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

By Sean Bialaszek

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Justin Wilcox of the California Golden Bears reacts from the sidelines during the second quarter against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Justin Wilcox of the California Golden Bears reacts from the sidelines during the second quarter against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CORVALLIS, OR – OCTOBER 20: Linebacker Evan Weaver #89 of the California Golden Bears celebrates a tackle during the first half of the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

4 – Weaver Again

Linebacker Evan Weaver has been one of Cal’s best this year, and he stepped up big time late last Saturday. Both of his sacks came in the fourth quarter, and both came on third down. Let’s focus on the second sack.

USC was in trouble. Down by a point, they faced third-and-12 at their own 34-yard line. Knowing that USC had a long way to go, Coach Wilcox and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter brought the heat. They dialed up blitz with both inside linebackers, and it worked to perfection.

Cal’s four defensive lineman each took an offensive lineman out of the play, and Kunaszyk took care of the fifth. That left a running back to pick up Weaver coming through the middle, and he was no match for the former defensive lineman. Aca’Cedric Ware barely touched Weaver, and Daniels had almost no chance to get rid of the ball or get away. Weaver brought him down for the second time in the quarter.

That turned out to be USC’s last offensive play of the day, as they were forced to punt and wouldn’t get the ball back again. They nearly did, but a big Trojan mistake cost them the opportunity…

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