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Bears Come Up Just Short To No. 9 Oregon

Oct 16, 2021
Tight end Jake Tonges had a 9-yard touchdown catch for the Bears.

EUGENE, Ore. - The Cal football team drove to the 2-yard line on its final possession of the game but couldn't convert on fourth down with two seconds remaining and fell to No. 9 Oregon 24-17 on Friday night at Autzen Stadium.

The Bears got to the Oregon 3 after Chase Garbers' fourth-down pass to Kekoa Crawford preserved the drive, but his final attempt fell incomplete.

The Golden Bears took a 17-10 lead early in the final quarter, but Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Redd to tie it. The Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) pulled in front on Brown's scamper into the end zone. The Ducks then took the lead on Brown's 11-yard keeper with 4:50 to play.

Garbers, who went into the game leading the league in total offense (281.2 yards per game) and ranked third in passing yards (249 per game), threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Cal, who like Oregon was coming off a bye, defeated the Ducks last season in Berkeley, 21-17, with Garbers accounting for a pair of touchdowns, one via pass and the other on a keeper.

The Bears took an early 7-3 lead on a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Tonges. Cal tied it at 10-10 in the third quarter on Dario Longhetto's 45-yard field goal.

Garbers found Gavin Reinwald with a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Golden Bears a 17-10 lead.

The Bears return home next Saturday to host Colorado at FTX Field at Memorial Stadium at 12:30 p.m. The game will air on the Pac-12 Network.