The quarterback competition will continue today, when Cal resumes practice today in Berkeley, a day after using both Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley in a 42-27 loss to Arizona. Longshore was 18-of-37 for 218 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before giving way to Riley with 13 minutes left. Cal coach Jeff Tedford didn't blame Longshore for the offense bogging down during a 25-point turnaround in the second half, but Tedford said he was looking for a "spark."
Best's elbow: Jahvid Best ran 16 times for 107 yards and a 67-yard touchdown run in his first game since he dislocated his elbow Sept. 27. Best sat out the fourth quarter, and Tedford said the sophomore back reported soreness in his left elbow.
Catching on: Verran Tucker, a transfer from El Camino Community College, had a career-best four catches for 68 yards, including a diving 2-yard touchdown reception. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder, who isn't listed on the Bears' two-deep chart, was noted on the statistics sheets as "TEAM" and had only one catch to show for his first five collegiate games. Tedford said Tucker reported to camp out of shape because his offseason workouts were limited while catching up on class work to qualify academically. He caught a 10-yard touchdown against Maryland on Sept. 13 and has improved each week since.
Take off that redshirt: With a handful of injuries to the Bears' defensive line, they were forced to burn the redshirt of defensive end Trevor Guyton, a 6-3, 296-pound freshman from Redmond High in Washington.
Tedford had said he didn't want to use Guyton this season, but he had little choice with the defensive line thinned by injuries. Cody Jones (ankle) and Kendrick Payne (knee) are out for the season, Rulon Davis (leg) is expected to miss another four to six weeks and Tyson Alualu was limited with a leg infection.
Guyton was a SuperPrep Magazine All-America choice, listed as a four-star recruit by Scout.com. He had 70 tackles (14 for losses), six sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries as a senior.
Just for kicks: Freshman walk-on Giorgio Tavecchio had an eventful debut as Cal's placekicker, getting his first attempt from 50 yards, his next from 42 yards, and in the final seconds of the first half, his third from 41. Cal had tried only one kick of more than 40 yards all season, and David Seawright, who was out with a strained groin, missed it. Tavecchio missed the 50-yarder right, but had the distance, and he drilled the 42- and 41-yarders. "Nothing fazes him," Tedford said.
Briefly: Cal receiver Jeremy Ross returned kicks with Best and cornerback Darian Hagan (knee) nursing injuries.
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