Stanford Tops Cal in 117th Big Game, 38-17

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Remound Wright ran for four touchdowns and Stanford forced five turnovers during a defeat of rival California 38-17 in the 117th Big Game on Saturday at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium.

Blake Martinez intercepted two passes and forced a fumble as the Cardinal (6-5, 4-4 Pac-12) while Jordan Richards and Terrence Alexander also had interceptions.

Jared Goff tied Cal's ;single-season record for touchdown passes with his 31st of the campaign and broke his own school record for yards passing in a season but had little to show for his milestones. He threw for 182 yards, one TD and two interceptions, ending a string of 159 consecutive passes without an interception.

Cal (5-6, 3-6) can still clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011 at home against BYU next Saturday.

Saturday's contest had big implications for both teams. A series of setbacks put the Cardinal on the brink of missing the postseason, especially with a visit at No. 11 UCLA looming in the finale. The Bears went 1-11 last season and have shown signs of progress in coach Sonny Dykes' second year.

Wright ran for 92 yards on 23 attempts, becoming the first Stanford player to rush for four touchdowns in a game since Stephan Taylor in November 2010. Stanford lost top playmaker Ty Montgomery with a sprained right shoulder in the first quarter. X-rays were negative, the team said.

Cal's defense couldn't overcome its own loss when safety Michael Lowe was ejected for targeting Austin Hooper on the first play from scrimmage.

Martinez jarred the ball loose from Daniel Lasco on third-and-goal, and he intercepted consecutive tipped passes from Goff in the second quarter to sway the momentum Stanford's way. Goff had not thrown an interception in his previous 159 attempts, the second longest streak in Cal history to his own 185 earlier this season.

Goff entered the game one TD pass behind Pat Barnes' record of 31 in 1996. He also was 110 yards shy of his own record of 3,508 yards passing he set as a freshman. Goff's equaled the first mark and broke the other but couldn't bring the Bears back from a big hole.

Freshman Luke Rubenzer, who has been used primarily as a wildcat quarterback, saw significant action, particularly in the second half. He finished with career highs of 60 yards rushing and 12 carries, while he was 5-for-9 (both career highs) for 49 years but with two interceptions through the air.

Cal also had three consecutive plays that were ruled touchdowns on the field overturned on video reviews late in the third quarter – two runs by Rubenzer and a touchdown pass from Goff to Kenny Lawler – before settling for a field goal.

Cal hosts BYU in its regular-season finale next Saturday Nov. 29 at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium. The game will kick off at either 1:30 or 3 p.m., and the official time will be announced Saturday night.