“Defensive struggle” and “Oregon football” are phrases that are rarely featured in the same sentence. Yet that was what the top-ranked Ducks found themselves locked in when they put their 9–0 record on the line at Cal in 2010.
The gutsy Golden Bears outperformed their mediocre 5–4 record in holding high-flying Oregon to just 317 yards of offense, more than 200 yards below their season average. Even though they only had 193 yards of offense of their own, Cal had a chance to take a 16–15 lead early in the fourth quarter when Giorgio Tavecchio trotted out for a 29-yard field goal attempt.
Alas, the left-footed Tavecchio hooked his kick wide right. The Bears would only get the ball one more time, resulting in a punt. Oregon milked the final 9:25 on an 18-play drive to seal the 15-13 win, and Cal missed a golden upset opportunity.
Tavecchio, who graduated this past spring with a degree in political economy and now works for Waypoint Real Estate Group across the bay in San Francisco, will tune in on Saturday to see if his Golden Bears can deal another undefeated, visiting Oregon team a scare – perhaps even an upset. Giorgio Tavecchio profile
