Notes from the Press Box – California

Sixteen seniors were honored before the game as each player received a warm round of applause from the crowd and ran out of the Husky Stadium tunnel for the last time.

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Brian “The Weasel” Gray was saluted for his contributions. Gray suffers from cerebral palsy and has been serving as a student manager on the team since 2000. Gray wore a No.43 jersey as he was introduced to the crowd for his years of service.

Keith Gilbertson was in store for a final surprise as he was presented with honorary lettermen’s jacket by the captains of the team. While Gilby greeted each and every senior to walk out of the tunnel, his embrace with the senior captains took extra long as each captain whispered a personal message to their coach.

Last season’s first play from scrimmage: 80-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers to Geoff McArthur.
Today: Incomplete pass intended for true freshman Robert Jordan on a streak on the sidelines.

Greyson Gunheim busted through a wall of Cal linemen in the first quarter to sack Rodgers for his first career solo sack.

The Huskies defense kept Rodgers under control in the first half. Rodgers was held to 38 yards on 4-of-7 passing. Washington was also just the second team this season to hold the Bears scoreless in the opening quarter, joining USC as the only other team with that distinction. J.J. Arrington’s 37 first half rushing yards was his lowest first half output of the season.

Scott White picked off a Rodgers pass in the second quarter for his first career interception. However it was nullified when a bad exchange between Casey Paus and Shelton Sampson gave the ball right back to the Bears a few plays later.

There was a brief moment of confusion when a No. 24 stood deep to return Cal’s punt. It was noted that Sonny Shackelford will wear No. 24 only while returning punts to eliminate the confusion because both he and Derrick Johnson wears No. 21.

Rodgers went 4-for-5 for 74 yards and got his first TD pass of the game on a streak to Marshawn Lynch with a little over a minute to go in the first half.

Louis Rankin took the ensuing kickoff 47 yards back. That set up a 9-play 40-yard drive that ended with 26-yard FG by Evan Knudson as time expired in the half to make the score 7-6 Bears.

Six Cal defenders plowed through three Husky blockers to block Sean Douglas’ punt in the end zone in the third quarter. There was confusion over the personnel Justin Forsett recovered the football in the end zone to put the Bears up 14-6.

Craig Chambers beat the Cal secondary for his first career TD, a 77-yard dash into the end zone. It was the 14th longest pass play in school history, and also the longest play Cal has allowed all year. Washington was planning on going for the two-point conversion, but they broke the huddle with too many players and pushed back five yards, which brought the special teams unit in. Knudson would miss the extra point attempt to make the score 14-12 Bears.

Rodgers marched the Bears down the field on the ensuing possession and got down to the Huskies 14 yard line, and on third down, threw a pass into the end zone, which was picked off by Evan Benjamin to score a huge turnover for the Huskies. It was Benjamin’s third INT this year, and seventh career.

Washington was not able to capitalize on the opportunity and punted back to the Bears. From there, the Cal ground game came to life to put the Huskies away.

Joe Lobendahn has been lost for the season with a broken wrist. Lobendahn injured his wrist when he took an awkward fall while pursuing Rodgers in the third quarter.

Joe Toledo also injured his lower back and ribs in the game. With the injuries to Jon Lyon and Ben Bandel, redshirt freshman Rob Lewis - a converted linebacker - will take the majority of snaps at tight end and rotate with Jason Benn and Dash Crutchley.

Paus finished the game with a career-high 324 yards on 20-of-44 passing with 1 TD and 3 INTs.

Chambers had 8 catches for 189 yards and 1 TD – all career-highs. His 189 yards rank as the ninth best performance in team history.

Alumni in attendance: Marques Tuiasosopo, Justin Robbins, Brendan Jones, Greg Carothers, John Hart, Pat Conniff, Jim Lambright, Cary Conklin (Husky Legend).

Washington became the last team in the nation to cover a Vegas spread. Cal was favored by 30.5 points and beat the Huskies by 30.