Fernando Mendoza connected with Jonathan Brady for a pair of touchdown passes in the final 10:09 on Saturday afternoon, rallying California to a 24-21 victory over rival Stanford in the annual Big Game’s first Atlantic Coast Conference edition in Berkeley, Calif.
Mendoza threw for 299 yards and three scores, the first of which was a second-quarter, 16-yard toss to Trond Grizzell for Cal’s only TD in the game’s first three quarters as Stanford built a 21-10 lead.
But Mendoza found Brady for a 30-yard TD to cap a 71-yard drive with 10:09 to play to get the Golden Bears (6-5, 2-5 ACC) within five, then hit his wideout again for a 22-yard score that put Cal on top with 2:40 to go.
A two-point shovel pass from Mendoza to Jaydn Ott increased the margin to 24-21, before the Cal defense forced a turnover on downs on Stanford’s ensuing possession, giving the host Golden Bears command of the game.
Mendoza’s late accuracy left him 25-for-36 without an interception, helping the Golden Bears gain bowl eligibility with a sixth win.
Brady finished with five catches for 64 yards and his two scores, while Grizzell had four catches for a game-high 70 yards and the first-half TD. Mendoza also was Cal’s leading rusher with 11 carries for 35 yards.
Stanford dominated the early going, taking a 14-0 lead in the 14th minute of the game on 1- and 2-yard plunges by Stanford backup quarterback Justin Lamson.
Seeking to end a three-game losing streak in the rivalry, the Cardinal (3-8, 2-6) created a two-touchdown cushion midway through the third quarter when running back Micah Ford flipped a 2-yard TD pass to Emmett Mosley V on a fourth-down trick play. Emmet Kenney’s PAT made it 21-7.
Ryan Coe hit a 46-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in the third period, getting Cal within 21-10 and setting up the fourth-quarter rally.
Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels went 14-for-26 for 139 yards with no interceptions and added a game-high 63 yards on 21 rushes. Mosley hauled in six of Daniels’ 14 completions for 63 yards.
The Stanford defense sacked Mendoza six times.
Cal outgained the visitors 371-259, but had the game’s only turnover, a fumble on a kickoff return.
