Bears cash in late turnover

Zack Follett forced a fumble by Jacory Harris deep in Miami territory with 3:28 left, and Anthony Miller scored the go-ahead touchdown on his first career catch moments later in California’s 24-17 victory in the Emerald Bowl on Saturday night.

Jahvid Best rushed for a bowl-record 186 yards and two touchdowns, yet the Golden Bears (9-4) still needed a big defensive play and an unlikely hero to hold off the Hurricanes (7-6) in front of a Bay Area crowd teeming with Cal fans.

Harris played well in the freshman’s second career start, going 25 for 41 for 194 yards and two touchdowns while subbing for suspended Robert Marve. Harris had won 31 straight starts dating to his high school career in South Florida, but his fumble cost the Hurricanes in their first bowl game under Coach Randy Shannon.

Nate Longshore shook off a dismal 10-for-21 performance in his final college game with that sharp scoring pass to Miller for Cal. The Golden Bears won for the fifth time in a school-record six consecutive bowl appearances under Coach Jeff Tedford.

Laron Byrd and Thearon Collier caught Harris’ scoring passes for Miami, which tied it on Matt Bosher’s 22-yard field goal with 9:13 to play.

After Cal’s Giorgio Tavecchio missed a 34-yard field-goal attempt with 4:24 left, Follett knocked the ball away from Harris while dropping the quarterback from behind on third down. Cameron Jordan recovered and returned it to the Miami two-yard line, where Longshore connected with Miller, a freshman who hardly played this season.

Tedford chose Longshore, the oft-booed senior, to start his final college game instead of Kevin Riley, the Bears’ starter for most of this year and the hero of last season’s comeback victory in the Armed Forces Bowl. If Riley was injured, the Bears didn’t acknowledge it -- and Longshore struggled all the way until his final throw.

Marve was among five Miami players suspended in the days leading up to the game for violating team rules, and starting tight end Dedrick Epps was a last-minute scratch from the lineup because of a bruised leg.