'Game plan' blamed for 2nd loss in a row
Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Senior rover Donnie McCleskey was the picture of quiet confidence, saying Cal's football team would be just fine. That was in contrast to his demeanor shortly after the Bears' first home loss in two years when he asked the coaches to leave the locker room so he could address the team in private. "He was kind of angry," freshman wide receiver DeSean Jackson said. "He doesn't want to go out a loser." Oregon State beat Cal 23-20 Saturday at Memorial Stadium. It was the second loss in a row for the Bears, who had won their first five games with relative ease. "They played more physical than we did," said coach Jeff Tedford, who went on to blame himself for "a poor game plan." Oregon State coach Mike Riley offered an equally simple bottom line analysis. "The game hinged on two things -- them running and us running," he said. "We did better today." Cal came into the game with the Pac-10's No. 2-ranked running attack, averaging 271.2 yards a game. The Bears managed just 75 against the Beavers -- the first time in 19 games the team hasn't had a 100-yard rusher. Oregon State, meanwhile, came in ranked No. 9 in rushing, averaging 92 yards a game -- a team know for relying on the passing game. Instead, tailback Yvenson Bernard had the best day of his career, running for 194 yards and scoring both of his team's touchdowns. "They had two weeks to prepare," said McCleskey, taking note of Oregon State's bye last week. "So you expect the unexpected." What perhaps was most unexpected was Cal's failures on the ground along with Oregon State's strength on defense. "They were real solid up front," said tailback Marshawn Lynch, who gained 58 yards -- all in the first half. Backup Justin Forsett, with just 18 yards and like Lynch well off his average, said Oregon State defenders were "playing downhill." "They came hard," he said. Cal's offense didn't help itself with five turnovers -- two on interceptions thrown by junior quarterback Joe Ayoob and three on fumbles. The Bears often started with poor field position -- two fourth quarter drives began at their own 1-yard line -- and again hurt themselves with penalties, five for 65 yards. "It just seemed like it was one of those awkward games," Jackson said. The Bears also were missing some parts along the offensive line -- senior right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan was out most of the game with a concussion, and junior left tackle Andrew Cameron was already out for the year with a torn ACL. Not only were the holes apparent in the running game, but Ayoob was sacked twice and often hurried under pressure. "I'm the quarterback -- you are going to get hit," said Ayoob, who was 13 for 39 for 219 yards and one touchdown. "Everyone on our offensive line played well, but obviously we did miss O'Callaghan." The day could have been much sweeter for Ayoob, who played a key role in all three of Cal's touchdowns. He caught a 21-yard pass from Lynch on the Bears' first score and threw a six-yard strike to Jackson on the second score -- both in the first half -- and ran in from the 4-yard line on the last touchdown in the third quarter.
The Beavers went ahead early, leading 6-0 at the end of the first quarter after two Alexis Serna field goals -- the first set up by a 51-yard punt return by Lamar Herron. Cal (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10) led 14-9 at the half, but Oregon State (4-2, 2-1) took over after intermission -- largely on the strength of a run game that yielded 103 yards in the third quarter. "We're a smashmouth football team that has dominated in the second half," junior linebacker Mickey Pimentel said. "But sometimes you're going to lose a fight. It's how you get up and respond." Senior center Marvin Philip was the picture of grim determination after the game -- Cal's first loss at home since falling to Oregon State 35-21 on Oct. 4, 2003. "Leadership has to surface," he said, adding there would be more player-only meetings this week. "Our backs are against the wall. ... This isn't like us, to lose two games straight, close games. It sucks." "We'll be alright," McCleskey said. "We'll fix our mistakes and step up at practice this week." Cal hosts Washington State next Saturday and have a bye before playing at Oregon. "We just need to stay together as a team," Tedford said. "We need to understand that attention to details makes you win or makes you not win."
5-0
Two weeks ago, those numbers represented Cal's record. On Saturday, they stood for the turnover differential -- five for Cal, zero for Oregon State.
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