Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo had another huge outing, catching seven passes for 163 yards. Fellow wideout Isaiah Horton had nine catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Mark Fletcher, Jr. and Damien Martinez each had touchdown runs, combining for 123 yards on the ground. Overall, Miami racked up 575 total yards.
Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe paced the Canes with six tackles, while linebacker Francisco Mauigoa had the game-clinching interception. Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow posted three tackles and a sack.
Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 285 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Running back Jaydn Ott had three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Jack Endries had three catches for 78 yards and a score. Linebacker Cade Uluave amassed 15 tackles and cornerback Nohl Williams scored on a pick-six.
The defenses were stout on the opening two possessions. Linebacker Teddye Buchanan and defensive tackle Nate Burrell teamed up to sack Ward on third down to force a punt. But defensive end Rueben Bain stuffed Ott for a seven-yard loss on the Bears’ first snap, leading to a three-and-out.
Miami got the ball back at its 37. Fletcher rushed over the right side for 28 yards before Ward zipped a pass across the middle for Restrepo for 18 yards to the Cal 17. Fletcher took it from there, carrying three straight times, the last a three-yard touchdown run to give the Canes a 7-0 lead.
But Mendoza and the Bears struck back quickly, driving 89 yards in just seven plays and capping it with a 57-yard scoring strike to Endries. The game was tied.
The Canes crossed midfield over their next possession and faced a 4th and 2 from the Cal 45. Ward found Arroyo in the flat, but safety Miles Williams stopped him short of the sticks and the Bears took over. On the next snap Mendoza threw deep to wide receiver Trond Grizzell for 51 yards. Two plays later, Ott scored on a five-yard touchdown run and the Bears had their first lead.
Ward went back to work, connecting with Horton for 16 yards before finding Horton again for nine yards to pick up a key first down to the Cal 38. The Bears were flagged for a personal foul on the next snap, moving the ball to the 26-yard line. But the drive stalled there, and Borregales booted a 46-yard field goal to cut Cal’s lead to 14-10.
The Bears soon faced a 4th and 1 from their own 34 and decided to go for it. Mendoza rolled out and lofted a pass to Ott, who raced 66 yards down the right sideline…
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