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Late score pushes Cal past Miami in Emerald Bowl

Dec 28, 2008 - 5:45 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Nate Longshore hit Anthony Miller with a two-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter as California edged Miami, 24-17, in the Emerald Bowl on Saturday.

The winning drive was set up when Cal's Zach Follett stripped Miami quarterback Jacory Harris and Cameron Jordan recovered the ball at the Miami 7 and returned it to the 2.

"I was battling against their tackles all game," Follett said. "They're big and athletic and I kind of said something at the pep rally and kind of made them mad so they'd been yapping at the jaw all game and before the game so to be truthful I could not give them the glory.

"I came around the edge and did the one arm like LB coach Kenwick Thompson had been telling me all game and once I saw (Miami quarterback Jacory Harris) put the ball down and started to roll out, I knew I had him and that's when (defensive line coach) Todd Lupoi's voice came in my head to bring that arm and club that arm so you can make him fumble, and once I saw the ball come out I tried to get up but Cam (Cameron Jordan) got there."

Harris said it was just a great play.

"It was just a play where I didn't see (Follett) who caused the fumble," the quarterback said. "I was just rolling and was trying to get ready to throw the ball out of bounds and didn't see him and he knocked the ball away, he made a great play.

The Golden Bears had taken a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on two touchdown runs by Jahvid Best only to see Miami rally to tie the game by scoring a touchdown in both the second and third quarters.

Harris found Laron Byrd from nine yards out to halve the deficit in the second quarter and then connected with Thearon Collier from six yards to tie the game with 7:34 left in the third quarter.

Cal kicked a field goal to take a 17-14 lead, but Miami countered with its own three-pointer to knot the game with 9:13 left.

Best rushed for an Emerald Bowl record 186 yards on 20 carries for California (9-4).

"Winning the Axe back (against Stanford) and then beating Washington and going undefeated at home and then treating this like another home game," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said, reflecting on the season. "Winning nine games ... its not easy to win nine games. It's an accomplishment for this team. I know we'll continue to come back and work hard for next season but for these guys to go out with nine wins, I think its something they can really be proud of.

Longshore was 10-of-21 for 21 yards and the game-winning touchdown as the Pac-10's Golden Bears downed their ACC foes.

"It always feels good to win, your bowl game especially and playing against a good team like Miami and they were better than I thought they would be once I got out there," Longshore said. "They had a good defense and I knew that coming in. They were playing hard. It definitely feels good to come out on top."

Harris, replacing suspended starter Robert Marve, was 25-of-41 for 194 yards and the two touchdowns for the Hurricanes (7-6).

Cal enjoyed a 338-282 advantage in total offense, much coming from Best's ground game. The 5-10, 193-pound sophomore averaged 8.0 yards a carry on the season.

Best's effort gave him 1,580 yards rushing on the season.

"Honestly, I didn't even know I had a bowl record but playing for these seniors and a lot for (fullback) Will Ta'ufo'ou," Best said. "He doesn't get a lot of recognition in the practices that he deserves and I was laying all on the line for him. I don't feel any pressure or pay attention to all that kind of stuff. My main goal is just to memorize the game plan and just go out there execute do whatever I can to help the team win."