Cal's double-overtime gamble fizzles in 45-44 loss to Arizona

BERKELEY - Quarterback Khalil Tate ran for 137 yards and a touchdown and passed for two more, including a 22-yarder to Bryce Wolma in the second overtime, and Arizona held on to beat Cal 45-44 on Saturday night.

Zach Green scored the Wildcats' touchdown in the first overtime and had a 3-yard run to open the second extra period before Tate scrambled in the backfield to avoid a sack and found Wolma open near the goal line for the game winner.

Cal answered with Vic Enwere's 1-yard touchdown run but came up short on a two-point conversion attempt when Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler deflected a Ross Bowers pass intended for Jordan Duncan near the back of the end zone.

Bowers completed 29 of 49 throws for 301 yards and two touchdowns, one in the first overtime, but was intercepted twice.

The Wildcats (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) wasted leads of 21-7 and 28-14 before holding off the Bears (4-4, 1-4).

That bodes well for coach Rich Rodriguez's team, which is heading into the meaty portion of its schedule. Arizona next plays No. 15 Washington State in Tucson followed by a road game at No. 11 USC on Nov. 4.

Tate continued to give Arizona's offense a lift. The Wildcats' sophomore quarterback has rushed for 694 yards and passed for 468 in three games since replacing Brandon Dawkins.

The two teams combined for 984 yards of offense.

Arizona outrushed Cal 345-172, a big chunk coming on Tate's 76-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Wildcats did so despite losing running back J.J. Taylor to an ejection in the first half.

Cal tied the game in the fourth on Patrick Laird's 8-yard touchdown run with 5:07 remaining in regulation. The two teams then exchanged field goals before Arizona missed a chance to win in regulation when Tate's deep throw was intercepted by Ashtyn Davis at the Cal 1.

THE TAKEAWAY

Cal: The Bears put up a gutsy effort but couldn't carry over the momentum from their first win over a Top 10 team since 2003. The loss definitely stings, especially because Cal's defense was coming off its best game of the season.