SF Chronicle: RUNNING WILD

Young Bears are unbeaten, but still less than perfect

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Las Cruces, N.M. -- The young team with growing pains just keeps on winning, but not without a few bumps along the way.  The No. 13 Bears beat New Mexico State 41-13 Friday night before a national cable television audience. But this young team still has much to prove.  "Each game we learn new things," coach Jeff Tedford said. "By no means did we come close to our potential tonight."  Tedford's displeasure stopped short of the running game, with backup tailback Justin Forsett running for 235 yards -- fourth best in school history.  The schedule begins to get tougher, with Cal returning to Pac-10 play next Saturday against Arizona at Memorial Stadium and then facing a much-improved UCLA team Oct. 8 in Los Angeles.

This was the Bears' fourth straight win of the season, all coming by a comfortable double-digit margin against teams that have combined for just three wins going into the weekend.  "Our effort out there tonight probably won't get it done against a lot of teams," quarterback Joe Ayoob said.  The Bears raised issues of consistency on both offense and defense. Plus, they've shown an occasional lack of poise in committing untimely penalties. They have shown the growing pains of a team that lost five starters on offense and eight on defense from last year's team and already has had five starters lose time to injury this year.  Tedford said he was disappointed in "let downs" on special teams.

And as for defense, he said "They bent quite a bit but didn't let them in the end zone much."  The Bears also are seeing young players showing much promise.  Forsett continued to lead the ground game in the absence of Marshawn Lynch, who has missed the last two games after breaking the little finger on his left hand.  Forsett said he benefited from downfield blocking from the team's wide receivers, plus the usual dominating work of Cal's offensive line.  "Some of the holes were so big O.C. could have gone through there," he said, referring to tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, who is listed at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds.  And this game marked the arrival of true freshman receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught nine passes for 130 yards.  "I think I'm a playmaker and the last three games weren't my time to make plays," Jackson said.  And Ayoob was solid, going 17-for-26 with 284 yards and one touchdown pass.  "I definitely feel more and more comfortable," he said.

Cal put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Ayoob ran in from the 7-yard line. The score was set up by Ayoob's 33-yard pass to Lavelle Hawkins, who apparently sprained his ankle on the play. He was to undergo further tests.

Terrell Williams completed the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown plunge late in the fourth.  Cal led 27-10 at the half. The offense showed signs of beginning to come together, while the defense was off to a shaky start -- although it kept New Mexico State out of the end zone in the second quarter.  As was the case last week in the win over Illinois, penalties were costly, including a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for Robert Jordan and Jackson for celebrating a touchdown catch by Jackson, a 15-yard penalty on a late hit by linebacker Anthony Felder and a false start on the offensive line on Cal's last drive of the first half -- slowing a drive that ended in a missed field goal.

There were encouraging signs on offense.

After just one half, Forsett had already run for 153 yards and one touchdown. And Ayoob had already completed 11 passes in 17 attempts for 175 yards and one touchdown.  The Bears scored on their first possession of the game, with Forsett going in from the 1 - capping a drive highlighted by Chris Manderino's 54-yard pass from Joe Ayoob. The Aggies blocked the point after.  Then, the Aggies responded by moving the ball down the field with ease -- Cal still appearing puzzled by the spread offense similar to the scheme used by Texas Tech in beating the Bears in last year's Holiday Bowl.  The Bears tightened in the red zone, holding the Aggies to a 28-yard field goal. And with the ball back, Cal scored again, covering 80 yards in 36 seconds, with Forsett running for 39 and Ayoob connecting with Jackson on a 41-yard touchdown pass.  Cal was penalized 15 yards on the kickoff for the end zone celebration. David Lonie still managed to get the ball to the Aggies' 7, but Chris Williams was able to break to the outside for a 94-yard touchdown return, with Cal's lead narrowed to 13-10.