SF Chronicle: Backup QB loyal to Ayoob

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal may have uncertainty at quarterback, but there's no question about backup Steve Levy's loyalty to starter Joe Ayoob.  "I'm always behind Joe," Levy said. "It just didn't go his way."  Coach Jeff Tedford says he'll be re-evaluating the quarterback position as the Bears enter Big Game week.  Ayoob is coming off his second straight sub-100-yard passing game, with a total of seven interceptions in those two losses.  Not all the interceptions Saturday were Ayoob's fault. The first resulted from a miscommunication between Ayoob and receiver DeSean Jackson. The second was the result of a tipped ball by receiver Lavelle Hawkins. And the third came on a desperation throw as time ran out in the first half.

Ayoob was relieved by Levy midway through the fourth quarter. Levy went 4-for-4 for 34 yards, with no interceptions and no touchdowns.  Tedford said he would evaluate the quarterback play, stopping short of saying Ayoob would continue as the starter against Stanford.  Nate Longshore, who began the season as the starter and was lost in the season-opener with a severe ankle injury, including a broken fibula, was in uniform and on the sidelines Saturday although he has not returned to regular drills at practice.  More injuries: Defensive end Tosh Lupoi, who missed last season with a broken foot, fractured the foot again Saturday and is out for the year.  Defensive tackle Matthew Malele left the game with a knee injury.  And the offensive line, already without Andrew Cameron, had two more players injured. Guard Erik Robertson left the game with an ankle injury and tackle Scott Smith hurt his knee. Both returned and played briefly. "At the time, they seemed like pretty severe injuries," Tedford said.  While Lupoi's season is over, Tedford had no specific word on the other injured players, pending further tests.  Bears on D: While Tedford was concerned about his sputtering offense, he had nothing but praise for his defenders.  Linebacker Desmond Bishop led the team with 12 tackles, cornerback Daymeion Hughes had 10 and safety Harrison Smith nine.  Smith also had an interception that he returned 32 yards.

Defense in the shadows: With USC's offense routinely earning the highest praises, Trojan defenders are not often given their due.  "We're playing better D than other teams in the conference," coach Pete Carroll said after the Trojans limited Cal to just 10 points -- well below the Bears' average of 35.9.  

Briefly: Cal's only sellout of the season, a crowd count of 72,891, bumped its season average to 60,377, second only to last year's 64,019. Next year's home schedule has two nonconference games, Minnesota and Louisiana Tech, but only one team with a losing record this year, Washington. ... USC's two games against the Bay Area schools finished with an aggregate score of 86-31, with the Trojans winning the cumulative turnover battle 11-1. For the year, USC is plus-27. ... This was Cal's most lopsided loss since the 2001 USC game, which ended 55-14.