Fernando Mendoza looked like a Heisman candidate in the first half. Cam Ward just a pedestrian. The Canes trail halfway through 10/21. They need to find a way to get the vertical passing game going or it will be a long flight back to Miami.

Mendoza, a graduate of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, the same school Miami coach Mario Cristobal attended, tore apart Miami’s defense with the long ball. He led three touchdown drives in the first half. They all contain a major play.

Ward couldn’t get much going in the first half. Instead of looking like a Heisman candidate, he looked like a freshman making bad decisions. He threw the ball off his back foot, causing the ball to land along the sideline. His timing was off on most of his throws.

It didn’t help Ward’s cause when Isaiah Horton dropped a touchdown pass on a long ball. Horton had both hands on the ball and couldn’t figure out the reception.

The offensive line has already given up four sacks to a Cal defense that has been spectacular. Everything Shannon Dawson calls has been answered by Cal.

To say Miami needs to regroup at halftime is an understatement.

After halftime, the Bears get the ball first. Miami needs a stop.

Miami started the second quarter trailing 14-7.

On their first drive of the second quarter, the Canes drove as deep as the Cal 28 yard line. On 4th and 12, Miami elected to kick the field goal. Andy Borregales converted the 46-yard effort and Miami cut the lead to 14-10.

Miami needs to stop relying on Borregales’ field goals and find the end zone. Miami is constantly dropping points on the field.

The field goal would hurt a few plays later.

The Bears struck again when Mendoza threw a pass in the flat to Jaydn Ott and he raced 66 yards for a Cal touchdown with 8:00 to play in the half. The play was on 4th and 1 from Cal’s 34 yard line. Miami runs 21-10.

Miami had eight in the box to stop the run and Mendoza went up and found Ott who had nothing but green grass in front of him. He was wide open and no one was there to make a tackle before he reached the end zone.

Miami is missing Damari Brown and Darryl Porter Jr. really in the cornerback slots.