Cal holds the Cougars to without a TD for the first time since 2000
Jay Heater
PULLMAN, Wash. - Cal linebacker Desmond Bishop saw the Washington State offensive players, like parched hikers in the desert, looking at the end zone during Saturday's game at Martin Stadium. "It was an illusion," Bishop said. The No. 10 Golden Bears hammered the Cougars 21-3 with a dominating defensive attack that keeps them marching toward a Nov. 18 showdown against USC for the Pac-10 title. "Don't ask me who is the best, them or Southern Cal," said Washington State coach Bill Doba, whose team lost to the Trojans 28-22 on Sept. 30. "I think I would pay to watch that one." Cal (6-1 overall, 4-0 Pac-10) became the first team to keep Washington State (4-3, 2-2) from scoring a touchdown since Washington in 2000.
"This was a defensive victory," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford. "Sometimes, one side of the ball has to step up and the defense did today, thankfully."
Two rushing touchdowns from tailback Marshawn Lynch (25 carries for 152 yards) helped Cal carve out a 21-3 lead at halftime. The second half was all defense. One play in particular epitomized Cal's effort.
After blowing through the line of scrimmage late in the third quarter, Washington State running back Derrell Hutsona had nothing but clear sailing separating him from a touchdown that might have gotten the Cougars back in the game. A former top-five finisher in the California high school state track meet at 100 meters, Hutsona appeared to be gone. Gone to everyone except Cal cornerback Syd-Quan Thompson. From his position on the far side of the field, Thompson locked his sights on Hutsona, eventually running him down at the Bears' 5-yard line after a 70-yard gain. That effort set up a huge goal-line stand that cemented Cal's 21-3 victory. "We talk about effort ... playing snap to whistle," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford. "That was a great example of somebody believing." Lifted by Thompson's determination, the Bears dug in. On first-and-goal, Thompson knocked the ball away from Cougars wide receiver Charles Dillon in the end zone. On second down, tailback Dwight Tardy was stuffed after a yard gain to the 4.
Washington State appeared to score on third down when Tardy took a short pass in the left flat, then tried to out-run Bears linebacker Worrell Williams to the corner. Williams hit Tardy, who stuck the ball into the end zone for an apparent score. Washington State's extra point unit rushed on the field and tried to get off the snap before officials could signal a review of the play. The Cougars weren't quick enough. On review, it was discovered that Tardy's knee had hit before he scored. Fourth down at the 1. Washington State decided to test the center of Cal's defense with a quarterback sneak. It was the wrong decision. Bears defensive tackle Brandon Mebane drove Washington State center Kenny Alfred back into quarterback Alex Brink, who never had a chance. Defensive ends Steve Kelly and Abu Ma'afala crushed Brink from both sides. Cal took over on downs.
"It was so appealing," Bishop said. "The end zone was right in front of them." Washington State coach Bill Doba said his team experienced many similar moments during the game. "Basically, they manhandled our front," Doba said. "Their defensive front attacked us well, came off the ball and they got some pressure with three-man rushes. They are darned good." Cal had to be good on defense. Bears quarterback Nate Longshore went 17-for-31 for 176 yards and no touchdowns. He had two interceptions. "They had eight people in coverage and that made it tough," Longshore said. "But we ran it well and we were able to sustain some drives that way. Obviously, we need to get better." Tedford agreed. "It was not a very good effort on the offensive side," Tedford said. "We shot ourselves in the foot. We had miscues and we put the ball on the ground." The Bears might have struggled on offense, but they still managed a 21-3 lead at intermission. Cal's Marcus O'Keith fumbled the opening kickoff at his own 14-yard line, but teammate David Gray pounced on the ball at the 18 to prevent a catastrophe.
The Bears then drove to Washington State's 28-yard line, but Longshore tried to jam a ball down the middle into coverage and it was intercepted by Husain Abdullah after linebacker Steve Dildine tipped the ball. After the Bears stopped WSU an inch short of a first down on the ensuing series, punter Darryl Blunt bobbled the snap, allowing Cal's Nu'u Tafisi to block the punt. Tafisi recovered the block at the Cougars' 5. Two plays later, Marshawn Lynch burst over from the 2 to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. On Washington State's next series, wide receiver Andy Largent couldn't hold a fourth-down pass from Brink in the end zone, so the Bears took over on their own 29. Eleven plays later, Longshore capped a 71-yard drive with a one-yard sneak for the touchdown. Wide receiver Robert Jordan set up the sneak with a 20-yard grab to the 1. The Cougars cut the lead to 14-3 on the next series as Loren Langley hit a 25-yard field goal with 50 seconds gone in the second quarter. Cal made it 21-3 on a grinding, 12-play, 88-yard drive midway through the second quarter. Lynch scored his second touchdown on an eight-yard run up the middle. Cal's offensive line blew open a hole at the line of scrimmage, and Lynch literally walked into the end zone after getting past the line.
CAL 21, WASHINGTON STATE 3
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