Fourth-quarter touchdowns by Doug Baldwin and Toby Gerhart brought Stanford back to within 37-16 with 9:14 left, but the Cardinal could close no further at the 111th Big Game.

The following is a regular blog posting of Stanford's football game at Cal in the 111th renewal of the Big Game.

Pregame:

The Big Game certainly lives up to its name for Stanford, which enters the 111th renewal of its rivalry with Cal needing to win to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2001.

Stanford has made great strides since the arrival of coach Jim Harbaugh last season, improving from 1-11 to 4-8, and now 5-6. The next step is earning something tangible to show for that improvement, and a bowl berth would be seen as the perfect reward.

The program has changed in more ways than the team's record, with a difference in style from a passing-dominated team to one that relies on the run. In fact, the Cardinal ground attack enters the game on the verge of unprecedented success:

Toby Gerhart has 1,033 rushing yards and needs only 51 to tie Tommy Vardell's 1991 record of 1,084.

As a team, Stanford has rushed for 2,272 yards this season, within range of the 1949 school single-season team record of 2,481.

It's nearly gametime, and the weather is sunny and clear with a temperature of 57 degrees.

Gametime:

Cal took the opening kickoff and broke loose on the game's second play from scrimmage. Jahvid Best, the former California high school sprint champion, took a backward pass from Kevin Riley on the left side. He was immediately hit in the backfield by safety Bo McNally, but broke the tackle and reversed his field, finding space down the right sideline. Cornerback Kris Evans tackled him after a 60-yard gain, at the 14-yard line.

However, the Bears managed two yards and Riley threw two incompletions, and settled for a 28-yard field goal by Giorgio Tavecchio with 13:04 left in the first quarter.

Score: Cal 3, Stanford 0

Stanford's first play resulted in a 17-yard completion from Tavita Pritchard to Doug Baldwin, but the possession got no farther.

Cal had little movement on its next series either, but Bryan Anger unleashed a 76-yard punt that rolled dead at the Stanford 1-yard line.

Having to climb out of a hole, the Cardinal did so when Toby Gerhart broke off right tackle for 22 yards on the next play. A few plays later, Pritchard zipped a nine-yard pass to Coby Fleener on third-and-five, and hit the tight end again on the next play - a medium-deep crossing route for 32 yards.

Facing third-and-six on the Cal 12, Pritchard rolled right, but found no one open and ran for four yards, setting up a 25-yard field goal try by Aaron Zagory, that missed wide right. It was Zagory's first miss of a try under 40 yards all year and thus ended a fruitless 91-yard drive.

Cal came right back, with Riley completing a pass to himself (after it was batted back by McNally) for six yards. A facemask penalty gave Cal a first down at the 50.

End of first quarter: Cal 3, Stanford 0

Cal converted a fourth-and-one on an end-around by Jeremy Ross for a yard, and received 15 more when Stanford was penalized when an assistant coach ran onto the field.

With the ball at the Stanford 24, Riley threw on the run for Cameron Morrah in the end zone, but McNally, with great position, caught the high pass in front of the receiver to end the threat.

Gerhart reeled off runs of nine and 20 yards on the ensuing series to eclipse Vardell's single-season school record, giving him 53 yards on seven carries.

A 12-yard pass to Baldwin on third down moved to ball to the Cal 11, but Stanford again failed to score. Gerhart was stripped by Tyson Alualu as he broke through the line and Cal's Anthony Felder recovered. It was Gerhart's first fumble on a carry since 2006.

The drive paid dividends as Riley found Shane Vereen out of the backfield on a fly pattern down the left sideline. Vereen beat McNally on the coverage, catching the pass in stride at the 17 and cruising into the end zone for a 59-yard scoring play with 4:10 left in the second quarter.

Score: Cal 10, Stanford 0 (in second quarter)

The Cardinal advanced into the red zone for the third time, never reaching third down as it moved the ball swiftly up the field mostly on short passes by Pritchard, including a 16-yarder to Austin Gunder to the 19. A defensive holding penalty advanced the ball to the Cal nine with 1:00 to go.

Pritchard faked to Gerhart and then tossed to slotback Anthony Kimble crossing behind the line to the 1. Gerhart was tripped by Alualu for no gain, setting up a third-and-goal from the 1 with 15 seconds left.

On the next play, Gerhart followed fullback Owen Marecic off right tackle, but was slowed in the backfield by Devin Bishop and stopped by several tacklers for a two-yard loss.

A 20-yard field goal try by Zagory at the right hashmark was good, with seven seconds left in the half.

Stanford first-half rushing totals: Gerhart 12-61, Kimble 6-22. Cal rushing: Best 8-87, Vereen 5-22. Stanford passing: Pritchard 11-14-0-141. Cal passing: Riley 4-8-1-75. Stanford receiving: Fleener 3-51, Baldwin 2-29, Gunder 2-22, Kimble 2-14. Cal receiving: Best 2-10, Vereen 1-59.

Halftime score: Cal 10, Stanford 3

The second half could not have begun more poorly for Stanford. On the first play, Pritchard threw across his body in desperate search for a receiver and floated a pass over Marecic and into the hands of linebacker Eddie Young, who returned the ball to the Stanford 28-yard line.

Cal advanced to the 1, where on third-and-goal, Riley rolled to his right and threw against the grain to uncovered Morrah in the end zone for a touchdown with 11:58 left in the third quarter.

Score: Cal 17, Stanford 3 (in third quarter)

Stanford failed to gain a first down, with Pritchard sacked on third down.

Cal struck with Best. Besides a series of runs that brought the Bears downfield, he scored on a hook-and-lateral from the 14-yard line. Riley looked right and threw left to Verran Tucker, who flipped the ball to Best as he swung around the play, carrying it in for the score with 9:55 left in the quarter.

Again, a three-and-out, with a sack. And, again, a Best touchdown. First, he handed the ball to Jeremy Ross on a double reverse for 41 yards. On the next play, he ran it in himself from three yards, with 7:52 left. Cal tried a fake on the PAT, but the pass fell incomplete.

Best has 12 carries for 135 yards and has exceeded 1,000 yards for the season.

Score: Cal 30, Stanford 3

Stanford finally earned its initial first downs of the half, but the drive ended at the Cal 28-yard line when Gerhart was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-one.

Riley was sacked by Sione Fua on Cal's next series for Stanford's first sack of the game and the Bears were forced to punt - a 75-yarder into the end zone. It was Anger's second 70-yard punt of the game.

Things were going so badly for Stanford that Pritchard's pass over the middle toward Baldwin was broken up by the umpire, smacking him directly in the head. Pritchard was sacked on the next play, for the Bears' third sack of the game.

End of third quarter: Cal 30, Stanford 3

Best. Again. He broke through the line and around the left side for a 40-yard touchdown run with 14:01 left in the game. The run gives him 15 carries for 189 yards, and Cal has accumulated 260 rushing yards on 28 carries.

Score: Cal 37, Stanford 3

Stanford finally answered Cal's 27-point scoring flurry by getting one back. The Cardinal moved 62 yards in six plays, with help from a 15-yard run by Gerhart.

The touchdown came on Pritchard's pass to Baldwin. With good protection, Pritchard scanned the field before finding Baldwin coming across the middle. The play covered 34 yards, with 11:51 left.

Score: Cal 37, Stanford 10

Zagory executed a perfect onsides kick that Cal didn't appear to be expecting. McNally caught the ball in the air to give Stanford possession.

Again, the Cardinal moved the ball downfield against a conservative Cal defense. Pritchard connected with Josh Catron for seven yards on fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive.

Backup Alex Loukas gave the ball to Gerhart on the option and he ran off the left side for a 10-yard touchdown with 9:14 left. It was Gerhart's 15th rushing touchdown of the season, making him No. 2 on the school single-season list.

Zagory missed the point-after.

Score: Cal 37, Stanford 16

Stanford appeared on the verge of cutting the deficit once again, with Pritchard hitting Ryan Whalen for 37 yards, and Fleener for 24 more. But Pritchard, this time, was intercepted by Michael Mohamed at the Cal 18.

After a Cal punt, Pritchard tossed another interception. Looking for Jim Dray, his pass was picked off by Marcus Ezeff at Stanford's own 18.

The game finished with Cal inside the Stanford 5, but chose to run out the clock, and The Axe was handed back to the Golden Bears.

Final stats:

Stanford rushing: Gerhart 19-103, Kimble 8-29. Totals 40-110. Cal rushing: Best 17-192, Vereen 12-56, Ross 2-43. Totals 35-274. Stanford passing: Pritchard 22-36-2-306. Cal passing: Riley 6-10-1-90. Stanford receiving: Whalen 5-70, Fleener 4-75, Baldwin 3-63, Kimble 3-32, Howell 2-23, Gunder 2-22, Gerhart 2-14. Cal receiving: Best 2-24, Vereen 1-59. Records: Stanford 5-7, 4-5; Cal 7-4, 5-3.

Final score: Cal 37, Stanford 16