Orange Crushed

#43 California – 30

#22 Clemson – 8

Clemson HB Andre Ellington fumbles after a hard hit by Cal SS Sean Cattouse on the game's first play

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Blue, with one final chance to earn a first round win over Orange, saved his best for last.

Historically, Cal has been a TNS dud, suffering first-round exits in each of the two years they earned high seeds, and never advancing past the second round. On this occasion, they found the underdog role to their liking, cruising to a 30-8 rout of Clemson.

HB Isi Sofele scored two touchdowns, K Giorgio Tavecchio was 3/3 on field goals, and Cal's defense held QB Tajh Boyd and Clemson to 69 yards of offense. California QB Brock Mansion gave Blue his first 200-yard passing game of the tournament.

"Everybody contributed today," noted head coach Jeff Tedford. "It was a total team effort. It was like Total Recall."

Cal set the tone early, forcing and recovering a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. A field goal on the ensuing drive and a 12-yard touchdown run by Sofele gave Cal a 10-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Despite receiving the ball to begin the first half, Clemson finished the half with -4 total yards and no first downs on three possessions.

The Golden Bears went up 20-0 when Keenan Allen ran it in from 44 yards on a WR screen to cap Cal's opening drive of the second half. Then, immediately following a Tajh Boyd interception, Isi Sofele scored on a 37-yard screen play to make it 27-0.

Clemson finally got it going on their next drive, picking up five first downs and punching it in on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Boyd to WR Bryce McNeal, but it was too little too late.

The Southright region breathes a small sigh of relief as Clemson is eliminated, and teams named the Tigers that play in stadiums named Death Valley finish the tournament at 0-2. Cal will travel to Ann Arbor to battle #11 Michigan next round.

Stats:

California

QB Brock Mansion – 11/21, 201 yards, 2 TD, INT

HB Isi Sofele – 18 rushes, 76 yards, TD; 4 catches, 69 yards, TD

DT Kendrick Payne – 2 sacks