Sep 16, 2007, 2:21 GMT
Berkeley, CA - Lavelle Hawkins returned the game's opening kickoff 90 yards for a score and Justin Forsett had three rushing touchdowns, as eighth-ranked California crushed Louisiana Tech, 42-12, at Memorial Stadium.
Forsett had 23 carries for 152 yards while Nate Longshore went 22-for-33 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Golden Bears (3-0), who have won 20 of their past 22 home games.
'We were very undisciplined today,' said California coach Jeff Tedford. 'We had way too many penalties that put us in third and long a lot of times. We need to go back and talk about discipline and make sure we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. We can't continue to let that happen.'
Zac Champion was 18-for-32 passing for 149 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bulldogs (1-2), who have dropped two straight against ranked opponents after opening the season with a victory.
'Cal is a great football team and anytime you play a top-10 football team and then spot them seven [points] on the kickoff, it's hard to recover,' said Bulldogs coach Derek Dooley. 'We also had a lot of penalties and mental errors and that got us behind the eight ball early but in the end they [Cal] are a better football team. They're very physical.'
Hawkins' return was all the scoring in the first quarter, but the Golden Bears turned it on in the second quarter to take a sizeable lead at the end of the first half.
John Allen recovered a fumble from Champion deep in Bulldog territory, and four plays later Forsett punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out for a 14-0 lead with 8:09 left in the second.
Louisiana Tech, though, responded on its next possession. Weldon Brown gave the team excellent field position when he returned the kickoff 42 yards. On third-and-goal from the two-yard line, Champion found Joe Anderson in the end zone. Danny Horwedel, though, missed the extra point and the Bulldogs trailed 14-6.
California wasted no time in answering. Three plays after getting the ball back, Forsett took the ball up the middle and into the end zone from 39 yards out for a 21-6 lead.
The turnovers continued to plague the Bulldogs as Champion was picked off by Brandon Hampton, who returned the ball 38 yards to the Louisiana Tech 16-yard line. Three plays later, Longshore connected with Craig Stevens on a 17-yard score and a 28-6 lead with 2:36 left in the second.
The Bulldogs tried to cut into the lead before halftime, but Horwedel's 37- yard field goal attempt with 43 seconds left was blocked.
Louisiana Tech mounted an impressive 14-play, 57-yard drive to start the second half and got into the end zone when Champion hooked up with Patrick Jackson for a five-yard score. However, the two-point attempt was no good and it was a 28-12 game.
Jahvid Best returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards into Louisiana Tech territory, and California took a 35-12 lead when Longshore and Best connected for a 16-yard score with 8:18 remaining in the third.
Forsett's one-yard touchdown run with 9:46 to play in the game gave California a 42-12 advantage.
Game Notes
California outgained Louisiana Tech, 447-274...Hawkins led the Golden Bears receiving corps with seven catches for 87 yards...This was only the second time these teams have met. In the previous contest the Bulldogs posted a 41-34 victory in Shreveport in 1997...Patrick Jackson had 18 carries for 68 yards for the Bulldogs.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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