Bears haven’t stopped relentless charge

California hosted Oregon last week in a game that was supposed to be a heated struggle for bragging rights – and the right to challenge USC for the top spot – in the Pac-10.

Instead, the home team thought it might be more fun to turn the game into one long victory lap.

The Golden Bears dominated the Ducks, and in doing so they offered further proof that there may not be a team in the conference that can effectively slow down their offense.

Since a much-discussed season-opening loss at Tennessee, Cal has been nothing short of phenomenal on offense, scoring at least 41 points in each of the last five games – all wins.

A closer look at the numbers would suggest that the Bears are capable of more, if it were necessary.

In the first half alone, Cal has scored 28, 42, 42, 31 and 28 points in its victories. That’s been good enough to waltz into the locker room with at least a three-score lead every time – and good enough to call off the dogs in the second half, too.

So it’s probably no surprise that Cal quarterback Nate Longshore is feeling confident enough to ask for brief pause during an interview this week to laugh at his own wide receivers, who were – in his words – feigning difficulty during a little extra conditioning work after a practice.

Things have been easy for Longshore, who missed nearly all of last season after getting injured in the season’s first game but has returned to provide stability in 2006.

“We’re all just becoming more comfortable with each other,” Longshore said. “I probably have the easiest job out here with all the athletes and horses we have.

“I just have to get them the ball in space.”

As Longshore suggested, he has the benefit of playing with some of the Pac-10’s best. In addition to running backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, in some places called the nation’s top 1-2 backfield punch, Longshore has a bevy of talented wide receivers, led by sophomore speedster DeSean Jackson.

Still, the Bears were less than impressive last year without Longshore on the field, and it’s his return – plus the experience of his teammates – that has coach Jeff Tedford pleased with the way things are going for the No. 10 team in the country.

“We’re getting closer and it’s mainly because of the experience factor that we have,” Tedford said. “We were the youngest team in the conference last year and that one year has really helped us.”

Longshore said confidence is high, especially with his wide receivers.

That has this year’s Cal offense causing many to dream of Rose Bowls and Pac-10 titles in Berkeley.

“You can just see it in their eyes, in the huddle,” Longshore said. “They know, depending on what the defense does, that they’re going to be open.”