Offensive lets Bears down in loss to FSU and ends unbeaten start

After Cal earned its third undefeated win last week, coach Justin Wilcox warned that the Bears still need to learn how to win.

In their first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference game at Florida State on Saturday night, they realized they are not quite there yet.

Cal squandered a largely stellar defensive performance, struggled to pass the ball consistently and missed two field goals in a 14-9 loss to the previously winless Seminoles in front of 55,107 fans at Doak Campbell Stadium.

With the game on the line, Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza brought the Bears (3-1) within scoring range by sprinting 26 yards on a third-down run and completing a 13-yard pass to tight end Jack Endries to the FSU 32 on a fourth-and-13 play.

Then on second-and-10, Mendoza was sacked at the 17-yard line and dropped the ball, but offensive lineman Rush Reimer recovered the ball for the Bears at the 23-yard line with 1:05 minutes left.

Mendoza's pass to Trond Grizzell in the end zone was incomplete and FSU's Edwin Joseph sacked him on fourth down, ending the Bears' threat.

Mendoza, who returned to his home state and played in front of his parents and family, threw for a career-high 303 yards but was also sacked seven times.

Jaydn Ott returned after missing last week with a foot injury and rushed for 73 yards on 16 attempts, but the Bears averaged just 2.9 yards per carry.

The Bears have next week off and then host No. 8 Miami on October 5.

The win was a huge relief for FSU (1-3), which had a 13-1 record last year and began this season ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Top 25, but has suffered three losses to start this year.

Cal took the lead for the first time of the night when Ryan Coe – who had made 2 of 3 field goals in this game but only 4 of 9 all season – kicked a 51-yard kick with 1:30 left in the third quarter to give them a 9-7 lead.

The field goal came one play after guard Sioape Vatikani, playing his first game of the season after missing the first three games with a foot injury, went to the field and lay there for about 10 minutes.

The 6'4″ and 330-pound junior apparently suffered a neck or head injury and was carted out of the stadium. Before leaving, Vatikani raised his arm and gave fans a thumbs up.

The Seminoles responded immediately, driving 79 yards in 12 plays. DJ Uiagalelei delivered a perfect pass to wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas, who beat Cal defender Ja'ir Smith for a touchdown. The lead was 14-9 with 11:08 left in the fourth quarter.

Coe had a chance to bring the Bears within two points, but his 38-yard field goal shot narrowly missed the right side with 6:07 left. It was his sixth missed shot in four games and second of the night.

The Bears had a chance to take the lead after a 15-play drive early in the second half, but Coe missed wide left on a 36-yard field goal attempt.