Live Blog: Washington State

Looks like I've experienced a pretty epic fail with trying to hook up my Cover It Live Blog with Bears Necessity. I'll just have to do my regular updates.

6:57 -Game's over, and in some ways I feel there's more to say about this game than last week's. Man, what a shalacking. Go Bears, and look for the writeup sometime tomorrow.

6:46 - So who feels bad for the Cougs?

I don't, but if the Cougs can't score on this drive after starting on Cal's 26 yard line, I might. I MIGHT.

Just found out this is the worst loss in school history for the Cougs.

And WSU just turned the ball over on downs.

Hmm, yeah I feel kinda bad for WSU.

6:40 - These announcers are killing me. They're wondering why Tedford hasn't redshirted Mansion with the depth Cal has at QB.

To clarify, Mansion is a REDSHIRT freshman.

6:38 - Brett Johnson just picked off WSU's third string quarterback for Cal's 4th pick of the day. When was the last time that happened in a game? In a season?


6:32 - Mansion has got his first completion of his college career with a small little hookup with FB Zack Smith on a bootleg. Drive still ends in a 3 and out, but still good to see for Mansion.

6:30 - Brock Mansion is in the game. Perfect Call. Let Nate come out of the game after two good series, and give Mansion his first collegiate playing time. Let's see how the kid does.

6:28 - The one area of the game that has been nearly non-existent for the Bears has been the punt return game. I know Young is supposed to have the surest hands, but he even bobbled one. He just lost his balance on the last one.

6: 21 - I want Cal to go for it. Give it to Slocum and let the daddy score.

Hory crap, they're doing it.

YEAH BABY!

6:17 - It's the end of the 3rd Quarter, and Nate continues to hook up with his receivers for short catches on the field. Good for our receivers. They'll need to get their hands on the ball as much as possible in real game time situations. Too bad these balls aren't coming from Riley.

But this could be real good for Nate as well if he can keep it up. He needed a bit of a rebound game after last week's disaster. I don't believe he's missed so far. Correction: He's 6 of 7.

6:08 - Bears fans having to sighing a breath of relief. Longshore put a nice long drive together that ended in a 37 yard David Seawright field goal. He did everything you would want in a backup QB. Managed the game, put some nice drives together, and most importantly:

NO PICK SIXES. Keep it up Nate.

6:04 - Sucking in my breath each time Nate throws, but he's putting a drive together. Longshore hooks up with Nyan Boateng three times for Boateng's first receptions of the season.

6:01 - Longshore is in! Longshore is in! My mind is reeling.

5:53 - My goodness...Jahvid Best is out of control. For every few plays Best gets stuffed, he breaks off for a huge one. Another 86 yarder for Best, and another score.

Best has 200 yards on 14 carries and 3 TD.

Wow.

Oh and Tedford, get Best out of the game. Give it to Vereen and Slocum for the rest of the game.

5:49 - After allowing new WSU QB Lopina to march the Cougs down the field. It appears that Bernard Hicks picked Lopina off at the Bears' 10 yard line.

And of course...the play is under review.

...And the play stands! Geez, nice change of pace from what happened last week.

For the record, the crew got most of plays right both weeks though. Hicks got his hands underneath the ball.

Second half Thoughts: You can't be unhappy with a 42-3 score. Or can you? Overall, incredibly pleased with what I'm seeing in the defense. They only really gave up those 3 points off that huge kick off return.

Riley still has yet to develop any really chemistry with his receivers, leading them a bit too far on a number of occasions. He's also going to have to learn to avoid contact when running the ball, turning the ball over on a designed run.

Let's see how the second half develops. It'll be interesting to see how much of the starters continue to play in the second half. It is a conference game, but how much will your risk in what is looking like a blow out win?

And will we see Longshore?

...Probably not.

5:03 - Could Squid be better than Dante Hughes? He looks to be further along than Hughes was at this point in the junior year. Thompson just notched up his second pick of the day. Doesn't that match last year's total for him?

4:59 - Riley is also showing why he's still young, fumbling on a QB keep. Dah...

4:51 - Broken Play? Who cares?! Riley shows off what one of the reasons he might so special, taking off for a 27 yard rush into the endzone. He didn't even look that fast, but made it look really easy against the Cougs' defense.

4:41 - Not sure if it's miscommunication with his receivers, but Riley isn't quite that sharp at this point in the game. He's floated quite a few passes and led them a bit too far on a handful of occasions...

4:30 - After a little bit of a lull in scoring, Follett provides another explosive play by returning a blocked field goal for a TD. Bears up, 28-3.

4:09 - Very impressive defense with sack by Follett to finish WSU's drive. A nice FG puts WSU on the board 21-3. Really liking what I'm seeing with Cal's run D so far.

4:04 - I can't keep up. Cal is on a scoring spree. Shane Vereen for a huge run to put the Bears up 21-0.

And...Cal gives up a huge kick off return to bring Wazzu down to Cal's 22. Jeezus...no arm tackling guys!

3:49 - No sooner did I speak did Syd'Quan Thompson pick off WSU QB Rogers after Alualu flushed Rogers out of the pocket...

...And Riley hooks up with Sean Young for a 15 yard score. Man, I've barely had time to hook up my laptop.

3:47 - Great way to start the game with Jahvid Best breaking off an 80 yard run. Once he hit the hole, it was all she wrote for Best. Let's see how the defense responds.

3:45 - Jahvid Best is gone!!! He's gone!!