Jeff Tedford Reprimanded By Pac-12 For Criticizing Officials, Sent To Timeout Without Dinner

Cal Football Vs. Colorado: Zach Maynard & Keenan Allen Drive Bears To 36-33 Overtime Victory

California Golden Bears quarterback Zach Maynard and wide receiver Keenan Allen have a special brother-to-brother connection that a lot of football offenses would love to have. They used every bit of it to snatch victory away from the Colorado Buffaloes.

With the ball, trailing 33-30 in the first overtime, facing first and 30 after two offensive line penalties, Maynard delivered a bullet on a needle that Allen hauled in for a first and goal at the three. Two plays later, Maynard lofted a fade on the right side that was a bit underthrown, but Allen leapt up, hauled it in for the game-winning score, and Cal pulled out a thriller in Boulder for a 36-33 win. The Bears improved to 2-0 on the season; Colorado dropped to 0-2.

Victory didn't come easily for the Bears. Trailing 30-27, Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen had himself quite an impressive fourth quarter drive. After getting burned by deep receptions to wide receiver Paul Richardson on the previous two scoring possessions, Cal brought the safeties back to cover the deep ball, and Hansen had to go short and intermediate to get the offense going.

But Hansen made all the throws he needed to make, and it paid off for Colorado with an impressive 16 play, seven minute drive that took the ball from the Buffaloes 15 to the Golden Bears 15. Hansen fired big completions to Rodney Stewart for 26 yards, Paul Richardson for 8 and 10 yards on 3rd down conversions, and Ryan Deehan for 14 yards. But the drive stalled in the red zone after Colorado offensive line penalties forced them back, and Cal cornerback Steve Williams broke up a pass near the goal-line on second down. Those penalties forced a Will Oliver game-tying 32 yard field goal that tied the game. It should be noted an early extra point by Colorado was blocked. Cal declined to go deep on offense with :20 or so less, settling for overtime.

After winning the toss, Cal decided to go on defense, and it looked like the group was gassed after Stewart burst up the middle for two huge gains and set up first and goal. But Stewart was stopped, and Williams made his second big pass break-up in as many drives, staying with Richardson and knocking that ball down.

Colorado had to settle for a field goal, setting up the heroics from Maynard and Allen. Second-string running back C.J. Anderson also had a big third-and-short carry where he cut, stretched and dived for that crucial extra yard.  That set up the first down, and gave Maynard and the Bears a chance to go for the win.

To discuss the game, go to the California Golden Blogs (Cal SB Nation site) and Ralphie Report (Colorado SB Nation site).

California Vs. Colorado: Paul Richardson Scorches Bears, But Cal Responds To Make It 30-27 Lead

This Cal-Colorado contest has turned into the Paul Richardson show. The former UCLA wide receiver has taken advantage of all the Cal defensive backs have thrown at him, and every time the Cal pass defense has made a mistake he's been there to take advantage.

Almost immediately after the California Golden Bears took a 23-13 lead, quarterback Tyler Hansen went right to Paul Richardson. The ball was thrown behind Richardson, but he made an adjustment back, Josh Hill got stuck out of position because of the adjustment by Richardson, and he went scorching downfield after making a nice move on D.J. Campbell. The touchdown drive had been kept alive by a questionable personal foul on Trevor Guyton on a late whistle.

Then after Colorado's defense forced Cal to a three-and-out thanks to great pressure by the front seven on the offensive line, on the very first offensive play Hansen found Paul Richardson on a deep post route with no safety coverage, and Marc Anthony had no chance to keep up with the speedy Richardson. Richardson now has nine catches for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

The Golden Bears responded. Zach Maynard took a QB keeper inside for a short four yard conversion, a Colorado offside penalty on 3rd and 4 gave the Bears a first down, and Maynard found Michael Calvin on 3rd and 10 for a 28 yard gain. Then C.J. Anderson broke some tackles and powered his way into the end zone to give Cal a 30-27 lead, partly in thanks to big right-side blocking by tight end Spencer Hagan, right guard Justin Cheadle and right tackle Matt Summers-Gavin.

To discuss the Bears, head to the California Golden Blogs. To discuss the Buffs, head to Ralphie Report.

California At Colorado: Tyler Hansen & Zach Maynard Trade TDs, Cal Up 23-13

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Jon Embree seemed fairly confident during halftime that his team would recover from a 16-6 halftime deficit against the California Golden Bears, and they came out with a huge opening second-half drive. In four-and-a-half minutes, the Buffaloes marched 80 yards down the field to cut the lead to 16-13. 

It started with a gutsy call by Embree to go for it on 4th and 1 on his own 29 (which Tyler Hansen snuck on second effort to get through). Hansen then found Tyler McCulloch for seven yards and Paul Richardson for 19 on first down throws. Then Hansen took advantage of confusion by the Cal inside linebackers to find Ryan Deehan down the middle for a 37 yard touchdown score and make it a 16-13 game.

Cal was forced to punt on the subsequent drive after a huge gang sack by Chidera Uzo-Diribe and Jon Major on Zach Maynard. But Colorado was stuffed on a screen, going three-and-out, and Michael Calvin and Bryce McGovern partially blocked Darragh O'Neill punt. Cal struck back when Maynard found Marvin Jones down the seam on a 21 yard gain on 2nd and 20, and then Maynard found Anthony Miller on a misdirection look. Miller then dragged his defender into the end zone to put the Bears back up 10 near the end of the third quarter.

For more discussion on Cal football, head to the California Golden Blogs. For more discussion on CU football, check out Ralphie Report.

California vs. Colorado: Anthony Miller One-Handed TD Gives Cal 16-6 Halftime Lead

After the California Golden Bears scored to go ahead 6-3 on the Colorado Buffaloes, Colorado's drive stalled and Cal went back to work. An Isi Sofele sweep play to the left side (in addition to a personal foul penalty) set up the Bears in the red zone, but a Sofele running back pass play was blown up into a Colorado sack, and Cal had to settle for a 39 yard field goal for Giorgio Tavecchio to give the Bears a 9-3 lead.

Colorado managed to put more points on the board thanks to the efforts of their speedy running back Rodney Stewart. Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen connected with Stewart on 12, 16, and 7 yard gains to give Will Oliver the chance to boom a 52 yard field goal, and the Buffs were right back to being down only three.

But Cal came right back. Coleman Edmond got a nice 27 yard kickoff return to the Cal 38. Then on 3rd down, Zach Maynard rolled to his left and found Keenan Allen outracing Parker Oms, who then streaked for a 37 yard gain. A bruising C.J. Anderson 13 yard run gave Cal first and goal, and on second down Maynard rolled to his left, came back and found Anthony Miller. The throw as a little off-balance, but Miller did manage to make a great one-handed grab to help put the Bears up ten at halftime.

Maynard has struggled with his command and accuracy (9 of 17 for 113 yards, 2 TD and an INT) and his footwork is still spotty, but he's made some great plays on the move and also was able to assist big-time on the double pass with his brother. Tavecchio has come back from a bad extra point block to nail a huge field goal and three touchbacks.  And other than the Maynard interception, Cal isn't making any mental errors on the road in Boulder; the Buffs committed 9 penalties and cost themselves 68 yards, while the Golden Bears have yet to commit a penalty.

To discuss the game with Cal fans, check out the California Golden Blogs. To discuss the game with Colorado fans, head to Ralphie Report.

Cal vs. Colorado Score Update: Zach Maynard-Keenan Allen Double Pass Sets Up Bears Touchdown

After the Colorado Buffaloes took an early 3-0 lead thanks in part to a Zach Maynard turnover, the Golden Bears marched down the field and recaptured the lead. They were helped by Colorado penalties--two pass interference penalties (both on third down) gave Cal automatic first downs and 25 free yards. But the Bears made some plays of their own too, particularly by the brothers--quarterback Maynard and wide receiver Keenan Allen.

Maynard found Allen for seven yards on one catch and was his target on one of the pass interference penalties. But the biggest play of the drive was a little trickeration courtesy of the Cal offensive coaching staff. On 1st and 10 at the Colorado 34, Maynard found Allen on what looked like a wide receiver screen, and then Allen started looking like he was going to throw it downfield. He did throw it--back to his quarterback Maynard. Maynard had plenty of space down the sideline, but nearly fumbled the ball when he didn't secure the ball properly when running it.

Nevertheless, Cal got first and goal at the four yard line, and after two Isi Sofele rushes were stuffed short of the goal-line, Maynard found backup fullback Nico Dumont running a short out pattern to the flat. Dumont managed to stretch for the score to give Cal their first lead of the game. Giorgio Tavecchio's extra point was blocked after poor interior special teams offensive line protection on the kick, so the score remains 6-3.

For more from the Cal perspective, go to the California Golden Blogs. For more from the Colorado perspective, head to Ralphie Report.

Cal Football Vs. Colorado Score Update: Zach Maynard Interception Leads to Buffs 3-0 Lead

The California Golden Bears received the opening kickoff, and Coleman Edmond took it to the Cal 30. After some nice rushing by Isi Sofele to set up a third and short, Marvin Jones dropped a short out pattern for what would have been an easy first down for the Bears.

Cal was forced to punt, and Tyler Hansen made that ball move. He found Paul Richardson, Rodney Stewart, Kyle Cefalo and Matthew Bahr for 10+ yard completions and put Colorado in the red zone.  But Stewart couldn't convert a fourth-and-one, and the ball went back to Cal.

The Bears moved the ball better on the second drive. Sofele picked up a first down on two rushes, and Maynard connected with brother Keenan Allen for a huge third down conversion. But after Maynard found fullback John Tyndall on the short read for another first down, he backpedaled on his next throw and jump passed it, and it was picked off by Colorado linebacker Jon Major. Colorado took advantage of that quickly: Hansen found Richardson streaking down the sideline past Cal cornerback Steve Williams for a 36 yard gain, a screen to Stewart gave the Buffs another 17 yards, and  Will Oliver's 27 yard field goal gave Colorado a 3-0 lead.

For more from the Cal perspective, go to the California Golden Blogs. For more from the Colorado perspective, head to Ralphie Report.

California Vs. Colorado: Game Time, TV & Broadcast Info, Notes & More

The California Golden Bears travel to Boulder on Saturday to take on the Colorado Buffaloes in a non-conference game at Folsom Field. Though both teams are now part of the Pac-12 conference, the game will not count as a conference game because it was scheduled before Colorado joined the Pac-10. 

Teams: Colorado Buffaloes, California Golden Bears
Time: Saturday, Sept 10th, 12:30 p.m. PST
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder Colorado
TV: Broadcast on Comcast SportsNet California
Radio: KGO 810 AM
Rankings: Neither team is ranked in either the Associated Press poll or the USA Today Coaches poll
Favorite: Cal is favored by 7 points, and the over/under is 47 points per Bodog.
Last Meeting: Cal beat Colorado 52-7 in their matchup last season at home.
Streaks: California looks stay undefeated after dispatching Fresno State by a score of 36-21 last Saturday. 

For more news and information on Cal football, head on over to California Golden Blogs.

Cal Vs. Colorado: Buffs Ticket Sales Lagging, 7000 Tickets Yet To Be Sold

Cal fans struggled to sell tickets for their opening matchup against Fresno State, but their game against Colorado could also be sparsely attended.