Recap: California vs. Arizona

By Sports Network

Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - Shane Vereen rumbled 61 yards for a touchdown and finished with 159 yards on the ground in place of an injured Jahvid Best, as California upended 18th-ranked Arizona, 24-16, at Memorial Stadium.

Giorgio Tavecchio kicked four field goals, including the go-ahead 22-yarder with under five minutes left. Kevin Riley connected on 13-of-22 passes for 181 yards with a TD and a pair of interceptions for the Golden Bears (7-3, 4-3 Pac-10), who bounced back from a loss last week and won for the fourth time in five contests.

Best missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in a 31-14 setback to Oregon State last week, although he came out on the field wearing sweat pants and participated in the game's opening coin toss.

Nick Foles connected on 24-of-40 attempts for 210 yards with a TD and an interception for the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2), who had a three-game winning streak broken and damaged their hopes of making the Rose Bowl. Foles made a costly mistake in a late fourth-quarter drive that ultimately ended in a turnover on downs.

Foles passed eight yards to A.J. Simmons for a score with nearly 12 1/2 minutes remaining, lifting the Wildcats to a 16-15 edge.

Vereen then took over, rushing for the majority of the ensuing drive, which led to Tavecchio's field goal with 4:46 remaining.

Foles then led Arizona to the Cal 25, but facing a 3rd-and-3 his pass was tipped at the line and the ball came back to the QB. Instead of running for a possible first down, Foles threw the ball and completed it, but because two forward passes cannot occur on one play, Arizona was called for a five-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

That moved Arizona to a 4th-and-17 situation, and Foles' pass was broken up.

Arizona had just one timeout left when Vereen took the ensuing play 61 yards for a touchdown, but Cal botched the extra point, giving the Wildcats another chance.

Foles moved his team to the near midfield but was then sacked. After a short completion to Nic Grisby, Foles was brought down again on fourth down, ending Arizona's chances.