Canes Rally for Epic Comeback Win at Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — They flew across three time zones from South Florida all the way to the East Bay. The Miami Hurricanes weren’t about to let a 20-point, fourth-quarter deficit spoil their cross-country trek.

Eighth-ranked Miami rallied for a 39-38 win over California on Saturday night, stunning the Golden Bears and their raucous sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium with a comeback for the ages.

The Canes improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play. Cal fell to 3-2 and 0-2 in conference play, still seeking its first-ever ACC win.

In front of one of college football’s most picturesque backdrops, quarterback Cam Ward painted his latest Picasso, leading the Canes to touchdowns on their last four drives of the game and throwing for 249 yards in the fourth quarter alone. His five-yard scoring toss to tight end Elijah Arroyo with 26 seconds left tied the score and Andy Borregales’ extra point put Miami on top.

Ward completed 35 of 53 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He also had a 24-yard scoring scamper.

Meanwhile, Miami’s defense, which had allowed four pass plays of 50-plus yards, forced two punts and a turnover in the fourth quarter, allowing the Canes to claw their way back.

Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo had another huge outing, catching seven passes for 163 yards. Fellow wideout Isaiah Horton had nine catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Mark Fletcher, Jr. and Damien Martinez each had touchdown runs, combining for 123 yards on the ground. Overall, Miami racked up 575 total yards.

Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe paced the Canes with six tackles, while linebacker Francisco Mauigoa had the game-clinching interception. Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow posted three tackles and a sack.

Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 285 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Running back Jaydn Ott had three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Jack Endries had three catches for 78 yards and a score. Linebacker Cade Uluave amassed 15 tackles and cornerback Nohl Williams scored on a pick-six.

The defenses were stout on the opening two possessions. Linebacker Teddye Buchanan and defensive tackle Nate Burrell teamed up to sack Ward on third down to force a punt. But defensive end Rueben Bain stuffed Ott for a seven-yard loss on the Bears’ first snap, leading to a three-and-out.

Miami got the ball back at its 37. Fletcher rushed over the right side for 28 yards before Ward zipped a pass across the middle for Restrepo for 18 yards to the Cal 17. Fletcher took it from there, carrying three straight times, the last a three-yard touchdown run to give the Canes a 7-0 lead.

But Mendoza and the Bears struck back quickly, driving 89 yards in just seven plays and capping it with a 57-yard scoring strike to Endries. The game was tied.

The Canes crossed midfield over their next possession and faced a 4^th and 2 from the Cal 45. Ward found Arroyo in the flat, but safety Miles Williams stopped him short of the sticks and the Bears took over. On the next snap Mendoza threw deep to wide receiver Trond Grizzell for 51 yards. Two plays later, Ott scored on a five-yard touchdown run and the Bears had their first lead.

Ward went back to work, connecting with Horton for 16 yards before finding Horton again for nine yards to pick up a key first down to the Cal 38. The Bears were flagged for a personal foul on the next snap, moving the ball to the 26-yard line. But the drive stalled there, and Borregales booted a 46-yard field goal to cut Cal’s lead to 14-10.

The Bears soon faced a 4^th and 1 from their own 34 and decided to go for it. Mendoza rolled out and lofted a pass to Ott, who raced 66 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown that pushed Cal’s lead to 11 points. It was the Bears’ longest play from scrimmage this season and they were averaging 12.4 yards per play.

The teams traded punts, and the Canes got the ball at their 24 with 2:42 left in the half. Ward moved Miami to the Bears 37, but an 18-yard sack by Burrell killed the drive. Cal headed to the locker room with a 21-10 lead despite 20 fewer snaps than the Canes.

Miami’s defense did what it needed to do to start the second half, forcing a three-and-out after Barrow sacked Mendoza for a nine-yard loss. But on the Canes’ first snap Ward rolled right and threw across the field. Williams picked off the pass and raced 40 yards for a score. Miami was down 18 points.

Ward connected with wide receiver Jacolby George on a 26-yard pass into Cal territory, but the drive stalled at the 43-yard line. Cal was backed up to its 15-yard line but on 3^rd and 15 Mendoza threw a short pass to running back Javian Thomas, who raced 56 yards. Two plays later, backup quarterback Chandler Rogers took the shotgun snap and rushed nine yards for a score to make it 35-10.

On the next drive, Ward completed 6 of 9 passes for 64 yards, including a 4^th and 3 conversion to Horton. Martinez capped the 12-play drive with a one-yard plunge and Restrepo caught the ensuing two-point try. The Canes trailed 35-18.

But Cal marched right back down the field. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady rushed for 20 yards on a reverse and Mendoza scrambled up the middle for 22. Miami’s defense held but Ryan Coe kicked a 37-yard field goal to push the lead back up to 20.

The Canes went for it on 4^th and 5 from midfield and Ward connected with Restrepo to move the chains. On the next play Ward hit tight end Elija Lofton up the seam for a 24-yard gain. Cal was hit with a personal foul penalty after another reception by Restrepo, giving the Canes first and goal at the three-yard line. A pass interference penalty pushed Miami back, but Miami still found the end zone when Ward hit Horton for an 18-yard touchdown. The Canes were within two scores with 10:28 left.

Cal picked up one first down by penalty, but Bain and Akheem Mesidor combined to sack Mendoza and Miami got the ball back at its 30. Ward found Restrepo again for 13 yards to move the chains on 4^th and 10. Four plays later, Ward rolled left and saw an opening, sprinting 24 yards to the end zone. It was a six-point game with just over four minutes remaining.

Thomas raced 19 yards on the Bears’ next snap, but Bissainthe stopped Mendoza on a third-down rush and Miami had one last opportunity. Lachlan Wilson pinned the Canes back at their eight-yard line and there were 102 seconds on the clock.

Ward found Restrepo wide open and the senior wideout danced through the secondary 77 yards all the way to the Bears 15. An unsportsmanlike conduct foul on Horton pushed the ball back to the 25-yard line. Ward threw incomplete to Brown, but on 3^rd and 20 dumped a pass off to Martinez, who raced down the right sideline for 22 yards. It was first and goal at the Cal 3.

Martinez was stuffed for a two-yard loss. On the next play, Ward faked a handoff and threw to Arroyo, who dove across the goal line. Borregales’ extra point gave the Canes their first lead since the first quarter with just 26 seconds left.

Mendoza threw three incompletions before Mauigoa sealed UM’s improbable win with an interception.

Miami is off this coming week before traveling to Louisville on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff time is still to be determined.