By Howie Stalwick
Washington State football coach Bill Doba says the California Bears run, pass, block and defend superbly. Other than that, Doba likes his team’s chances when the Bears invade Martin Stadium this afternoon. "Quite honestly, I think they’re going to have to help us a little bit," Doba said. "Maybe put the ball on the ground a few times, or maybe (Nate) Longshore will throw a pick (interception) once in a while." Don’t count on it, Coach. Longshore’s superb play is just one reason the 10th-ranked Bears have been as impressive as any team in the land over the past five weeks. "We’ve got to play perfect defense to stop them or slow them down," said WSU linebacker Scott Davis, the Defensive Player of the Week in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Bears, 5-1 overall and tied for first in the Pac-10 with USC at 3-0, have scored more than 40 points a school-record five straight games. Longshore, running back Marshawn Lynch, wide receiver-punt returner DeSean Jackson and cornerback Daymeion Hughes rank with college football’s best.
"Those guys have got multiple big-play threats," Cougar defensive coordinator Robb Akey said. "They like to throw the ball; it’s a defensive back’s dream," WSU strong safety Eric Frampton said. "If they throw it 100 times, we’ve got 100 opportunities to get an interception." Doba says the Cougars might benefit from the fact that the Bears are coming off their best game of the season. The Bears crushed then-No. 11 Oregon 48-24 on national television last week in Berkeley. "I don’t know if they can come in two weeks in a row and be that fired up," Doba said. "We’ve already talked to our team about that, and we will continue to harp about that," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. The Cougars may be missing three injured starters from their spotty offense (wide receiver Jason Hill, tight end Cody Boyd and tackle Charles Harris) for homecoming. However, WSU might be playing defense as well as any team Cal has faced.
Dennis Dodd of CBSSportsLine.com named national sacks leader Mkristo Bruce "the best defensive player in America." Bruce joined Hughes on SportsLine’s midseason All-America team. "You’re not going to find a more physical front than these guys (WSU’s defensive linemen)," Tedford said. "Bruce, he’s an all-around complete player. They do a really nice job of being relentless and getting after you." The Cougars are hoping for their second straight sellout, which would be a first at Martin Stadium since 2002. California is 0-10 in Pullman since winning in 1979, and the Bears haven’t visited the Palouse since 2001. "I know it’s a hostile environment," Tedford said. "I’ve already warned the kids about that. There are a lot of things said to them that aren’t very nice and their students really get involved. It’s a loud place to play." Doba just hopes the place doesn’t turn into a tomb after another one of California’s sensational starts. During their five-game winning streak, the Bears have outscored teams 77-20 in the first quarter and 94-40 in the second quarter. "Unfortunately," Doba said with a smile, "that home crowd can’t tackle and run backs punts and stuff."
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