Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - Nate Longshore tossed four first-half touchdown passes to lead 21st-ranked California to a 49-21 thumping of No.22 Arizona State in the Pac 10 opener for both teams at Memorial Stadium. Longshore completed 18-of-26 passes for 270 yards with an interception, and Marshawn Lynch rushed 17 times for 124 yards. Lynch also caught a touchdown and DeSean Jackson hauled in four passes for 67 yards and a score, while also returning a punt 80 yards for a touchdown for the Golden Bears (3-1, 1-0 Pac 10), who have now won their last three games following a season-opening loss to Tennessee. Rudy Carpenter connected on just 16-of-35 tosses for 177 and two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for scores by the Cal defense. Ryan Torain ran for 191 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries for the Sun Devils (3-1, 0-1 Pac 10), who had their season-opening three-game win streak snapped.
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 7-0 lead just over four minutes into the contest as they took the opening possession of the game and marched 76 yards in 12 plays. Carpenter connected with Torain from nine yards out to cap the drive. California answered by scoring the next 35 points to assume a commanding 35-7 lead. With just under three minutes to play in the opening quarter, Longshore hit Justin Forsett for a nine-yard touchdown pass to even things at 7-7. Longshore tossed his second TD pass of the game with under a minute left in the first. He lofted a 33-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Lavelle Hawkins to put the Golden Bears up 14-7 after the opening 15 minutes. Jackson got things going in the second frame for Cal with an electric 80-yard punt return for a touchdown to make it 21-7. Only two minutes later, Longshore was at it again, capping a three-play, 75-yard drive with a 23-yard TD toss to Lynch, giving the Golden Bears a 28-7 edge.
Jackson found the end zone once more midway through the second, this time courtesy of a Longshore pass from eight yards out, putting Cal up 28 points. Arizona State got a touchdown back when Torain barreled in from the five- yard-line to cut its deficit to 35-14, however the back breaker came with under a minute to play in the half as Daymeion Hughes jumped a slant pattern, picked off Carpenter's pass, and raced 47 yards for a score to give Cal a 42-14 lead at the break. Carpenter tossed a 49-yard TD pass to Terry Richardson early in the third to make it a 42-21 game, but the Sun Devils could get no closer as Mickey Pimentel's 20-yard interception return for a touchdown capped the scoring.
Game Notes
The two teams have now split their 26 all-time meetings 13-13, with Cal winning the last four contests...The Golden Bears are now 4-1 in Pac 10 openers under head coach Jeff Tedford...Both schools hit the road next week with Cal traveling to Oregon for a showdown with the Ducks, and ASU taking on Oregon State.
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