The Barometer Online

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Peter Strong Yvenson Bernard, who had a tough time splitting through the Cal defense all day amassed just 74 yards on 17 carries in Saturday's 41-13 loss to the Bears.

No. 20 California's offense was extremely consistent in the first half of its 41-13 drumming of Oregon State Saturday.

It didn't consistently gain yards on every play, but it never failed to make the big play on third down. On its opening drive, California had nothing to show for its first two plays but a penalty and two incompletions. But then on third and 15, quarterback Nate Longshore hooked up with Lavelle Hawkins deep down the right sideline for a 28-yard gain.

"As a team, we've got to bail each other out and make more plays," said OSU safety Sabby Piscitelli. "We made a lot of plays out there, but if we had a good series, we'd have a bust on a coverage or an assignment lapse."

Cal's speed allowed it to take advantage of the defensive miscues - three plays after the conversion, Longshore looked to Hawkins again on third and eight. Hawkins streaked past the defense to make the catch in the end zone for a 39-yard score.

"That touchdown was just kind of a lapse in coverage," Piscitelli said. "I don't think our defense was lined up correctly."

Even when OSU's defense was lined up correctly, Cal's offensive weapons appeared to be too fast.

At the end of the first quarter, Hawkins had already amassed 111 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound wideout overshadowed the man that had been Cal's biggest threat through its first four games: DeSean Jackson.

Jackson wasn't held in check either. He used his fast feet to score the team's second touchdown by going across the middle of the field and reeling in a 27-yard strike from Longshore. Just like Hawkins, Jackson's touchdown came on third and long.

The speed on the outside wouldn't have done Cal any good if the quarterback had been unable to hit the speedy receivers, but Longshore always seemed to find them in stride.

"What (Longshore) has got is a very quick, sharp release," said OSU head coach Mike Riley. "So he can beat you quickly on the blitz by just snapping the ball out of his hand and then he's got a good arm, too."

Continued...

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