Bears Need Rally to Edge Beavers

Dameane Douglas caught a school-record 15 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown and California forced six turnovers as the Bears rallied for a 20-19 victory over Oregon State on Saturday.

Cal, 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference, took a 20-19 lead on Ignacio Brache’s 45-yard field goal with 11:01 to play. Brache also converted from 29 yards, giving him two field goals in six attempts this season.

Justin Vedder completed 29 of 46 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns with an interception for the Bears, who were errorless in the second half after committing four turnovers in the first half.

“When the ball is in the air, that’s the guy who’s going to make the play,” Vedder said of Douglas. “We understood each other. I have great confidence [in him], and when he says he can do a route, I’ll probably go ahead and do it.”

Jose Cortez had four field goals for Oregon State (4-5, 1-5), but the Beavers couldn’t keep the momentum after taking a 19-10 halftime lead.

The Beavers, who face No. 2 UCLA and No. 12 Oregon in their final two games, are all but assured of a losing record for the 28th consecutive season.

Oregon State drove to the Cal 26 midway through the fourth quarter, but Roddy Tompkins fumbled after catching a pass and the Bears’ Matt Beck recovered to end the Beavers’ last threat.

Douglas broke the Cal record of 13 receptions set by Jack Schraub against Illinois in 1964 and tied by Iheanyl Uwaezuoke against Washington in 1994. Douglas has 71 catches this season, four short of Bobby Shaw’s school record set last season.