BERKELEY — Cal is 3-0 for the primary time in 5 years, and coach Justin Wilcox isn’t taking any of it as a right. There have been numerous issues he preferred after the Bears’ 31-10 victory over San Diego State that closed out their pre-conference schedule.
However Wilcox, whose program has not posted a profitable report since 2019, additionally is aware of what’s coming. The Bears open their inaugural season within the Atlantic Coast Convention on Saturday at Florida State, and the Seminoles’ shocking 0-3 report gained’t trigger Cal’s coach to exhale.
“We did simply sufficient to win,” he stated Saturday evening after the Bears pulled away from a shaky 7-3 halftime lead towards an SDSU staff taking part in with out its beginning quarterback. “Is simply sufficient, adequate? I’d hope not.”
On the coronary heart of issues, Wilcox stated, is an easy however important fact.
“All of us bought to learn to win. The staff has to learn to win, this system’s bought to learn to win,” he stated. “And doing all these little issues issues. It’s simply bought to be the usual for the way you use.
“You simply can’t play that uneven and anticipate to maintain success as a result of it is going to come again and chew you.”
The great things Saturday included a career-high 169 speeding yards from Jaivian Thomas, the sophomore from Oakland’s McClymonds Excessive Faculty.
“The Jet,” who had runs of 37 and 57 yards to arrange touchdowns, bought his first begin as a result of star junior Jaydn Ott’s sore ankle didn’t permit him to play. Wilcox stated it was a game-time resolution made by Cal’s medical workers.
Kadarius Calloway, a switch from Previous Dominion, added 87 speeding yards and a landing and broke off a 60-yard run.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw his first interception of the season, but additionally was 21 for 29 for 198 yards with TD passes of 20 yards to tight finish Corey Dyches and 15 yards to extensive receiver Nyziah Hunter, who has 4 scores in three video games. Mendoza additionally ran for a TD.
The protection performed properly apart from one collection and with two extra interceptions continues to guide the nation with 9. Cornerback Nohl Williams has 4 to guide FBS.
The issues included 12 penalties for 113 yards, together with a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct infractions towards the gang after objects had been thrown onto the sphere.
“We love our college students,” Wilcox stated. “However we’ve bought to ensure we don’t get penalties.”
Mendoza was sacked six occasions whereas working behind an offensive line nonetheless with out two injured starters — guard Sioape Vatikani and middle Will McDonald.
Cal had a season-high 473 yards of offense, however failed thrice to transform fourth-and-1 performs.
Mendoza remembers attending Miami-FSU video games as a child rising up in Miami. He can’t watch for the matchup towards the Seminoles, who’re 0-3 for simply the second time since 1976 after a 20-12 loss to Memphis, however had been 13-0 within the common season a 12 months in the past.
“We respect our opponent a ton . . . FSU, the reigning ACC champs,” he stated. “Nevertheless, we need to make it recognized that we’re in a position to compete with good soccer groups and nice soccer groups reminiscent of FSU.”
Regardless of the primary three weeks of the season, the Seminoles opened as 3.5-point favorites over Cal on FanDuel.
Florida State was the preseason favourite to win the ACC whereas Cal was picked simply tenth within the 17-team league.
Linebacker Cade Uluave, who had 11 tackles towards the Aztecs, stated the staff is “super-stoked” to dive into the ACC.
“Florida State’s going to be a cool environment. I don’t suppose their report exhibits what sort of staff they’re,” he stated. “We’re excited to go down there and present what California can do in Florida. I believe we’re prepared.”
