Kline Leads SRV to Thrilling Win Over Cal

quarterback Zach Kline will remember Friday's 42-38 win against previously undefeated California for a long time.

It could go down as the game where Kline turned from a great prospect into a great quarterback.

The Cal-bound senior completed 19 of 23 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns and scored the game-winning touchdown with two minutes, 57 seconds left.

"Last year I was an immature gun-slinger," Kline said. "Now I'm more of a game manager."

A game manager with a rifle for a right arm and on Friday he threw more touchdown passes (5) than incompletions (4). It's no wonder he has the Cal-Berkeley fan base eagerly anticipating his arrival next year.

"Honestly, I think his best game is still to come," San Ramon coach Mark Kessler said.

If so, it's a scary thought. 

There wasn't much Kline didn't do for the Wolves against Cal, which has had one of the region's best defenses over the past two years.

His performance came on a night when the Wolves needed it most. When Cal had the ball, it moved the ball with similar ease — the teams combined for just two punts.

Cal's Kevin Farley hit Armani Washington for a 33-yard touchdown — his third touchdown of the game — midway through the fourth quarter to put the Grizzlies up 38-35.

On San Ramon's ensuing drive, the Wolves used a 9-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead for good. Kline was 4 of 4 on the drive for 57 yards and hit Michael Tagliaferri for a 15-yard gain to setup his 1-yard game-winning touchdown plunge. 

"He didn't miss at all tonight," Cal coach Eric Billeci said. "We ran every coverage we had, but he was just better than us."

As well as Kline played, he had help from future Syracuse lacrosse player Patrick Worstell. The 6-foot-1 receiver, who Kline called his best friend, caught seven passes for 179 yards and three scores. 

"He's not bad without a stick in his hand," Kessler said. 

The Grizzlies churned out a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 8-yard pass from Farley to Jerrell Dunn to go up 21-13 with 1:06 left in the first half. They were moving the ball at will and were set to receive the kickoff in the second half.

Then came the drive the likely saved the game for San Ramon. 

The Wolves needed six plays to go 67 yards and Kline hit Matt Turner for a 10-yard score to bring the Wolves to within two. He followed his touchdown pass with a scramble on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21.

"That's the drive that worried me," Billeci said. "We could have been up eight at the half (with the ball). But when you play defense like we did that's what happens."

Washington was an obvious bright spot for the Grizzlies, catching two touchdown passes for 91 yards and scored on a 10-yard run in the first quarter. He also had an 88-yard touchdown run called back because of holding on the only drive the Grizzlies punted.

"I thought we could do pretty much whatever we wanted on offense," Billeci said. "Running the ball, throwing it, play action."

Farley completed 8 of 16 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Neither quarterback threw an interception.

Jordan Weiss quietly ran for 108 yards on 12 carries for the Wolves, who also got a solid game from Turner, who caught five passes for 75 yards.

Dunn ran for 102 yards on 17 carries for the Grizzlies.

———————————————

Follow Kyle Bonagura on Twitter