Washington Helmet Stickers and Play of the Game

Again, I’ll make this short and sweet because 1) this is a bit late coming 2) most of the selections fairly obvious and 3) I’m lazy.

Offensive Player of the Game: Jahvid Best
Best has got to be loving it right now. His record-setting 311 yard, 4 TD rushing performance against Washington vaulted him to the top of the Pac-10 rushers, notched him into the school record books for the best single-game rushing performance, earned him an ESPN helmet sticker, and has entered his name into the mix of a few early 2009 preseason Heisman talks.

But most importantly, Best has taken the Bears with Fangs Helmet Sticker for Offensive Player of the Game for the fifth time this season. Unbelievable!

It goes without saying that Best has been a focal part of this offense this season. At times, he has been the offense this season. Cal looks radically different when their line is healthy enough to open a seam for Best to bust through, and once he gets to the second level, the Jet is rarely caught. He’s also improved as the season has gone on in waiting for his holes, especially in the zone rushing scheme which should be even more prominently displayed next year.

I won’t engage in any Heisman talk just yet, as that has been the Kiss of Death for previous “contenders” in Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, and Desean Jackson. But let’s just say if Best can put on similar performances consistently next year, he’ll be hard to ignore.
Honorable Mentions
Nate Longshore: 5-10 for 84 yards, and 1 TD.
Shane Vereen: 10 rushes for 49 yards and 1 TD.
Cameron Morrah: 3 receptions for 39 yards and 1 TD.


Defensive Player of the Game: Tyson Alualu
It’s about time I gave the beast his due. Alualu has been an absolute stud on the defensive line this year and has proven to be the most consistent lineman. He has earned honorable mentions with BWF numerous times this season, but this recognition has been a long time coming.

Tyson Alualu earned Pac-10 Player of the Week Honorable mention with his performance in which he rolled up 10 total tackles, getting in the backfield twice, with one being a sack.

With Alulau returning next year with both starters Derrick Hill (NT) and Cameron Jordan (DE), along with the return of a healthy Cody Jones and Kendrick Payne, along with the developing Ernest Owusu and Trevor Guyton, Cal’s d-line should again be a force to be reckoned with.

Honorable Mentions
Zack Follett: 5 tackles, 2 for a loss (1 sack), 1 Forced Fumble.
Darian Hagan: 2 Interceptions

Play of the Game: Jahvid Bests’s 84 yard TD run.
Best ripped off a highlight reel of runs, but the honor goes to his 84-yarder in the 3rd quarter which I believe is the longest of the season (amazing that I even have to think about that huh?). Best shifted, juked, and broke tackles to entrench himself in Cal record books.