SF Chronicle: CAL NOTEBOOK

Hawkins' injury still an 'ankle sprain'

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal officials Saturday shed no more light on the injury incurred by wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins in Friday night's 41-13 win at New Mexico State.  Hawkins left the game in the fourth quarter, limping badly.  After the game, the injury was described as a sprained ankle.  A team spokesman said there would be no further word Saturday.  "We're still calling it an ankle sprain," the spokesman said.  Hawkins joins the list of Cal players sidelined or slowed by injuries this year. Eight of the players who started in the season-opening win over Sacramento State have lost time to injuries, and some are out for the long term, including quarterback Nate Longshore.  Hawkins, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, was to have X-rays and further tests. He had three catches for 51 yards against the Aggies, including a 33-yarder from quarterback Joe Ayoob on the play on which he was injured.  In other injury news, coach Jeff Tedford said after Friday's game that tailback Marcus O'Keith had been held out because of a "thigh contusion."  Starting tailback Marshawn Lynch did not play for the second week in a row, but he was ready on the sideline at Las Cruces, N.M. His broken finger was protected by padding and wrappings about the size of a soccer ball.  Tone-down time: Tedford said he had some words for DeSean Jackson after the true freshman celebrated with Robert Jordan following his 41-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.

"I told him don't do that again or he's not going to play anymore," Tedford said.  Jackson said he and Jordan had planned something in advance, excited about the national ESPN audience.  "There was a lot of energy," he said.  Because of the penalty, David Lonie had to kick off from Cal's 20-yard line. The ball, which would have gone deep into the end zone from the normal spot on the 35, was fielded and returned 94 yards for a touchdown by Chris Williams on a gadget play.

Defensive effort: Cal's defense gave up 342 yards, but kept the Aggies' offense out of the end zone.  Cal's special teams surrendered the Aggies' lone touchdown. The defense limited New Mexico State to two field goals.  Safety Thomas DeCoud, not normally a starter but on the field a lot Friday in the defensive set the Bears were using against the Aggies' spread offense, led the team in tackles with 10.  Linebacker Ryan Foltz had nine, and defensive end Phillip Mbakogu and linebackers Desmond Bishop and Anthony Felder each had seven.  Game-tape etiquette: Coaches whose teams are about to face each other normally exchange game tapes as an accepted courtesy in college football.  That wasn't the case with New Mexico State and Hal Mumme.  Tedford said it didn't present a problem.  "We had all their games on tape," he said. "They didn't give them to us, but we had them."