• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Forsett leads No. 8 California to rout of Louisiana Tech

Sep 16, 2007 - 3:31 AM BERKELEY, California (Ticker) -- Lavelle Hawkins returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and Justin Forsett visited the end zone three times as No. 8 California routed Louisiana Tech, 42-12, on Saturday.

Hawkins led all receivers with seven catches for 87 yards while Forsett fueled the ground attack, finishing the game with 152 yards on 23 carries as Cal (3-0) remained undefeated entering Pac-10 Conference play.

Golden Bears quarterback Nathan Longshore completed 22-of-33 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns while the defense stymied Louisiana Tech, allowing just 274 total yards while forcing three turnovers.

"On some of the passing plays, we were a little bit off," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "Thankfully, the defense made some good plays to get us good field position."

The defense helped Cal extend its lead to 14-0 after defensive end John Allen tackled Zac Champion, forcing a fumble with 9:25 left in the second quarter.

"I'm just trying to play hard," Allen said. "I thought I was going to get a sack but the ball came loose, that was exciting."

Cal capitalized on the turnover just over a minute later, when Forsett scored his third touchdown of the season from the goal line.

"He ran very well today," Tedford said. "He practiced hard all week. He has great vision and balance, and he runs very, very hard. He made some good plays for us."

Louisiana Tech (0-3) responded on the ensuing drive when Champion threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Joe Anderson, capping off an eight-play, 54-yard drive.

Danny Horwedel missed the extra point as the Bulldogs narrowed the deficit to 14-6 with 5:20 left in the first half.

Three plays and less than a minute later, Forsett broke a 39-yard TD run, extending Cal's lead to 14 points.

"(Forsett's) got good balance and body control, squares to the line well, and has great instincts," Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley said. "(The Golden Bears) are committed and believe in their running game. ... They have all the tools to compete with anyone in the country."

After Jeremy Ross intercepted Champion's pass with 3:35 left in the second quarter, Longshore threw his first TD pass of the day a minute later, connecting with Craig Stevens from 17 yards out as the Golden Bears took a 28-6 lead into the locker room.

Louisiana Tech came out of the locker room and drove right down the field, as Champion found Patrick Jackson out of the backfield for his second touchdown pass of the game.

The Bulldogs failed on the two-point conversion, as the 13-play, 65-yard drive narrowed the deficit to 28-12.

The Bulldogs didn't get any closer as Cal increased its lead to 35-12 when Jahvid Best caught a 16-yard TD pass from Longshore, his second of the game.

Forsett ended the scoring on his third touchdown run of the game in the fourth quarter to account for the 42-12 final score.