Contra Costa Times: Cal is riding high after momentum-changing win

By Jay Heater

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

BERKELEY - As the final seconds ticked away in Cal's 42-38 victory over Washington State on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium, the emotion poured out of Bears' coach Jeff Tedford as if his team had just won a bowl game. In many ways for Tedford, the comeback victory was even better than a bowl win. "The momentum was on a huge slide going the other way," Tedford said of Washington State's 28 unanswered points that gave the Cougars a 38-28 lead early in the fourth quarter. "It would have been very easy for a team without character to fold it in. You don't get that with these guys." Tedford said all week before the Washington State game that his team, now 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Pac-10 play, had to stick together and support each other to get through some tough times. The Bears had lost two consecutive close games and had suffered an inordinate amount of injuries to key players. They went against the Cougars without their top two wide receivers, who were both injured the Saturday before against Oregon State, without all-conference offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (concussion) and without much hope of challenging for a conference title. Complicating matters were that the Bears' vaunted running game dried up against Oregon State and Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob was being harassed by the team's own fans. Scoring two touchdowns late to beat Washington State was all about character. "That was probably our biggest comeback win since I've been here," Tedford said.

Some very good things happened to Cal on Saturday night:

• Ayoob, after throwing his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter to set up a Washington State touchdown drive, led the Bears on two late scoring drives and went 4-for-4 in the process with two touchdown passes.

• The running game woke up, with Marshawn Lynch rushing for 160 yards and Justin Forsett running for 111. Cal rushed for 274 yards as a team.

• Cal suffered just one injury, a concussion to free safety Harrison Smith. With a bye this weekend, Smith will have plenty of time to heal, and he should return in two weeks along with O'Callaghan and wide receivers Robert Jordan (collarbone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder).

• The Bears are now bowl eligible with their sixth victory, and each additional win in their final three games will help them climb the bowl ladder.

• When Washington State, which led by 10 points, attempted a fake punt in the fourth quarter, Cal's beleaguered special teams made the stop, turning the ball over to the offense. Cal backup wide receiver LaReylle Cunningham caught a 57-yard touchdown pass two plays later.

Tedford was proud of the way Ayoob (19-of-35 for 274 yards and four touchdowns) bounced back after an ugly effort against Oregon State. "Joe threw the ball with authority," Tedford said. "It was great to see. His throws in the fourth quarter were on a line. They were lasers."

Ayoob also bought himself time in the second quarter before dumping off a 4-yard touchdown pass to fullback Chris Manderino, who appeared to be covered on the play. "I held my breath on that one," Tedford said. "That could have gone either way." Cal could have gone either way in the fourth quarter. "This game gives us reason to believe," Tedford said. "It re-emphasizes the power of staying together and working hard in practice." Cal cornerback Tim Mixon said it was a game of perseverance. "You could tell we wanted to win," he said. "Everyone found a third gear in the fourth quarter."