SF Chronicle: Ayoob regroups, salvages play

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Quarterback Joe Ayoob made the most of a miscue early in the fourth quarter, managing to salvage the play for a 21-yard gain.  Ayoob bobbled the snap, dropping the ball to the ground, on a play-action pass play designed to go to wide receiver DeSean Jackson.  Ayoob picked up the ball, gathered himself, and was able to connect with Jackson, who was crossing to the left.  "I knew the fumble might work as well as the play-action," Ayoob said.  In fact, it had the same affect, delaying and confusing defenders.  "I threw a shoe box over there," Ayoob said, further describing the wobbling pass as "having four corners."

"That's not the way you draw it on the board," coach Jeff Tedford said.  Lynch update: Tailback Marshawn Lynch, who broke his left little finger last week at Washington, did not play and was not in uniform -- his left hand in a cast.  Tedford said he didn't know yet if Lynch would be able to play in Friday night's game at New Mexico State.  "We don't want to put him in a position where he wouldn't be safe," Tedford said.  He did note that Lynch appeared to have improved movement in the hand Saturday.  Mixon gets help: Tim Mixon put the game away with a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

He was helped by a key block that cleared the final path into the end zone.  "I saw this Cal uniform come out of nowhere," Mixon said. "It was special because it was my roommate."  That would be Marcus O'Keith, third on the depth chart at tailback but maintaining all along that he relished his role on special teams.  O'Keith said he had an added bit of incentive.  "He gave me a hard time last year when I missed a block for him," he said.

Briefly: Attendance was announced at 57,653. ... Tedford was growing impatient with Ayoob on two delay-of-game penalties -- going onto the field to make his feelings known in both cases. ... Cal's offensive line may have included two first-time starters, but tailback Justin Forsett said there was no drop-off in play. "I rarely got touched going through the line of scrimmage," he said.