WSU Cougars

WSU faces undefeated Golden Bears

By Christian Caple

Staff writer

Updated September 28, 2015 7:13 AM

COUGARS OPPONENT THIS WEEK

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (4-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12)

2 P.M. SATURDAY, Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, Pac-12 Network, 710-AM

COACH: Sonny Dykes (10-18 in third year at Cal, 32-33 in sixth year overall)

AGAINST THE COUGARS: Cal leads the all-time series, 45-26-5.

SCOUTING REPORT: After beating Washington, 30-24, in Seattle on Saturday, California climbed into The Associated Press Top 25 poll — at No. 24 — for the first time since 2010. ... The Golden Bears are led by quarterback Jared Goff, projected by many analysts as a potential top-five pick in this year’s NFL draft. Through four games, he has completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 1,240 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. … Goff’s top target is Kenny Lawler, who caught seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies, and has 21 catches for 294 yards and six touchdowns this season. … Cal tailback Daniel Lasco has missed the Bears’ past two games due to a hip injury, but that is a position of depth for Cal. Vic Enwere, Khalfani Muhammad and Tre Watson carried the load for the Bears against Washington, with Enwere rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. … Cal’s defense had its best game of the season against UW, holding the Huskies to just 251 yards of total offense and 4.7 yards per play. That performance nudged the Bears’ defensive yards-per-play average to 5.55, which ranks 79th nationally.

DID YOU KNOW: After California returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in a 60-59 win over WSU in Pullman last season, the Cougars fired special-teams coordinator Eric Russell.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 W, 73-14, vs. Grambling State

Sept. 12 W, 35-7, vs. San Diego State

Sept. 19 W, 45-44, at Texas

Sept. 26 W, 30-24, at Washington

Saturday vs. Washington State

Oct. 10 at Utah

Oct. 22 at UCLA

Oct. 31 vs. USC

Nov. 7 at Oregon

Nov. 14 vs. Oregon State

Nov. 21 at Stanford

Nov. 28 vs. Arizona State

christian.caple@thenewstribune.com

COUGARS OPPONENT THIS WEEK

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (4-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12)

2 P.M. SATURDAY, Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, Pac-12 Networks, 710-AM

COACH: Sonny Dykes (10-18 in third year at Cal; 32-33 in sixth year overall)

AGAINST THE COUGARS: Cal leads the all-time series 45-26-5.

SCOUTING REPORT: After beating Washington 30-24 in Seattle on Saturday, California climbed into the Associated Press Top 25 poll — at No. 24 — for the first time since 2010. ... The Golden Bears are led by quarterback Jared Goff, projected by many analysts as a potential top-5 pick in this year’s NFL draft. Through four games, he has completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 1,240 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. … Goff’s top target is Kenny Lawler, who caught seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies, and has 21 catches for 294 yards and six touchdowns this season. … Cal tailback Daniel Lasco has missed the Bears’ last two games due to a hip injury, but that is a position of depth for Cal. Vic Enwere, Khalfani Muhammad and Tre Watson carried the load for the Bears against Washington, with Enwere rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. … Cal’s defense had its best game of the season against UW, holding the Huskies to just 251 yards of total offense and 4.7 yards per play. That performance nudged the Bears’ defensive yards-per-play average to 5.55, which ranks 79th nationally.