STANFORD As if the 128th Big Game weren’t bad enough, Cal coach Justin Wilcox now faces fan reaction that is sure to be piercing. The Bears didn’t merely lose 31-10 to Stanford on Saturday night; they self-destructed in a fashion that leaves them open to criticism. Three lost fumbles led to three Cardinal touchdowns two of them on scoop and score plays. Cal also committed 13 penalties for 128 yards, a glut of mistakes that suggest undisciplined play further hindered everything the Bears hoped to accomplish. Wilcox doesn’t blame Old Blues who are disappointed. “There should be high expectatIons,” said Wilcox, the ninth-year coach whose job status will be evaluated by Cal general manager Ron Rivera. “We work really hard at this. It’s not an excuse to go out and play like that. I understand their pain, I understand the frustration.” The Bears (6-5, 3-4 ACC) were hoping to win their fifth consecutive Big Game, matching their longest stretch ever in a series that began in the 19th century. They could have clinched their first winning season since 2019. And, on the heels of their best game of the season two weeks ago in a 29-26 overtime win at then-No. 15 Louisville, they could have sent themselves into next Saturday’s regular-season finale against SMU (8-3, 6-1) with a chance to reach eight victories themselves. The Bears never gave themselves a chance to achieve any of those goals. “It’s heartbreaking,” senior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina said. “It’s very important to our team, to our coaches and to our alumni. It’s a legacy game. It really hurts for all of us.” Cal’s defense held Stanford without a first down in the first quarter and just 71 total yards in the first half. But the Cardinal (4-7, 3-5), coming off three straight defeats, led 14-10 at halftime after two defensive touchdowns. The Bears were up 3-0 before Stanford defensive tackle Omar Staples popped the ball loose from wide receiver Jacob De Jesus and safety Jay Green ran it in from 49 yards with 12: 57 left in the half. After the Bears’ lone touchdown of the night a 7-yard quarterback draw by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele for a 10-7 lead with 4: 38 left in the half lightning struck again. Running back Kendrick Raphael fumbled when hit by Jahsiah Galvan and safety Darrius Davis picked up the loose football and ran it in from 17 yards with 48 seconds before halftime. Cal outgained the Cardinal 196 yards to 71 in the half, had 10 first downs to five for Stanford and had possession for 21: 33 of the first 30 minutes . and still trailed. “I would not have seen that coming,” Wilcox said of the fumbles after the Bears lost just two in their first 10 games. But there was more. Sagapolutele’s lost fumble set up a 20-yard scoring drive, which Micah Ford capped with a 4-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter. “They were ready to play in terms of their energy and their excitement,” Wilcox said of his players. “Unfortunately, want-to doesn’t equal good football.” And while mistakes were the theme of the first half, Stanford outplayed the Bears over the final two quarters. Cal couldn’t run the ball 12 net rushing yards and Sagapolutele was sacked five times while forced to attempt 49 passes. “The line of scrimmage, especially in the second half, went to them. That became obvious,” Wilcox acknowledged. Keanaaina said how he and his teammates respond is critical. “As painful as it’s going to be, we’re going to sit there and watch every play, critique every little detail and see where we went wrong,” he said. “We’re going to take those and move on to this next week against a good opponent and put our best foot forward.”.
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