Saturday, September 16, 2006

Sports Network: 21st-ranked Cal rolls past Portland State

Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - Marshawn Lynch rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on six carries to guide 21st-ranked California past Portland State, 42-16, at Memorial Stadium. Justin Forsett and Marcus O'Keith also scored on the ground for the Golden Bears (2-1), who have won two in a row since dropping their opener to Tennessee. Nate Longshore finished 15-of-23 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while DeSean Jackson caught five balls for 103 yards with a TD.  Rob Freeman ended 12-of-17 for 119 yards with a touchdown for Portland State (2-1), which was coming off a 45-3 victory over Northern Colorado. Tremayne Kirkland threw and caught a touchdown pass in defeat.  Portland State struck first courtesy of a 24-yard field goal by Eric Azorr less than five minutes into the game, but it was all California from there.

The Golden Bears countered with 21 straight points in the first quarter, starting with a three-yard TD pass from Longshore to Cameron Morrah that capped a six-play, 55-yard drive.  Cal forced a punt and marched right back down the field on its next possession, with a 24-yard crossing pass from Longshore to Robert Jordan bringing the offense down to its opponent's two-yard line. Forsett rumbled in from a yard out two plays later to make it 14-3.  Daymeion Hughes then picked off Tygue Howland and raced 30 yards for the score with 2:35 left to put the Bears comfortably ahead.

Lynch broke off a spectacular 71-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to continue the rout. The shifty back appeared to be bottled up at the line of scrimmage, but bounced out to the left side and sprinted down the sideline. He then put on the brakes to elude a defender before taking it the rest of the way.  The Golden Bears scored again on their next possession, with O'Keith scoring from five yards out to up the lead to 35-3.

A 42-yard pass from Kirkland to Brendan Ferrigno gave Portland State its first touchdown of the game, and Freeman found Kirkland for a four-yard TD pass with 1:19 left to pull the Vikings within 19.  Longshore hooked up with Jackson for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 24 ticks on the clock, however, to give the Golden Bears a 42-16 halftime advantage.  The scoring went silent in the second half.  

Game Notes

This was the first-ever meeting between these two programs...The Vikings did not allow a touchdown in their first two games...Cal outgained the Vikings 502-273 on the night.

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