2011 Holiday Bowl

2011 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
34th Holiday Bowl Game
California Golden Bears Texas Longhorns
(7–5) (7–5)
10 21
Head coach: 
Jeff Tedford		 Head coach: 
Mack Brown
APCoachesBCS
NRNRNR
APCoachesBCS
NRRV24
1234 Total
California 3070 10
Texas 0777 21
Date December 28, 2011
Season 2011
Stadium Qualcomm Stadium
Location San Diego, California
MVP Offense: David Ash (QB, Texas)
Defense: Keenan Robinson (LB, Texas)
Favorite Texas by 3[1]
Referee Matt Moore (Southeastern Conference)
Attendance 56,313[2]
Payout US$1 million per team
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN
Announcers Rece Davis (Play-by-Play)
Jesse Palmer (Analyst)
Jenn Brown (Sidelines)
Nielsen ratings 2.69

The 2011 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, the 34th edition of the game, was a postseason American college football bowl game between the Texas Longhorns of the Big 12 Conference and the California Golden Bears of the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12), on December 28, 2011 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game was the final contest of the 2011 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-FBS) football season for both teams, and it ended in a 21-10 victory for Texas.

Texas was selected to play in the 2011 Holiday Bowl following a 7-5 regular season that included a last-second victory at Texas A&M and double-digit losses to then-No. 1[Note 1] Oklahoma, then-No. 7[Note 1] Oklahoma State, and then-No. 18[Note 1] Baylor. The Longhorns faced California, who also had an identical 7-5 regular season, highlighted by an overtime victory at Colorado and a 3-point loss to then-No. 8[Note 1] Stanford.

California scored the only points of the first quarter on a 49-yard field goal by placekicker Giorgio Tavecchio. In the second quarter Texas' placekicker Justin Tucker missed a 38-yard field goal but were later able to score on a 4-yard reverse pass touchdown reception by wide receiver Jaxon Shipley. California answered in the third quarter on a touchdown run by running-back Isi Sofele, but the Golden Bears would not score any more points afterwards. Texas scored later in the third quarter on a 47-yard reception by wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run by running-back Cody Johnson to end the game.

Texas quarterback David Ash was named player of the game, and finished with 142 passing yards and one touchdown while also attaining a touchdown reception. Texas linebacker Keenan Robinson was named the defensive MVP after finishing with eight tackles and a pass deflection.

Teams

Entering the contest, both teams shared a few similarities. Each had an identical record (7–5) and last played in a bowl during the 2009 season, which they both lost (Texas lost the BCS National Championship Game to Alabama and Cal lost the Poinsettia Bowl, also in San Diego, to Utah.) Both teams also identical posted losing records (5–7) during the 2010 season. Their respective records in Holiday Bowl were also split. Texas lead the series with Cal 4–0, and was ranked in the nation’s top 10 in each of the series' games. Both teams were strong on defense with the Longhorns standing at No. 14 in total defense (315.33 ypg) and the Bears No. 26 (339.42 ypg).

Texas

Texas began the season with a four-game winning streak which included a defeat of UCLA in Pasadena.[3] Following a loss to then #1 Oklahoma, the Longhorns only managed to put together three more wins for the rest of the season, although three of their losses during this period came against higher ranked opponents. Texas finished with a 7–5 record following the program's first losing season since 1997.[4] This was Texas' fifth trip to the Holiday Bowl, the most recent being in 2007, and their prior record was 2–2.[5] The Texas offense came into the game with the nation's No. 19 rushing team (210.42 ypg) but only No. 85 in passing (193.58 ypg), while the defense had been stingy against the run at No. 11 (103.67 ypg) and No. 47 in pass defense (211.67 ypg).

California

California began the season with a three-game winning streak, during which head coach Jeff Tedford became with the winningest coach in program history.[6] The Bears then had three straight losses, including their sole home loss of the season. They were able to get four more wins, improving to a 7–5 mark following the first losing season in Tedford's tenure as head coach. This was Cal's third Holiday Bowl, the most recent being in 2006, and their prior record was 1–1. Coincidentally they had faced Texas teams in all of their Holiday Bowl matchups, with Texas Tech in 2004 and Texas A&M in 2006. Notably, the 2004 appearance resulted after Texas head coach Mack Brown had lobbied for an invitation to the Rose Bowl over Cal.[7] Tedford said the incident "was a long time ago. I felt bad for our team because I really felt like we deserved to be in the Rose Bowl that year, but we're in 2011 now and it is a whole different situation."[8] Cal has a balanced offense, which is No. 37 in total offense (418.67 ypg), No. 38 in passing (251.50) and No. 48 in rushing (167.17 ypg).

Game summary

First quarter

Texas received the ball to start the game but was unable to move the ball past midfield despite a fourth down conversion in their own territory. Cal was able to drive 70 yards on its first possession for a 47-yard field goal. After a three and out, Texas got the ball back when Zach Maynard was picked off by Quandre Diggs, but in turn went three and out. However Maynard was then sacked for a fumble in Cal territory.

Second quarter

Texas' attempt to capitalize on the turnover failed when a 38-yard field goal missed. Two possessions later the Longhorns started in Cal territory and were able to drive down to the Cal 4-yard line on a 30-yard reception by tight end Blaine Irby. They then set up a trick play in which receiver Jaxon Shipley threw a pass to quarterback David Ash for the first touchdown of the game.

Third quarter

Cal opened the half with a 69-yard drive that was capped off by a 6-yard touchdown run by Isi Sofele. However Texas came right back with a 47-yard scoring reception by receiver Marquise Goodwin to take hold of the lead. The Cal defense held following a Sofele fumble on the ensuing drive, but Maynard was sacked on the final Cal possession of the quarter. Goodwin then had a 37-yard run to put the ball on the Cal 7-yard line.

Fourth quarter

This set up a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Cody Johnson for the game's final score. Late in the quarter the final Cal turnover occurred when receiver Marvin Jones fumbled after making a reception.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Texas California
1 6:06 11 40 4:59 California 49-yard field goal by Giorgio Tavecchio 0 3
2 6:08 4 48 1:19 Texas David Ash 4-yard touchdown reception from Jaxon Shipley, Justin Tucker kick good 7 3
3 9:47 11 69 5:13 California Isi Sofele 6-yard touchdown run, Giorgio Tavecchio kick good 7 10
3 8:06 4 76 1:41 Texas Marquise Goodwin 47-yard touchdown reception from David Ash, Justin Tucker kick good 14 10
4 14:57 3 44 0:47 Texas Cody Johnson 4-yard touchdown run, Justin Tucker kick good 21 10
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 21 10

[2][9]

Statistics

Statistics CaliforniaTexas
First Downs 1513
Rushes-yards (net)36–735–109
Passing yards (net) 188146
Passes, Att-Comp-Int 33–19–124–15–0
Total offense, plays – yards 69–19559–255
Time of Possession31:0828:52

Game notes

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 All rankings are based on the Coaches' Poll unless otherwise noted.

References

  1. ↑ "College Football Betting Lines and Spreads - AccuScore".
  2. 1 2 "California Golden Bears vs. Texas Longhorns – Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Texas vs UCLA (Sep 17, 2011)".
  4. ↑ Cyrus Gray scores 2 long TDs, carries Aggies to win over Longhorns, ESPN, November 25, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Cal, Texas to Meet in Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl". The Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  6. ↑ "Zach Maynard powers Cal as Jeff Tedford sets school wins mark". ESPN.com. 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  7. ↑ Miller, Ted (December 6, 2011). "Revenge? Cal to face Texas in Holiday Bowl". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011.
  8. ↑ Wilson, Bernie (December 4, 2011). "California, Texas to play in Holiday Bowl". The Brownsville Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011.
  9. ↑ "California Golden Bears vs. Texas Longhorns – Drivechart". ESPN. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.