We're looking at some of the top individual performances in the Pac-12 in 2013.
Up next: Haul-it-in Harper
Who and against whom: Despite a 44-22 loss to Washington State, California receiver Chris Harper put on one of the top receiving performances in the Pac-12 in 2013.
The numbers: Harper snagged 14 balls for 231 yards and a touchdown.
A closer look: Granted, it wasn’t that great of a season for Cal. In fact, it was a rough year all around. But that shouldn’t overshadow some great individual performances. And Harper’s performance against Washington State certainly qualifies. His lone touchdown reception went for 89 yards, which was the second-longest touchdown reception in school history (Zach Maynard and Keenan Allen hooked up for a 90-yarder in 2011) and the longest in the Pac-12 in 2013. Harper became the fifth player in Cal history to bank a 200-yard receiving game, and his 14 catches and 231 yards were personal bests. Both the yards and receptions rank third in single-game Cal history. The Cougars led wire-to-wire and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Cal battled back and Harper’s 89-yard score brought the Bears to within 14-12. Harper beat the defender down the sideline, tiptoed to stay in bounds, then juked another WSU player on his way to the end zone. The 14 catches matched the season high in the Pac-12 in 2013 (Brandin Cooks also had 14 against San Diego State) and his 231 receiving yards were the second highest in the conference last season (Cooks had 232 yards, ironically against Cal). Harper's day will rank as one of the best receiving performances in Cal history, and he provided plenty of highlights in a season that didn’t have many.
