SF Chronicle: Tedford keeps his promise to Ayoob

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Even though coach Jeff Tedford said that both his quarterbacks would play in the Big Game, Joe Ayoob's turn didn't come until the end of the fourth quarter.  Ayoob, who took over the starter's job when Nate Longshore went down with an ankle injury in the season opener and lost it Thursday when Tedford named Steve Levy the starter, was gracious after the game -- saying he would have liked to play more  But, he quickly added, "I'm a team player. I'm not upset about anything. I'm happy for Steve, I'm happy for the seniors and I'm happy for the team for keeping the Axe."  Levy said Ayoob supported him throughout the game, talking to him between series and passing on information he was getting from the coaches in his headphones.  Tedford said he planned on relieving Levy if he had trouble running the offense. But that moment never came.  "As long as he was handling the huddle OK he was going to stay in," Tedford said.  No insult intended: Late in the fourth quarter, Cal scored when tailback Terrell Williams threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Craig Stevens.  Tedford said the Bears were simply using the trick play to get a first down on third-and-seven.  "It was not intended to rub it in," he said.  

Tailback U: Marshawn Lynch ran for 123 yards, giving him 1,052 yards for the year.  His backup, Justin Forsett, gained 50 yards, putting him at 962, just short of the 1,000-yard landmark. He'll have another chance in Cal's bowl game.  The Bears last had two 1,000-yard rushers in 1990 when Russell White and Anthony Wallace did it.  Battered line: Guard Erik Robertson (ankle) and tackle Scott Smith (knee) missed the start against Stanford, and the Bears went with their sixth different combination on the offensive line.  Jonathan Murphy started at tackle and Noris Malele at guard.  

Defensive stars: Safety Harrison Smith led the Bears with eight tackles. Cornerback Daymeion Hughes and rover Donnie McCleskey each had seven.

Briefly: Cal may not only have improved its bowl profile but regained a place in the rankings. The most important game for the Bears becomes Arizona-Arizona State Friday at noon. If Arizona can beat the Sun Devils, Cal would finish fourth in the conference and get no worse than an invitation to the Insight Bowl in Las Vegas December 27