BIG-PLAY DEFENSE CONTROLS THE GAME IN PAC-10 MATCHUP
This one was about muscle. Cal Coach Jeff Tedford, aware of Arizona's inability to stop the run, turned the game over to his offensive line and his defense Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The result was a dominating 28-0 victory over Arizona, a team that appeared to be making strides. That progress came to a screeching halt against the Bears (5-0 overall, 2-0 Pacific-10). And unlike some of its previous games, Cal had control from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. ``Great defense,'' Tedford said. ``We've played 10 quarters without allowing an offensive touchdown. Our defense is doing a phenomenal job. Our guys were flying around making plays. They really stepped up.'' Cal, which shut out Arizona (1-3, 0-1) for the second consecutive season, allowed just 37 yards rushing. ``We didn't play well offensively, we didn't coach well and we didn't execute anything,'' said Arizona Coach Mike Stoops. ``The inability to run the football really hurt us. We're not a one-dimensional team, so we can't play that way.''
Cal, which rolled up 194 yards rushing and scored a touchdown in each quarter, had no such problem. Tailback Marshawn Lynch, who missed the previous two games because of a broken bone in his left hand, gained 107 yards and scored on a 1-yard dive in the first quarter. Lynch did lose a fumble in the second quarter when he took a shot on his left hand, but other than that he was solid. ``It was pretty cool and maybe a blessing that I had the injury,'' Lynch said. ``It let me know how much I need my other hand.'' Lynch, who carried the ball 20 times, said he used his left hand to secure the ball just one time. He had the ball in his right hand on the fumble, but took a hit on his left hand. ``The vibration of it made me lose the ball,'' he said. On the sideline, Lynch looked to be in great pain. ``It was just temporary,'' said Lynch, who only missed a series. ``I got a little rattled and then it calmed down.'' Cal backup tailback Justin Forsett added 74 rushing yards.
Aesthetically, the game was lacking a bit for the announced crowd of 55,944 because the Bears failed to get much going with their passing game. Cal's Joe Ayoob (14 of 20 passing for 137 yards with two touchdowns and one interception) was sacked five times. More disturbing for Tedford was that Ayoob failed to connect with receivers who had worked their way open deep. ``We are still a work in progress,'' Tedford said. ``We had open receivers that we need to hit. We need to be more consistent that way. I thought Joe threw the underneath stuff accurately, but if you are going to compete for a conference championship, you have to make more plays with the passing game.'' Ayoob did hit one huge pass in the third quarter. Pressured after rolling to his right, Ayoob reversed direction, picking up a block from tackle Scott Smith. Downfield, wide receiver Robert Jordan took off for the end zone, finding an open spot and collecting a 39-yard heave that put Cal up 21-0. ``I made eye contact with Joe and he gave me a nod,'' Jordan said. ``Once I saw that, I headed straight for the end zone.'' However, most of the big plays by Cal came on defense. Cornerback Daymeion Hughes had two interceptions and five tackles and cornerback Tim Mixon added an interception along with breaking up three passes. Arizona never had much wind in its offensive sails. Wildcats quarterback Richard Kovalcheck completed 19 of 36 passes for 169 yards, but he looked lost most of the day as Cal sent waves of defenders at him. The Bears had just one sack (by defensive end Nu'u Tafisi) but they sent the tone early as Cal defensive tackle Brandon Mebane crushed Kovalcheck just as he was throwing on Arizona's opening series. Cal's pressure led to Kovalcheck's three interceptions.
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