Electrifying Hill almost saves game by himself
BERKELEY, Calif. – Not that it’s anything new in this Cougars season, but Jason Hill proved once again Saturday night in Memorial Stadium why he is one of the most dangerous players on his team, in his conference and perhaps in the nation.
Hill almost single-handedly dragged Washington State back from a 28-10 halftime deficit, as Alex Brink spent the entire third quarter looking for Hill down the field. The result?
The junior caught touchdown passes of 38, 62, then 38 yards, torching the California secondary for 240 yards on six catches overall.
“He’s a great player,” Brink said. “We’ve said that all year. … They were trying to press him (and we took advantage).”
His three touchdown receptions give him 23 for his career, a WSU record surpassing that of Hugh Campbell, who scored 22 times from 1960-62. The 240 yards are also the fourth-best total in school history, just 15 shy of the record.
“Great receiver,” head coach Bill Doba. “We threw some balls to him, and he made some great catches.”
Injuries affect Cal
Will Derting may still be out for WSU, but Cal is having plenty of injury issues as well.
The Bears were without both starting wide receivers Robert Jordan (collar bone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder).
Jackson, a highly touted recruit out of Long Beach, Calif., had a team-best 29 catches through seven games. Cal hasn’t had a freshman lead the team in that category since 1946. Together, the receivers have combined for 53 of the team’s 98 receptions, going for 772 yards and eight touchdowns. No other Cal receiver had more than six catches coming into Saturday night.
Ryan O’Callaghan, a first-team All-Pac-10 right tackle in 2004, was also out for Cal. The 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman suffered a concussion last week against Oregon State. The Bears did have the services of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, though he did not start as usual. The junior was listed as doubtful to play at all because of an ankle injury.
Notes
Saturday’s game was just the second played under the lights at Memorial Stadium, even though the facility was built in 1923. Last year, Cal played Arizona State at night. The stadium isn’t equipped with lights, so four portable towers were brought in for the game Saturday. … Brandon Gibson‘s first-quarter touchdown reception was the first passing score Cal had allowed at home this season. Gibson got the start in place of junior Chris Jordan. … The Cougars have played three night games in 2005, with one more scheduled against Oregon. It’s possible a fifth could be added, as kickoff time for Arizona State will be finalized Monday. … Coming into Saturday, Cal was 2-2 in the league despite having outscored Pac-10 opponents 144-87.