Christian Caple’s Keys to the Cal-WSU Game

What went right

Jeff Tuel led the Cougars on three scoring drives and he provided a little more consistency at the quarterback position after relieving Connor Halliday in the first quarter. Tuel completed 30 of 53 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, and didn’t turn the ball over. Leon Brooks saved WSU from a negative rushing game with a 40-yard run in the third quarter.

What went wrong

WSU couldn’t stop Cal’s running game, and couldn’t contain Zach Maynard when the Bears decided to throw. C.J. Anderson, Brendan Bigelow and Isi Sofele were all productive as Cal totaled 318 total rushing yards. And the Cougars’ offense simply didn’t get going until it was too late.

Turning point

C.J. Anderson took a handoff up the middle and ran 29 yards for a touchdown to give the Bears a 31-10 lead with 10:27 left in the game. The scamper capped a 7-play, 74-yard scoring drive. WSU added another touchdown later, but Anderson’s scoring run made the margin too large to overcome.

Difference maker

Keenan Allen. Not much more needs to be said after Allen caught 11 passes for 166 yards, hauling in nearly all of quarterback Zach Maynard’s completions. Allen also set the tone early by catching a quick slant pass over the middle, making two WSU defenders miss and covering the rest of the 69 yards to the end zone to give Cal a early 7-0 lead.