Cal wins Big Game 26-17

BERKELEY, Calif. – Although that bitter wind out of Strawberry Canyon was the most dynamic force on the field, California still found more than enough ways to knock off Stanford one more time.

Nate Longshore passed for 217 yards and the 21st-ranked Golden Bears persevered through the cold and the Cardinal for a 26-17 victory Saturday in the 109th Big Game.

As the Cal seniors celebrated playing their entire careers without a loss to their archrivals, not even the disappointments of the Bears’ previous two games could bring down the mood at Memorial Stadium.

Cal (9-3, 7-2 Pac-10) earned a share of the conference championship when No. 3 USC was knocked off by UCLA shortly afterward.

Justin Forsett had 67 of his 75 yards rushing in the fourth quarter as the Golden Bears barely did enough to beat the Cardinal (1-11, 1-8).

Tom Schneider kicked four field goals and DeSean Jackson caught seven passes for 127 yards for the Golden Bears, who haven’t lost a Big Game since coach Jeff Tedford’s arrival in 2002.