By Jay Heater
BERKELEY -- Cal coach Jeff Tedford and Washington State coach Bill Doba went into Saturday's key Pac-10 showdown at Memorial Stadium looking for big second-half plays. But Tedford probably didn't expect that the guy who was going to step up the most was his freshman walk-on wide receiver LaReylle Cunningham. Pressed into service because Cal's wide receivers corps had been wiped out by injury, Cunningham made two huge catches in the Bears' 42-38 victory over Washington State, which continued to wilt late in game. It appeared that Cal (6-2 overall, 3-2 Pac-10) was going to be the team that would wilt in the second half. The Cougars (3-4, 0-4) wiped out Cal's 28-10 halftime lead to secure a 38-28 lead going into the fourth quarter. That's when Cunningham, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Fairfield, caught a 57-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Joe Ayoob to cut the lead to 38-35. Cal stopped Washington State's defense on three plays on the next series and forced a punt, taking over at the Cougars' 45-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Cunningham caught a 22-yard pass that set the Bears up at WSU's 20. Three plays later, Ayoob threw a strike to wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who had worked his way free in the back of the end zone. With 1:50 remaining, Cal led 42-38. The crowd of 52,569 erupted, riding the high side of a roller coaster ride full of tremendous individual performances. It had been only moments before that it seemed Cal's season was toast. Washington State wide receiver Jason Hill had done the burning, catching five passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He took control of a game that Cal had firmly in its grasp at halftime.
Hill caught three long touchdown passes in the third quarter, wiping out the Bears' 28-10 lead in shocking fashion. Hill simply ran past whomever Cal assigned to guard him, scoring on 38-, 62- and 38-yard receptions from quarterback Alex Brink. His third touchdown catch of the third quarter came after Bears' cornerback Tim Mixon tipped the ball, which floated right to Hill. Hill tipped the ball up a bit himself, then secured it and jogged into the end zone. His third touchdown catch gave the Cougars a 32-28 lead and the crowd fell silent. It appeared turnovers would once again haunt Cal, which lost the ball twice deep in Cougars' territory on an interception by Ayoob and a fumble by fullback Chris Manderino. Ayoob's second interception of the game, this one in the fourth quarter, fueled another Cougars' scoring drive that culminated with wide receiver Chris Jordan's diving touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. Washington State couldn't convert the extra point but still led 38-28 with 9:52 remaining. That's when Cunningham took over.
The heroics of Cunningham and Hill made people forget about the first half, when it appeared the Bears did enough to win the game. The biggest play in the second quarter came with the Cougars buried deep in their own territory and Brink back to pass. It was only natural that he was looking for his favorite wide receiver, Hill. However, on this particular play, Bears linebacker Greg Van Hoesen was ready. Once Brink let go of his ill-fated pass, all 52,569 in attendance could see what was about to happen. Van Hoesen, his eyes locked on Brink as he threw, cut in front of Hill, intercepted the ball and ran 16 yards for the touchdown. Even though it was just one scoring play in the Bears' 42-38 victory over Washington State, it appeared to be the dagger in the heart that Cal needed. Obviously shaken, Brink threw another interception on the next series, this one being returned 38 yards to the Cougars' 3-yard line by cornerback Tim Mixon. Two plays later, Manderino caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ayoob and Cal had complete control with a 28-10 lead. Brink had a terrible first half, finishing 4-of-17 for 178 yards and the two interceptions. Cal had a golden opportunity to retake control of the game late in the third quarter when WSU's Don Turner muffed a punt about his 15-yard line. However, Cal linebacker Justin Moye landed right on the ball, and it squirted away from him and out-of-bounds before the Bears could regain control.
Both teams ripped off huge chunks of yardage in the first quarter to set up scoring drives. Washington State scored first on a 66-yard touchdown reception by Brandon Gibson, who beat Mixon on a sideline-and-up play down the right sideline. Brink hit Gibson in stride at the 30-yard line and he then pulled away from Mixon as he raced to the end zone. Cal countered on the ensuing series with a 39-yard touchdown draw play by Marshawn Lynch, who ran through a gaping hole over right tackle, cut to the outside and ran untouched down the right sideline to the end zone. The score was tied 7-7 at the 6:19 mark of the opening quarter. It looked as if Cal, which was driving again, would increase its lead when WSU free safety Husain Abdullah intercepted an Ayoob pass that had been tipped by strong safety Eric Frampton. The Cougars took over at their 14-yard line but got out of the hole immediately when Brink connected with Hill on a 80-yard pass reception to Cal's 6. Hill beat Daymeion Hughes from the line of scrimmage, took the pass from Brink in stride about 20 yards downfield and then ran untouched until the Bears ran him down at the 6. Cal's defense stiffened, though, stopping Harrison for a yard gain on first down before forcing consecutive incompletions. WSU place-kicker Loren Langley hit a 22-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 10-7 lead. The Golden Bears answered on the ensuing series to take a 14-10 lead. Bears tailback Justin Forsett ran 34 yards to the Cougars' 31-yard line to set up Ayoob's 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Gray. Cal could have extended its lead early in the second quarter, but place-kicker Tom Schneider pushed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide right. Then Brink imploded in the second quarter to set up Cal with the cozy lead going into halftime.
Notes: Bears junior defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who sprained his ankle against Oregon State last Saturday, didn't start, but he quickly was inserted into the game in the opening quarter. He saw considerable action. ... Cal offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (concussion) and wide receivers Robert Jordan (collar bone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder) didn't play.
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