This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The rain is finally coming down hard here at California Memorial Stadium, some two hours after BYU defeated Cal 42-35 in a wild shootout that was decided by, what else, a last-minute defensive stand.

Forecasts called for rain and plenty of points, and the latter guesses were the most correct. The teams combined for more than 1,100 yards of offense, with BYU getting 540 and Cal getting 566. But it was those last 14 the Bears couldn't manage against BYU's injury riddled secondary that most people will remember.

The Cougars are feeling good about their offensive performance, and rightfully so, but it did come against what will go down as the statistically worst defense in FBS history. Really — Cal's defense gave up more passing touchdowns, 42, and more passing yards, 4,406, than any defense in FBS history this season.

"It was a heckuva football game," said Cal coach Sonny Dykes. "Unfortunately we came out on the wrong end of it. I thought, from a fan's perspective, it was a fun game to watch and certainly indicative of the games we've had this year. It seems like there were a lot of ballgames that really came down to the last possession of the game. We won some and we lost some."

Before BYU's game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, culminating with Christian Stewart's 38-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Leslie, I'm sure most BYU fans were lamenting the play, and the play call, that probably cost the Cougars a TD in the third quarter.

With the ball on the Cal 1, and first down, BYU tried a zone option read play. Stewart kept the ball, then tried to throw it backwards to Paul Lasike. He couldn't catch it, then watched it roll on the turf for a few seconds. Cal's Stefan McClure scooped it up and returned it 22 yards to the Cal 33.

Most criticism has been directed toward offensive coordinator Robert Anae's play-calling, but Stewart said it was his fault for not handing the ball off to Algie Brown.

"I should have just handed it [off, but] because it was a low snap I pulled it, just because they had been biting. There were two guys on me, and I just went to flip it out to Paul and it was just a bad, bad throw. Not much you can do."

Mendenhall didn't question the play call in his post game press conference, instead praising the offense's resiliency for answering back the next time it got the ball.

"We knew that this game was going to be one where we would have to keep answering. So they would answer, and we would answer. When you are able to sustain drives and move the ball the length of times that it seemed like we did, especially on the drive that was coming out from the 1 or 2 yard line, those things are hard to do," Mendenhall said. "It had to happen for us to win, and to our coaches and players credit, they executed well enough for it to happen."

Asked what he saw on the botched play, Mendenhall said:

"It is one of those dreams where everything is in slow motion and you watch it happen, and no matter what you are trying to do, it doesn't make any difference. You are watching other people move in fast forward, and you can't move at all. It seemed like that. That play seemed to take 20 minutes."

Here are more of Mendenhall's post game comments:

Opening statement:

"Man, great college football game today. Those that had a chance to witness that, as a last game in November, that is what it is supposed to look like, two teams trying as hard as they can try, and fighting as hard as they can fight.

We made one more play. I am proud of our coaches, I am proud of our team. So happy for the resiliency that they have shown and the perseverance. Glad to see them rewarded for their efforts, and I couldn't be happier right now for our team.

I really thought Christian Stewart did a phenomenal job today as our quarterback. We thought the game today might be a one possession game and that's just about what it turned out to be. So all kinds of good plays all over the field on both sides. A great game.

I credit coach Dykes and the progress he's made with his team, from last year to this year, especially with the offensive firepower and execution they have. They are to be credited for that."

On stopping Cal's last drive:

"Just man, Cal in the critical moments up until that point, their receivers had made critical catches to keep drives alive on third and sometimes fourth down.

At the end of the day, our guys in the secondary made plays. We dropped eight four straight times, one of the core things we practice the very most. We got just enough pressure and the secondary held and made critical plays at the right time and that's I will remember."

On the significance to his program of the win:

"I don't even know if it is in relation to the Pac-12. I think it is just a really resilient, tough football team that faced a lot of adversity and came out the other side and started the year with nice wins against really good opponents, and now finishing the season against a motivated team, that had a lot to play for and at home, and a really good offense.

I think for our team, we played BYU football. That's eight wins, hard-fought wins and deserving wins, authentic and honest wins, and it is as gratifying as any win that I have ever been a part of as a player or a coach."

On Michael Davis' play:

"He grew up tonight. We have needed that to happen."

On Jordan Leslie's catches:

"It was nice to see Jordan become more healthy than he's been for a long time. We have seen him have kind of a slight limp out there. He looked fast tonight. He looked closer to full speed. He's really dangerous when he's close to full speed.

The other player that I thought really emerged today was Devon Blackmon. He has labored and learned about BYU football, and the standards, and what maturity is and emerge and make some critical plays at the right time tonight."

More later from Berkeley. The rain has stopped. Time to head for the car.