The California football team forced four turnovers and quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for a career-high 385 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, and the Golden Bears registered their first Atlantic Coast Conference victory in program history with a 46-36 triumph over host Wake Forest on Friday night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Placekicker Ryan Coe booted a pair of 54-yard field goals and wide receiver Mikey Matthews notched career-highs of eight catches and 83 yards, as Cal inched closer to bowl eligibility for the second year in a row. The Bears (5-4, 1-4 ACC) need to win one of their final three games of the regular season to become eligible for a bowl game.
Cal picked off three passes, including a game-clinching interception by linebacker Liam Johnson with 1:54 to play.
"We found a way to win," Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox said. "It's hard to win. We have a ton of respect for Wake Forest. I'm proud of our players."
Mendoza threw touchdown passes to Matthews and fellow wide receiver Tobias Merriweather, a highly touted transfer from Notre Dame who made his Cal debut Friday after missing the first eight games of the season with an injury. Fellow heralded wide receiver Kyion Grayes, a transfer from Ohio State, also played his first game for Cal after recovering from injury.
Merriweather had six catches for 52 yards while Grayes added a pair of receptions for 22 yards. Eleven different players caught at least one pass for the Bears.
"It was great to have (Merriweather) and Kyion Grayes back in the rotation, throwing passes to them and getting back our chemistry," Mendoza said. "Those are two guys I'm going to get the ball to."
Mendoza added a 5-yard touchdown run near the end of the third quarter.
Cornerback Nohl Williams recorded another interception to extend his national lead to seven this season while safety Craig Woodson also had a pick during the game's waning seconds to polish off the win. The Bears scored their first touchdown of the game on a 16-yard fumble return by Miles Williams on a kickoff.
Coe, who made just 7 of 13 field goal attempts through the first six games and was eventually replaced by Derek Morris as Cal's primary placekicker, maintained his role as the Bears' choice for longer field goals and responded by twice falling 1 yard shy of tying the program record for longest field goal.
"It's really impressive," Wilcox said. "I'm just proud of that guy for continuing to stick with it through some tough times. For Ryan to come in and hit two 54-yarders, that's big time. We knew he could do it. We've seen it. It's not surprising. It's really a testament to him."
The Bears got off to a strong start, taking the opening kickoff and registering five first downs on a 64-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard field goal by Morris. Williams pushed Cal's lead to 10-0 on the ensuing kickoff after Hunter Barth forced a fumble during the return. The Bears led 29-14 at the half.
The teams traded scores throughout the second half, and the Demon Deacons started a possession from their own 17 trailing 39-36 with 2:17 to play. Johnson registered his interception on the second play of the drive, and running back Jaivian Thomas provided a cushion with an 11-yard touchdown run with 1:10 remaining.
Johnson and Barth split time at inside linebacker after Cade Uluave left the game with an injury in the second quarter. Barth finished with a career-high seven tackles, including a pair of sacks. Xavier Carlton and David Reese also had a pair of sacks for the Bears, who recorded seven overall.
"I just had to be ready when my number was called," Barth said. "That takes watching all the film, taking all the practice reps and paying attention to detail. It felt good to go out there and execute and leave it all out on the field."
Cal returns home next week to host Syracuse on Nov. 16 at Noon. The game will air on the CW.
