stepped up and silenced his critics. After a slow start to the season, Riley came to play when it really mattered. Throwing for 4 touchdown passes with only one interception. Riley also had amazing accuracy in the 30 point blowout, connecting on 20 of his 24 pass attempts for an 83% completion rate.

Washington State lost way more than just a game this afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Their starting Quarterback Jeff Tuel was injured after throwing the ball after being hit hard by Cal defensive captain Mike Mohamed. Tuel was off to a 5 touchdown and only 1 interception start to the season. Later on it was confirmed that Juel will miss the season.

[CB4]

Week 4 Recap

[CB4]

Vereen To Make Return



Shane Vereen will finally get back into action tomorrow against Pac-10 Rivals the USC Trojans. Vereen will be expected to share minutes with Chase DeBoskie who has shined in Vereen's absence.

[CB4]

19 Recruits Will Visit Cal



Victor Brown and Jermaine Weaver

During the week the University of California will have 19 recruits visit the campus and take a tour around it. They will finally cap off their visit with an early Pac-10 rivalry game against struggling PAC-10 team the USC Trojans who have also attempted to land some of the recruits visting. If the Golden Bears can take this game it could give them the edge over USC in the recruiting process and make them a PAC-10 Championship game favorite with Oregon.

Some notable Recruits that will be around the campus next week are: Victor Brown, one of the nations best wide receivers, along with CB Jermaine Weaver, California's best cornerback.

[CB4]

Last Minute TD Boosts Cal Over USC In Record Breaking Afternoon

Picture: Riley throws on the run to an open Miller for a TD with only 26 seconds left in the game.

This afternoon's game at Memorial Stadium was probably the best game of the 2011 season and easily the best one yet. Two big rivals the Trojans and Golden Bears gave it their all, the game would go to the last minute, with a do or die situation for the Bears and their QB Kevin Riley who played his best in one of the biggest games of his career.

Wide receiver Jeremy Ross had the best game of his career aswell, and shattered the Golden Bears receptions in a game record. Ross caught an unbelievable 17 catches and eclipsed his 2009 receptions total in only 4 games. His biggest reception game in the last minute of the game off of a play action pass which would gain the Bears 28 yards, setting them up for a touchdown in the redzone.

Early on things looked to be in the Golden Bears favor, they cruised to a 21-7 lead to end the first quarter and with a two touchdown lead at home and only the first quarter finished things looked like they were over at the Memorial Stadium. However USC would not go down without a fight to the finish, they would respond racking up 28, yes 28 unanswered points on a weak California defense. USC's defense also shut down Kevin Riley.

Just when things looked eerie for the Golden Bears they would pull a total 180. Riley put the team on his shoulders and almost sealed up the game two times in a row. Each time after a TD USC would march down the field and get an amazing run after the kick-off. With the first one resulting in a touchdown and the second one in a 78 yard run which resulted in a USC TD to put the Trojans lead to 4 with a minute left.

With a just over minute left in the game and down by 4, the Golden Bears needed a touchdown or bust. Despite under the worst pressure hes ever been under Kevin Riley stepped up and led the Bears to a touchdown with 26 seconds left after held to third down to win the game in dramatic fashion.

[CB4]

5 Players Commit To Cal

Earlier this morning it was confirmed by Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford confirmed that five three star caliber recruits commited to California. All recruits went on a tour of the campus last week and witnessed one of the most intense games in Golden Bears history aswell as an ESPN classic game where the Bears went onto win over conference rivals the USC Trojans in dramatic fashion.

The Golden Bears nabbed two halfbacks E.J. Smith, and Matt Faulk, a QB Matt Hamilton, a Kicker Tyler Newby and one OLB by the name of Nick Covington. Out of all these players there were 2 Californians, 2 Washingtonians and one Texan.

Three star caliber center, Jarvis Martin also soft commited to California after what he calls "an excellent visit".

[CB4]

Week 5 Recap

[Esjay]

Beautiful so far. Really like your layout.

Good luck as you continue, I'll be reading.