

36-39
National Champions!
This was the moment every kicker dreams of. It was 4th and 17 coming off of a sack of Allan Bridgford. Giorgio Tavecchio walked out on the field knowing that he was about to attempt the most important kick of his career. He also knew that it was a 58 yard field goal and there were three seconds left in a tied national championship game.
Tavecchio defines the term clutch. He has made numerous game winning field goals, and was a very vital part of the undefeated team that is playing in the title game. The senior kicker booted a bomb that seemed to look like it was going to hit the post, but at the absolute last second possible it curved back in and the California Golden Bears were crowned the 2011 BCS National Champions.
This game was filled with explosive plays, and Heisman runner-up Allan Bridgford managed the game very well. All the was up until the last drive of the game Bridgford was perfect. No incompletions with 275 yards. The big story of the game was how Cal was going to rush with their 3rd string running back. The two headed moster of Deboskie and Sofele had been broken up by injuries with one having a season ending ACL tear and the other with a concussion suffered in the Pac 12 championship game.
Trajuan Briggs stepped up big, and almost made Cal fans forget about their two other running backs. With 189 yards on twenty carries and 2 touchdowns Briggs earned player of the game honors as a freshman. Keenan Allen also had a huge game with 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns as well. The senior Tavecchio made the biggest play of the game by far with his game winning 58 yard field goal.
Michigan's high powered passing game was slowed down, only allowing Heisman Winner Denard Robinson 250 total yards. Robinson was very effective in the red zone though, scoring all but one of Michigan's touchdowns. The rushing game was almost non existent, but they stepped up big with a stellar special team performance. Almost every drive for Michigan started out somewhere around midfield.
Comment