Cal Football Rewind: 5 Game-Changing Plays from the USC Win

2 – Wharton Goes Deep

Before this play, Vic Wharton was hobbled. He didn’t start the game for the first time this season, and didn’t get onto the field until the second quarter. When he was on the field, he wasn’t much of a factor for the offense. Still, he kept his competitiveness, which shined through in his blocking battles and verbal sparring with Trojans corner Olaijah Griffin.

Following the safety that put the Bears on the board, they were trying to take advantage of short field position. Facing third-and-four, Cal quarterback Chase Garbers lofted a pass down the field for his receiver Wharton, who was all by himself. Wharton had left Griffin in the dust with a simple fake to the outside before running a post route. Griffin never touched Wharton, who scored his first touchdown of the season on the 29-yard connection with Garbers.

This was a big play for a number of reasons. It proved that Cal could still get into the endzone and still had big play capabilities, despite all the offensive issues they had gone through in the past few weeks. It also provided that they wouldn’t back down from their bigger and more talented opponents. As soon as Wharton crossed the goal line, he turned around and let Griffin know he just got beat. That kind of attitude has always been there for the Bears this year, but Wharton put some into that game.

Wharton’s touchdown was really the first big sign of life for the Cal offense, and it was a sign of things to come.