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Cal Bears: Five Things From Opening Win Against Hawaii

By Sean Bialaszek

Sep 12, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; Members of the California Golden Bears cheerleaders watch as a giant inflated bear head mascot is moved into place before the game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; Members of the California Golden Bears cheerleaders watch as a giant inflated bear head mascot is moved into place before the game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Chad Hansen (6) carries the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. The California Golden Bears defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 48-46. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

2 – Chad Hansen Steps Up as Top Receiver

Cal’s top-five wide receivers from last year are gone, so they needed someone to step up and become the go-to guy for the offense. On Friday, junior Chad Hansen became that guy.

Hansen was the lone returning receiver with any sort of tangible experience within the Cal offense. He played in seven games last season, mostly all coming in the second half of the year, and caught 19 passes for 249 yards and a score. On Friday, he looked like one of the best receivers in the nation.

Webb and Hansen quickly built a rapport together, and 14 of Webb’s 38 completions went Hansen’s way. The receiver racked up 160 yards, and found the endzone twice, double his career total entering the game.

Early in the game, the offense tried to force the ball to Hansen with screens and quick hitters, both staples of Cal’s offense. Those did well, as Hansen was shifty enough to get around defenders, but he also showed that he can open it up a little bit. On the third drive, Webb floated one up in the endzone for Hansen, and the receiver went up and over his defender to bring it down for a 17-yard touchdown grab.

His second touchdown came on a screen. Hansen used great blocking to get around defenders and sprinted away from everyone else to score the 34-yarder.

Hansen’s 14 receptions matched him for third-most in a single game in school history. Only Geoff McArthur (16 catches in 2003 against Stanford) and Dameane Douglas (15 catches in 1998 against Oregon State) had higher totals in a single game.

Also, freshman Melquise Stovall – one of Cal’s big recruits – caught four balls for 61 yards, including his first touchdown. Stovall ran a great sluggo route to beat his defender by a mile, and was wide open in the endzone for a 14-yard score. Senior Bug Rivera caught five passes for 54 yards. Junior college transfer Jordan Veasy brought down two balls for 41 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown.

Next: Run Fast and Run Hard

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