Sep 2, 2007, 4:21 GMT
Berkeley, CA - Nate Longshore threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another score, as 12th-ranked California opened its season with a 45-31 triumph over No. 15 Tennessee.
Longshore completed 19-of-28 passes for 241 yards, and Justin Forsett ran for 156 yards and a TD for the Golden Bears (1-0), who got revenge for a 35-18 loss at Tennessee in the season opener a year ago.
'It was a big win, no question about it,' California coach Jeff Tedford said. 'We've been carrying this with us for a year. Our guys played very, very well. They were ready emotionally and physically. I'm just real proud of them.'
Worrell Williams returned a fumble 44 yards for a score and DeSean Jackson electrified the home crowd by returning a punt 77 yards for another touchdown.
Erik Ainge, fighting off a broken pinkie on his throwing hand he suffered earlier in the week, connected on 32-of-47 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns for the Volunteers (0-1), who also got 103 receiving yards from Lucas Taylor.
In a scary moment, Tennessee defensive tackle Xavier Mitchell was carted off the field on a stretcher after colliding with a teammate trying to make a tackle. Mitchell was shown weakly waving his left arm as he was wheeled off the field.
California raced to a 31-21 lead at halftime lead and then held off the Vols.
Longshore threw three yards for a score to Lavelle Hawkins less than two minutes into the third quarter.
The Volunteers then drove to the Cal one, but Ainge threw incomplete trying for Arian Foster on fourth down.
'We came in knowing that we were going to have to score some points,' Ainge said. 'Our defense did a great job down the stretch of getting us the ball back. We just weren't able to capitalize when we were finally given the chance. Third and short at the goal line was basically the difference in the game for us.'
Tennessee pulled within 38-28 on Chris Brown's five-yard TD catch from Ainge with 3:57 remaining in the third and then got within seven on Daniel Lincoln's 41-yard field goal 43 seconds into the final quarter.
The Vols forced a punt, but couldn't move the ball, and Forsett ran 13 yards up the middle to the end zone with 9:10 remaining for a two touchdown lead for the Golden Bears.
Cal was threatening for another score, but after chewing up nearly six minutes off the clock, Longshore fumbled the snap near the goal line with 2:30 left.
Tennessee went three-and-out on its next possession and the Golden Bears ran out the clock.
It was an ugly start for the Volunteers, as Ainge was hit from behind from linebacker Zack Follett and the ball bounced to Williams, who raced from near midfield to the end zone less with than two minutes expired.
However, Foster caught a 12-yard TD pass from Ainge three minutes later, but the Golden Bears went ahead 14-7 on Longshore's two-yard push up the middle in a pile.
Montario Hardesty's one-yard TD run with 3:03 left in the first squared the contest again before Jackson ignited the crowd by escaping a couple of would- be tacklers and rumbling untouched the final 50 yards for his 77-yard punt return for a TD just 2:37 into the second.
The Volunteers came right back with a 61-yard march in just five pays, tying the game on Ainge's two-yard TD strike to Brown. Ainge threw 43 yards to Taylor to set the Vols up inside the five.
However, Longshore moved Cal on top for good at 28-21 with a four-yard scoring toss to Robert Jordan with 3:47 remaining in the half.
Britton Colquitt then shanked a punt 13 yards to the Golden Bears' 31, and Cal capitalized with Jordan Kay's 27-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the second quarter.
Game Notes
Tennessee hosts Southern Mississippi next Saturday, while the Golden Bears play at Colorado State...Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer fell to 14-2 all- time in season openers with the other loss coming at the hands of Pac-10 opponent UCLA in 1994...Hawkins had seven catches for 90 yards...Foster ran for 89 yards.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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