Daily Cal: Cal Stomps on Sun Devils

Fueled By Big Plays on Defense and Another Solid Game Through the Air, the Bears Cruise to Victory

BY Brian Bainum

Daymeion Hughes leapt over Rudy Carpenter in a single bound. Mickey Pimentel tried to somersault into the end zone. DeSean Jackson exploded for an 80-yard punt return that even had Jeff Tedford holding his breath with excitement. And for the No. 21 Cal football team, that wasn't even half of the highlight reel.  The Bears opened their Pac-10 season in grand style Saturday at Memorial Stadium, trouncing No. 22 Arizona State, 49-21, and big plays in all three phases of the game were the difference.  A little over nine minutes after the Sun Devils took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards for a touchdown, Cal had scored on offense, defense and special teams, and led 35-7.

The Bears (3-1, 1-0 in the Pac-10) went into the locker room with a 42-14 lead, posting the highest point total ever in the first half against a conference opponent.  "Anyone can come in and be the man," said Jackson, whose six receiving touchdowns on the season trail only Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson for the national lead. "Any spot, any position, you have to be ready to make a play."  Make plays they did.

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