After Cal had pocketed its third victory without a defeat last week, coach Justin Wilcox cautioned the Bears were still learning how to win.
They found out they’re not quite there yet in their first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference game at Florida State on Saturday night.
Cal squandered a mostly superb defensive performance, struggling to run the ball consistently and missing 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 drove the Bears (3-1) into scoring range, dashing 26 yards on a third-down scramble and completing a 13-yard pass to tight end Jack Endries to the FSU 32 on a fourth-and-13 play.
Then Mendoza was sacked and fumbled on second-and-10 at the 17, but offensive lineman Rush Reimer recovered for the Bears at the 23 with 1:05 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, returning to his home state and playing in front of his parents and family, passed for a career-high 303 yards, but he also was 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 rush.
The Bears have next week off then host No. 8 Miami on Oct. 5.
The victory was a huge relief for FSU (1-3), which was 13-1 a year ago and began this season No. 10 in the preseason AP Top-25 but struggled through three defeats to start this year.
Cal took its first lead of the night when Ryan Coe — who was 2-for-3 on field goals in this game but just 4-for-9 on the season — delivered a 51-yarder for a 9-7 advantage with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
The field goal came one play after guard Sioape Vatikani, who was playing in his first game this season after missing the first three with a foot injury, went down to the turf and stayed there for about 10 minutes.
The 6-foot-4, 330-pound junior apparently suffered a neck or head injury and was taken out of the stadium on a cart. Before leaving, Vatikani raised his arm and gave the fans a thumbs-up.
The Seminoles answered immediately, going 79 yards in 12 plays with D.J. Uiagalelei delivering a perfect pass to wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas, who beat Cal defender Ja’ir Smith for the touchdown and a 14-9 lead with 11:08 to play in the fourth quarter.
Coe got the chance to bring the Bears within two points, but missed wide right on a 38-yard field goal with 6:07 to play, his sixth miss in four games and second of the night.
The Bears had a chance to take the lead after a 15-play drive to open the second half, but Coe missed wide left on a 36-yard field goal attempt.
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Mendoza completed passes of 19 yards to Mason Starling and 25 yards to Trond Grizzell on the drive.
Cal pulled within 7-6 at halftime when Coe kicked a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter. That came moments after a 23-yard burst down the right sideline by Ott, giving Cal a first down at the 11 with 2 seconds left.
FSU went ahead 7-0 — its first lead in three home games this season — when running back Lawrence Teofili dashed 9 yards not the end zone with 7:47 left in the first quarter.
FSU’s offensive line controlled things early but the Cal defense settled in and began getting more pressure on Uiagalelei.
A pass interception by safety Miles Williams — Cal’s 10th pick of the season — set up the Bears’ first score of the game.
Mendoza’s 46-yard completion to Mikey Matthews and a 19-yarder to Mason Starling set up Coe’s 25-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the second quarter.