The play that will be remembered most for the next few days following Cal’s 23-21 victory over Arizona State on Saturday was an inconsequential incomplete pass by the Bears.

It happened after Cal quarterback Kevin Riley, who was outstanding at times on Saturday and perplexingly ineffective at others, had expertly guided a late drive that would ultimately lead to Giorgia Tavecchio’s game-winning 24-yard field goal with 24 seconds left.

Shane Vereen of Cal is a runner, not a passer -- Daily Cal file photo Skyler Reid

But two plays before that field goal, on a second-and-goal play from the 5-yard line with the clock running under 30 seconds, Jeff Tedford or offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig made a inexplicable call.   It was assumed the Bears would run a safe play on the ground, force Arizona State to use its final timeout and run the clock down to the final seconds and boot a field goal on the game’s final play.

Instead, Cal ran a play out of the wildcat formation with Shane Vereen taking the direct snap and starting straight toward the line.  To that point, it seemed reasonable play call.   Then Vereen stopped and attempted a pass. 

Now, this play might make sense if the Bears needed a touchdown to go ahead, although it would have been risky even then.  Remember, Vereen is a running back who had not thrown a single pass this season, and had attempted only one pass in his college career (an incompletion last season).   And here he is, shot-putting the ball up for grabs with a turnover apparently being the only thing that could beat Cal.   It became a virtual jump ball in the end zone between Cal tight end Anthony Miller and ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who was not fooled at all.  The ball was tipped into the air and bounced off the head of ASU cornerback Terell Carr before falling harmlessly to the ground, just out of Burfict’s reach.

Riley then took the third-down snap, moved a few yards to the right to center the ball before hitting the ground, and Tavecchi made his kick.

Tedford is an excellent offensive mind, and the play-calling of Ludwig had seemed on the money throughout Saturday’s game and in the late drive in particular.    But if Vereen had thrown an interception, that play would have been remembered a lot longer than just a few days.  It could have been Ludwig’s call, but Tedford had to sign off on it, and both might never have heard the end of it if it had resulted in a turnover, because it would have produced a heart-breaking loss that could have ruined Cal’s season.

Instead Cal won its third straight, became bowl eligible and improved to 3-2 in the Pac-10, leaving it in position to finish second in the conference with two big home games up next against Oregon State and Arizona.  A Rose Bowl is still theoretically possible for Cal.

But if Vereen had thrown an interception . . . well, it didn’t happen.