By Mick McGrane
Not only did Cal prove it could take a punch, it delivered a haymaker. Dismissing any sentiment that the Big 12 Conference had begun conducting business at the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl as though it were Muscle Beach, the Golden Bears turned brutish last night, bulling their way past Texas A&M 45-10 in the game's 29th edition. In front of 62,395 at Qualcomm Stadium, No. 20-ranked Cal, the highest-scoring team in the Pac-10 this year, went to the whip with a purpose in the second half in drubbing an Aggies squad that had come within six points of finishing unbeaten this year. The victory marked the Bears' second 10-win season in two years and served as an ideal remedy for any residual grief incurred during their dismal debut in the Holiday two years ago. Whereas No. 21 Texas A&M (9-4) had been identified as the intimidator in this affair, boasting a bruising running game that ranked seventh-best in the country, it was Cal that assumed the role of tormentor. The Bears finished with 476 total yards and ran roughshod over a defense that just last month limited then-No. 11 Texas to seven points in the Aggies' regular-season finale. Cal junior running back Marshawn Lynch, who has NFL agents and scouts salivating like famished wolves, staged an exercise in excellence in carrying 20 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Bears sophomore quarterback Nate Longshore, one of the most efficient passers in the Pac-10 this season, was an absolute aggravation for the Aggies throughout, completing 19-of-24 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. Lynch, the Pac-10's Offensive Player of the Year, and Longshore shared Offensive Player of the Game honors, though junior tailback Justin Forsett may have been the best player on the field in the second half. Forsett, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry this season, carried eight times for 125 yards over the final two quarters.
Yet it was Cal's defense that held serve in this Holiday. After yielding a staggering 597 yards in a 45-31 pummeling by Texas Tech in 2004, the Bears (10-3) bottled up the Aggies' vaunted option attack with relentless pursuit and tenacious tackling. Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane, who at 270 pounds has been described by coach Dennis Franchione as a “ballerina,” never found the dance floor. Lane, whose 19 rushing touchdowns this season ranked second in the nation, finished with 36 yards on seven carries had a long run of 9 yards. Tailback Mike Goodwin, the team's leading rusher, carried 13 times for 62 yards. In pitching a shutout in the second half, the Bears limited Texas A&M to its second-lowest point total of the season. The Aggies, who had 203 yards at the half, managed just 146 in the second. They converted on third down only 4-of-11 times. “It seemed like every time we had the ball we were going 80 yards,” Franchione said. “We moved the ball (in the first half), but we didn't do a very good job when it came to getting into the end zone or making big plays. Cal did a good job of containing us.”
Cal's point total marked the sixth time this year that it scored 41 or more points. The Aggies had allowed more than 30 only twice. The Bears punted once. “We talked about coming in and playing physical,” said Cal coach Jeff Tedford. “We wanted to make sure that we put our brand of football on this game. There was a lot said leading up to the game about how physical the Big 12 is. Well, I think our conference plays pretty physical, as well. Our offensive and defensive lines really set the tone. “I thought once our defense got a feel for the speed of the game, and how things were coming at them, that they did a great job of responding. It's not easy to simulate what (Texas A&M) does in practice and it's not easy to simulate a 270-pound running back (Lane). Our kids got comfortable, and once that happened they really played great.” It was 14-10 at the break, but a shanked punt by Justin Brantly that traveled nary a yard on Texas A&M's opening possession of the second half launched a landslide that never subsided. Taking possession at the Aggies' 41, the Bears, who had 25 scoring drives this season spanning two minutes or less, needed just 1:40 to find the end zone when Lynch, taking a direct snap from center, scored on a 2-yard run. Cal boosted the advantage to 28-10 with two minutes to go in the third quarter when Longshore tossed a touchdown pass to Lavelle Hawkins with the Bears facing a fourth-and-1 at the A&M 4. “The thing I really noticed was just how much time I had,” said Longshore, who was never sacked. “Our offensive line just did a great job. For me, at least from the standpoint of what I had to do, this game was pretty easy.” A game that concluded on a considerably happier note than the Bears experienced two years ago. Said Longshore: “We definitely owed the Holiday Bowl.”
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