Quarterbacks Goff, Wilson duel in Pac-12 showdown

Utes cornerback Dominique Hatfield picked off two of Goff’s passes. “He’s been through so much in his college career”.

California Golden Bears will head into Salt Lake City to take on the red-hot No. 5 Utah Utes. Unfortunately, Cal couldn’t convert on a 4th-and-5 at Utah’s 21 yard line.

Dykes described a somber locker room afterward. I think everyone realized we missed an opportunity.

“This is probably the worst game of my life”, Goff said.

It is a steady grind, but through consistent practice, Utah hopes to reap the rewards that come from hard work. The stage collapsed, and Cal is now yet another “former” undefeated in college football as Utah’s defense got to Goff to the tune of five interceptions.

Cal trailed by just a touchdown at intermission but, as has become common for the Bears in recent weeks, a little momentum shifted back to the blue and gold just before halftime.

After the Utah drive ended in a punt, Goff was stripped of the ball on Cal’s next drive on a second-down play action.

Martin is all about providing examples from his own path. Perspective is one of those teaching points. He was tough on himself afterward. Overall, we’re sitting right where we want to be heading into the Arizona State game, which will be game six and obviously the midpoint of the season. “Unfortunately, I played terribly”. But now going on the road into Arizona against a still-hungry Sun Devils team is not an easy scheduling spot, and they have a few new injuries cropping up to deal with as well.

“Teams lose games”, he said. “We’ll make it a good week for a bye”.

The Utes forced three Oregon turnovers, and junior defensive end Pita Taumoepenu recorded two of their 5.0 sacks on the night, while senior quarterback Travis Wilson rifled four touchdown passes and rushed for another 327 total offensive yards on the night. Kicker Andy Phillips added field goals of 44, 36 and 39 yards.

“We’re pretty beat up”.

“Goff is by far the best quarterback I’ve seen”, Pollack said. Trailing by only six points, Cal had advanced the ball to Utah’s 21-yard line with less than a minute left and a chance to take the lead with a touchdown. Cook set a Florida State record for rushing yards against Miami by carrying 22 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in three receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Most games will be similar to that of the Cal game, especially in the Pac-12, where home-field advantage is not necessarily a guarantee.

In addition to trying to stop Jared Goff and the Golden Bears’ high-powered aerial attack, Utah has to be able to handle national attention, which likely awaits whoever wins. Al Golden has yet to defeat the Seminoles during his time at Miami, who have lost five straight games to its rival.

ESPN reported that no other FBS quarterback in the country had thrown four in a game this season. The defense did the rest for the Utes.

Utah running back Devontae Booker didn’t let the pregame hype distract him.

Both defenses stiffened in the second half, however, and the pressure affected Cal’s play-calling and Goff’s trademark ball placement.

Cal’s 43.4 points per game and 358.4 passing yards per game both rank within the nation’s top-10.

The win gives Utah its first 2-0 start in conference play since joining the Pac-12.

One couldn’t have blamed Goff if he was rattled when his fourth interception came on Cal’s next possession.

“We just didn’t feel like he was ready to play”, Dykes later said.

In fact, it was a perfectly thrown ball from Goff that would up being intercepted. Hatfield had another interception in the fourth quarter. Follow Jeff Faraudo on Twitter at Faraudo.