Arizona is up in Berkeley tonight trying to keep its momentum going on the road tonight taking on a Cal team coming off a win over Washington State. The Golden Bears go into the game with Devante Downs out for the year and there is some more injury news as well today.
On Arizona's side it's no real shock but Scottie Young Jr. didn't make the trip to Berkeley and the expectation is that Troy Young will slide into the secondary to make up for it. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is expected to move to free safety in the interim with Young starting at bandit.
Stay tuned for more coverage of tonight's game as it gets ready to begin here in the next few minutes.
* Cal has a decent list of visitors in today, but one recruit who matters to Arizona is current Golden Bears' commit Atonio Mafi who has been receiving increased interest in the 'Cats. Offensive lineman Matthew Cindric is also visiting Berkeley today and he is another commit who Arizona has offered.
* Arizona wins the toss and will go on offense first today
1ST QTR
* A touchback starts things off and Khalil Tate and the offense take the field. After a short gain for Nick Wilson, Khalil Tate takes it eight yards on the next play. A false start on Cedric Peterson moves it back. JJ Taylor gets tackled just short of the marker and Arizona punts it away.
* After Cal comes out in an option look, Ross Bowers finds Vic Wharton for 36 yards. Tony Fields II got caught in a bad spot and Cal is driving. Troy Young does indeed get the start on defense for Arizona and Luca Bruno is starting at tackle for UA today. Cal converts on the third-down play for nine yards and continues the drive. Cal taking a play out of Colorado's book going with a bigger look to run the ball. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles came up with a big play to get the stop. Cal really finding the weak spots in the defense right now. Bears in the red zone. Cal runs a Statue of Liberty play that completely fools UA's defense and the Bears take an early lead. [SCORE UPDATE: Cal 7 Arizona 0 - 8:51 1st]
* Bryce Wolma avoids a crisis after a fumble was called on the field. The play is overturned and Arizona's drive rolls on. His arm was clearly down on the play. Still, not the hottest start for UA. Tate with a nice run to get Arizona a fresh set of downs and follows it up with another strong run. JJ Taylor runs it in from 30 yards out and everyone can relax and settle in for what could be a crazy game. [SCORE UDPATE: Arizona 7 Cal 7 - 7:32 1st]
* Troy Young gets called for targeting and is out of the game. Not a good start to this drive for the Wildcats. Jarrius Wallace comes in at free safety with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles going back to bandit. Cal continues to make third down its down and keeps the drive moving. Arizona's defense has not been impressive today. Finton Connolly comes up with a big sack to force a second down. Arizona gets some pressure up the middle on third down to force a bad throw and a punt. A good bounce-back drive for the defense after that shaky start.
* Two plays, 80 yards and Khalil Tate has it moving again with a 76-yard rushing score to give Arizona the touchdown lead again. That's a bad man. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 14 Cal 7 - 3:22 1st]
* Shoulda been a pick to start the drive but Lorenzo Burns gets him back and the Wildcats get the ball back on the interception for the redshirt freshman.
* Khalil Tate with a smart decision not to force a pass on second down and and third down after being forced into a tough spot. JJ Taylor with a monster block on the play but it gets reviewed and it gets called for a personal foul and he gets ejected from the game on a targeting call. Unreal. Arizona has to punt it.
2nd QTR
* A couple strong plays by the defense and some new faces with Jarrius Wallace and Anthony Pandy making a couple plays. The Bears have to punt and UA gets the ball back.
* Nick Wilson has an injured right ankle and is in the locker room meaning it's the Zach Green show for now. Cedric Peterson draws the pass interference call on a deep ball and Cal gets an offsides call as well and the Wildcats keep it moving down the field. A late hit on Cal moves the ball some more. Zach Green takes advantage of all the gifts and scores on a 13-yard rushing score. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 21 Cal 7 - 11:20 2nd]
* Arizona does a nice job of wrapping up on this drive, but a delay of game from Tony Fields II on some pre-snap movement keeps the drive going for the Bears. Arizona goes from getting a near pick on one play to giving up a first down on a third and long. Cal just keeps surviving in this game. The Wildcats are going to get tested on the outside in this game but the passes have not been good. You'd have to think a pick is coming at some point. Another bad call from the refs with Colin Schooler called for unnecessary roughness as he pushes away a Cal player standing over Jace Whittaker. You could sense another pick was coming and Jarrius Wallace gets it in the end zone intercepting Ross Bowers.
* Zach Green nearly breaks off a long run to begin the drive but eventually Arizona gets into a tough spot on third down later in the drive but Green again moves the chains. Khalil Tate is just running so easy today and picking up big chunks of yardage. Arizona now over 250 yards on the ground in this first half. Branden Leon is the fourth back for Arizona today as he gets a carry ahead of Nathan Tilford. Arizona gets Cal on an empty set forcing a timeout but Tate can't make anything of it and the Wildcats settle for a field goal that is missed by Josh Pollack from 43 yards out.
Halftime score: Arizona 21 Cal 7
Off
K. Tate: 3-4, 25 yards; 10 rushes, 123 yards, 1 TD
Z. Green: 8 rushes, 52 yards, 1 TD
JJ Taylor: 4 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD (ejected for targeting)
Def
C. Schooler: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH
D. Cruikshank: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL
J. Wallace: 5 tackles, 1 Int, 1 PBU
3rd QTR
* Cal coming out with a solid drive to start the second half picking up good amounts of yards each play and quickly moves into field goal range. As a note Parker Zellers can now come back into the game after serving the second half of his suspension from the targeting call last week against UCLA. Bowers misses a wide open receiver over the middle and instead opts to go down the sideline and Lorenzo Burns has good coverage. Cal goes 79 yards in 13 plays to score a touchdown with a big man wide open in the end zone. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 21 Cal 14 - 9:00 3rd]
* Arizona doesn't need much to get back on the board again. Khalil Tate airs it out for Shun Brown and hits him for 56 yards and a score. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 14 - 7:32 3rd]
* Cal gets a good run back on the kickoff after a little breakdown by the Wildcats. Missed tackles remain an issue for Arizona and it leads to another first down for Cal on this drive. Arizona continues to struggle on third down and Cal keeps making the Wildcats pay. Cal has a couple of them and the latest after an offsides penalty moves them up five yards. Tony Fields gets to Bowers but Wallace gets called for the PI in the end zone. Bowers runs it in and pulls Cal closer ending a bad drive for the UA defense. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 21 - 2:42 3rd]
4th QTR
* Zach Green continuing to be the go-to back here for Arizona as it starts its next drive. Het gets Arizona a first down. Arizona gets put in a tough third-down spot and Tate gets just enough to keep the chains moving. A couple good defensive plays by Cal will force an Arizona punt. Not a good offensive drive for the Wildcats.
* Arizona opening up with a couple strong plays defensively to start this drive. Schooler and Fields come in to make a tackle for loss to open things up. Fields has a vicious collision and he walks off the field under his own power. It didn't look good but he looks to be alright. Lorenzo Burns gets called for illegal hands to the face to keep the drive going on yet another third down. Cal gets an 18-yard rushing score and the game is now tied up. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 28]
* Some tough running for Zach Green to start this important drive for Arizona. Tate tries to improvise and avoids some trouble. He finds Tony Ellison on a rocket on the next play. On third down Tate hits Shawn Poindexter to keep the drive alive. An absolute monster grab from Poindexter to keep the chains moving. There's nowhere to run on the drive for Tate and Arizona will have to kick the field goal. Josh Pollack makes the 36-yard field goal to give Arizona the slim lead. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 31 Cal 28 - 5:07 4th]
* Cal picking up chunks of yardage on this drive and now Kylan Wilborn goes down with an injury. Tough game for UA defensively. Arizona nearly gets a turnover but Cal recovers the fumble. A big play from Jarrius Wallace on third down as the Wildcats finally are able to now allow a first down on that play. Fourth down upcoming. Cal opts to kick it and pulls its offense off the field. The kicker knocks it through from 52 yards out just inside the upright and we're all tied up again. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 31 Cal 31 - 1:41 4th]
* Tate opens it up with a nice run to get this drive going. Arizona has all its timeouts and time to work. Leon gets the carry for not much on the next play. Tate makes a run to the outside and comes up a little shaken. Tate misses a wide open Shun Brown and instead tries to go deep to Poindexter and it is intercepted.
* A quick drive for Cal that it clearly was trying to use to play for overtime, but Arizona takes a timeout and will force the Bears to punt it away. No return for the Wildcats and to overtime it will go.
OT
* Arizona wins the toss and Cal will go on offense first.
On Arizona's side it's no real shock but Scottie Young Jr. didn't make the trip to Berkeley and the expectation is that Troy Young will slide into the secondary to make up for it. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is expected to move to free safety in the interim with Young starting at bandit.
Stay tuned for more coverage of tonight's game as it gets ready to begin here in the next few minutes.
* Cal has a decent list of visitors in today, but one recruit who matters to Arizona is current Golden Bears' commit Atonio Mafi who has been receiving increased interest in the 'Cats. Offensive lineman Matthew Cindric is also visiting Berkeley today and he is another commit who Arizona has offered.
* Arizona wins the toss and will go on offense first today
1ST QTR
* A touchback starts things off and Khalil Tate and the offense take the field. After a short gain for Nick Wilson, Khalil Tate takes it eight yards on the next play. A false start on Cedric Peterson moves it back. JJ Taylor gets tackled just short of the marker and Arizona punts it away.
* After Cal comes out in an option look, Ross Bowers finds Vic Wharton for 36 yards. Tony Fields II got caught in a bad spot and Cal is driving. Troy Young does indeed get the start on defense for Arizona and Luca Bruno is starting at tackle for UA today. Cal converts on the third-down play for nine yards and continues the drive. Cal taking a play out of Colorado's book going with a bigger look to run the ball. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles came up with a big play to get the stop. Cal really finding the weak spots in the defense right now. Bears in the red zone. Cal runs a Statue of Liberty play that completely fools UA's defense and the Bears take an early lead. [SCORE UPDATE: Cal 7 Arizona 0 - 8:51 1st]
* Bryce Wolma avoids a crisis after a fumble was called on the field. The play is overturned and Arizona's drive rolls on. His arm was clearly down on the play. Still, not the hottest start for UA. Tate with a nice run to get Arizona a fresh set of downs and follows it up with another strong run. JJ Taylor runs it in from 30 yards out and everyone can relax and settle in for what could be a crazy game. [SCORE UDPATE: Arizona 7 Cal 7 - 7:32 1st]
* Troy Young gets called for targeting and is out of the game. Not a good start to this drive for the Wildcats. Jarrius Wallace comes in at free safety with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles going back to bandit. Cal continues to make third down its down and keeps the drive moving. Arizona's defense has not been impressive today. Finton Connolly comes up with a big sack to force a second down. Arizona gets some pressure up the middle on third down to force a bad throw and a punt. A good bounce-back drive for the defense after that shaky start.
* Two plays, 80 yards and Khalil Tate has it moving again with a 76-yard rushing score to give Arizona the touchdown lead again. That's a bad man. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 14 Cal 7 - 3:22 1st]
* Shoulda been a pick to start the drive but Lorenzo Burns gets him back and the Wildcats get the ball back on the interception for the redshirt freshman.
* Khalil Tate with a smart decision not to force a pass on second down and and third down after being forced into a tough spot. JJ Taylor with a monster block on the play but it gets reviewed and it gets called for a personal foul and he gets ejected from the game on a targeting call. Unreal. Arizona has to punt it.
2nd QTR
* A couple strong plays by the defense and some new faces with Jarrius Wallace and Anthony Pandy making a couple plays. The Bears have to punt and UA gets the ball back.
* Nick Wilson has an injured right ankle and is in the locker room meaning it's the Zach Green show for now. Cedric Peterson draws the pass interference call on a deep ball and Cal gets an offsides call as well and the Wildcats keep it moving down the field. A late hit on Cal moves the ball some more. Zach Green takes advantage of all the gifts and scores on a 13-yard rushing score. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 21 Cal 7 - 11:20 2nd]
* Arizona does a nice job of wrapping up on this drive, but a delay of game from Tony Fields II on some pre-snap movement keeps the drive going for the Bears. Arizona goes from getting a near pick on one play to giving up a first down on a third and long. Cal just keeps surviving in this game. The Wildcats are going to get tested on the outside in this game but the passes have not been good. You'd have to think a pick is coming at some point. Another bad call from the refs with Colin Schooler called for unnecessary roughness as he pushes away a Cal player standing over Jace Whittaker. You could sense another pick was coming and Jarrius Wallace gets it in the end zone intercepting Ross Bowers.
* Zach Green nearly breaks off a long run to begin the drive but eventually Arizona gets into a tough spot on third down later in the drive but Green again moves the chains. Khalil Tate is just running so easy today and picking up big chunks of yardage. Arizona now over 250 yards on the ground in this first half. Branden Leon is the fourth back for Arizona today as he gets a carry ahead of Nathan Tilford. Arizona gets Cal on an empty set forcing a timeout but Tate can't make anything of it and the Wildcats settle for a field goal that is missed by Josh Pollack from 43 yards out.
Halftime score: Arizona 21 Cal 7
Off
K. Tate: 3-4, 25 yards; 10 rushes, 123 yards, 1 TD
Z. Green: 8 rushes, 52 yards, 1 TD
JJ Taylor: 4 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD (ejected for targeting)
Def
C. Schooler: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH
D. Cruikshank: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL
J. Wallace: 5 tackles, 1 Int, 1 PBU
3rd QTR
* Cal coming out with a solid drive to start the second half picking up good amounts of yards each play and quickly moves into field goal range. As a note Parker Zellers can now come back into the game after serving the second half of his suspension from the targeting call last week against UCLA. Bowers misses a wide open receiver over the middle and instead opts to go down the sideline and Lorenzo Burns has good coverage. Cal goes 79 yards in 13 plays to score a touchdown with a big man wide open in the end zone. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 21 Cal 14 - 9:00 3rd]
* Arizona doesn't need much to get back on the board again. Khalil Tate airs it out for Shun Brown and hits him for 56 yards and a score. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 14 - 7:32 3rd]
* Cal gets a good run back on the kickoff after a little breakdown by the Wildcats. Missed tackles remain an issue for Arizona and it leads to another first down for Cal on this drive. Arizona continues to struggle on third down and Cal keeps making the Wildcats pay. Cal has a couple of them and the latest after an offsides penalty moves them up five yards. Tony Fields gets to Bowers but Wallace gets called for the PI in the end zone. Bowers runs it in and pulls Cal closer ending a bad drive for the UA defense. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 21 - 2:42 3rd]
4th QTR
* Zach Green continuing to be the go-to back here for Arizona as it starts its next drive. Het gets Arizona a first down. Arizona gets put in a tough third-down spot and Tate gets just enough to keep the chains moving. A couple good defensive plays by Cal will force an Arizona punt. Not a good offensive drive for the Wildcats.
* Arizona opening up with a couple strong plays defensively to start this drive. Schooler and Fields come in to make a tackle for loss to open things up. Fields has a vicious collision and he walks off the field under his own power. It didn't look good but he looks to be alright. Lorenzo Burns gets called for illegal hands to the face to keep the drive going on yet another third down. Cal gets an 18-yard rushing score and the game is now tied up. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 28 Cal 28]
* Some tough running for Zach Green to start this important drive for Arizona. Tate tries to improvise and avoids some trouble. He finds Tony Ellison on a rocket on the next play. On third down Tate hits Shawn Poindexter to keep the drive alive. An absolute monster grab from Poindexter to keep the chains moving. There's nowhere to run on the drive for Tate and Arizona will have to kick the field goal. Josh Pollack makes the 36-yard field goal to give Arizona the slim lead. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 31 Cal 28 - 5:07 4th]
* Cal picking up chunks of yardage on this drive and now Kylan Wilborn goes down with an injury. Tough game for UA defensively. Arizona nearly gets a turnover but Cal recovers the fumble. A big play from Jarrius Wallace on third down as the Wildcats finally are able to now allow a first down on that play. Fourth down upcoming. Cal opts to kick it and pulls its offense off the field. The kicker knocks it through from 52 yards out just inside the upright and we're all tied up again. [SCORE UPDATE: Arizona 31 Cal 31 - 1:41 4th]
* Tate opens it up with a nice run to get this drive going. Arizona has all its timeouts and time to work. Leon gets the carry for not much on the next play. Tate makes a run to the outside and comes up a little shaken. Tate misses a wide open Shun Brown and instead tries to go deep to Poindexter and it is intercepted.
* A quick drive for Cal that it clearly was trying to use to play for overtime, but Arizona takes a timeout and will force the Bears to punt it away. No return for the Wildcats and to overtime it will go.
OT
* Arizona wins the toss and Cal will go on offense first.
