Contra Costa Times

Bears are still in a rush despite their injury woes

Cal notebook

BERKELEY -- Think Jeff Tedford's offense might be attractive to high school running backs trying to decide upon a college? For the 15th consecutive game, the Bears had a 100-yard plus rusher on Saturday. That was despite the fact Cal was missing sophomore sensation Marshawn Lynch and two of its starting offensive linemen. Sophomore Justin Forsett gained 187 yards and averaged 11.7 yards per carry. Junior Marcus O'Keith added 66 yards rushing. Cal's rushing offense, which led the Pac-10 the past two season and is ranked No. 1 again this season, accounted for 294 yards. Forsett said he didn't notice any dropoff with the starting linemen out. "It wasn't different at all," he said. "But those guys worked hard all week long." So did Forsett, who said he wasn't "picking up his feet" in Cal's first two games. "I was definitely more relaxed out there," he said. "I practiced the things that I needed to work on." Cal had 272 yards rushing in the second half. "We didn't get going the way we wanted," Forsett said. "But I think we were better conditioned."

Bearly visible

Although Cal won 35-20, Tedford was not pleased with his team's overall play. He wasn't happy with the Bears' seven penalties, including the offsides called on Byron Storer on an Illinois punt that eventually fueled the Illini's opening touchdown drive in the first quarter. He also said the passing game stalled due to miscommunications. "We didn't play near our potential," Tedford said. "We weren't real sharp. But winning is not easy. We kept our composure and our poise and played together for four quarters. We didn't get down. We have belief and trust in each other." Tedford said he trusts that linebacker Desmond Bishop, who led the Bears with 11 tackles, will have even bigger games in the future. "Desmond had 11 tackles and he probably could have had 20," Tedford said. "We need him to wrap up better." Bishop agreed with his coach. "That's my bad," he said. "I will take it as a lesson."

Mixon's return

Cal junior Tim Mixon split two potential tacklers, ran directly up the field and then cut toward his right to the sideline during his 79-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The only problem was one remaining Illinois defender who appeared to be ready to stop Mixon's attempt at his first return for a touchdown. But before Mixon could break stride, a teammate flashed in front of him. "I saw this guy in a Cal uniform come out of nowhere," Mixon said. "It was my roommate." O'Keith wiped out the final defender, clearing the way for Mixon's touchdown. "I wanted to set an example," O'Keith said. "And Tim gave me a hard time last year about missing a block."

Injury update

Tedford said Lynch, who broke a bone just above his pinky, was moving his left hand a lot better on Saturday and he thought he might return by Cal's next game on Friday at New Mexico State. "We'll take it day-by-day," Tedford said. ... Center Marvin Philip, who played on a sprained ankle and knee after having not practiced all week, said he was feeling much better and he expected to practice this week. ... Starting left tackle Andrew Cameron and starting right guard Aaron Merz both missed the game due to concussions suffered against Washington. "Andrew practiced a couple of days this week," Tedford said. "But then he said he felt kind of fuzzy." Both are listed as day-to-day. ... Sophomore defensive tackle Matt Malele has been bothered by a thigh injury so Abu Ma'afala (three tackles) got most of the snaps at the position against Illinois.

End run

Tedford used place-kicker Tom Schneider over David Lonie for two kickoffs in the fourth quarter. "We weren't getting depth on our kicks," Tedford said. "They were fielding the ball at the 10-yard line and you can't have that." ... Cal has outscored its opponents 87-10 in the second half this season.