The Cal Golden Bears fell to 5-5 after losing at home to Syracuse on Saturday’s conference football matchup. This was an all-time disgusting performance by Cal. It felt like nothing could go their way in this contest, and whenever they had a chance to get back in it, they continued to shoot themselves in the foot.
There wasn’t any one player to be blamed on Saturday, as it was all bad. From turnovers, to not blocking up front, and the inability to get off the field on fourth down. All of these issues ultimately finished the Bears off. Cal’s chances of being bowl-eligible now ride on winning one of their final two games. They play their long-time rival Stanford for their final home game of the season next week.
First half woes
The intensity in the building to start the game felt a little lethargic. It certainly showed on the Cal football team, as they let the Orange march down the field on their first drive. However, the Golden Bears would hold them to a field goal.
The offense started their own initial possession with great field position. Yet like last week, quarterback Fernando Mendoza tried to fit a throw into a tight window and was intercepted. After the interception, Syracuse would march down the field again and kick another field goal.
Cal got the ball back and did exactly what they did in the first drive. Mendoza threw his second interception of the game. It wasn’t a bad pass, but rather a remarkable play by the corner. That was all the scoring that would happen in the first quarter.
The second quarter started with the Orange picking up a first down on a quarterback sneak by Kyle McCord. They would score two plays later after a 30-yard run by LeQuint Allen.
Things were going well early on for @CuseFootball in sunny California, but the Orange were still looking for their first big play.@Austin_Barach was on the mic for a 30-yard LeQuint Allen scamper and score that put SU in the driver's seat. pic.twitter.com/TnNvikdiwB
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 17, 2024
At this point, Cal would be down 13-0. That’s until two plays later, Jaivian “The Jet” Thomas took a handoff 75 yards up the middle for a Bears touchdown.
JAIVIAN THOMAS 75-YARD TD RUN!!!@CalFootball with the quick answer 🐻 pic.twitter.com/wZVyaa0yyu
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) November 16, 2024
The Bears’ defense has been good all season, but Syracuse had their number in the first half. The Orange would respond to the Cal score with one of their own off of another Allen rushing touchdown. After the score, Cal was lucky not to throw another interception, after Mendoza threw a pass off of the Syracuse defender’s hands. That’s when things started to get really ugly.
In the ensuing possession, McCord led the Orange down the field for another touchdown, this one a quick pass to Jackson Meeks. Cal’s offense was able to get into field goal range just before the half, but Derek Morris missed the attempt. Syracuse took a 27-7 lead into the halftime.
Cal’s comeback comes up short
Cal would start the second half of the game from their own 8-yard line after a short return and a holding penalty. None of that would matter, however, as Fernando Mendoza converted multiple third downs through the air. Jaydn Ott would cap off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown up the middle to make this a two-score game.
Ott to the house 🏠@THEJAYDNOTT breaks free for a 15-yard touchdown!
📺 @TheCW #GoBears | #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/fkEcpQiRxe
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) November 16, 2024
However, the defense couldn’t get off the field when it mattered most. The Orange were able to go down the field and tack on another field goal. The ensuing drive for Cal looked like most of their drives, ugly and bad. They would go three and out and fail to score again in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter started with a big stop by the Cal defense, their first of the football game. On the Cal offense’s ensuing possession, Jaydn Ott would set up Cal in a big way with a 53-yard run down the sideline; but the offense stalled after that and settled for a field goal.
The defense would step up once again to give this team life, but the offense would go three and out after they got the ball back. After that, it was lights out.
Syracuse picked up third down after third down and played keep away from the Golden Bears. The Orange would later score one more field goal towards the end of the fourth quarter to put this one away.
Cal Football Game Recap
There’s no other way around it, the Bears took this one on the chin. The momentum they had built up from winning their previous two games simply evaporated in this contest. Syracuse dominated on all sides of the ball, forcing two Mendoza interceptions while compiling four sacks. Meanwhile, their offense converted all of their fourth down attempts and dominated time of possession.
For Cal, running backs Jaivian Thomas and Jaydn Ott had two huge runs. Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, those were primarily the only explosive plays ran by the offense.
The best Cal can do now is to win out and go 7-5, but this season is going to be remembered by the amount of disappointing losses. Beating Stanford next week in a rivalry matchup would help erase some of the bad taste left in everyone’s mouth, though.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.