California Golden Bears: 18Tennessee Volunteers: 35
The California Golden Bears started the season ranked 9th, the highest pre season ranking for the college football team in 54 years. Approximately five thousand disappointint Cal fans made the trip to Knoxville to see the team get slaughtered by the Tennessee Vols in the season opener on Saturday, September 2nd, 2006 which kicked off at 5:30 PM EST.
The Tennessee Volunteers wanted to live up to their potential this season after a disappointing 2005 college football season. The Vols scored first on a 12 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Erik Ainge to wide receiver Chris Brown and never looked back after that. The speedy defense of the Vols shut down the non existent Cal Bears offense. Ainge threw a 42 yard touchdown reception to Robert Meachem before the second half ended.
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The Vols started where they left off by scoring on the first passing play of the second half on a 80 yard touchdown pass caught by Robert Meachem from Ainge. Meachem scored his second touchdown this season in the first 31 minutes of the 2006 season, he only had 2 all year in 2005. After the Cal offense got shut down, the Vols scored another touchdown on a 50 yard strike right up the middle of the field to Jayson Swain.
Erik Ainge ended the day early and left in the 3rd quarter with 10 completions on 16 attempts for 286 yards on 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. Ainge practiced in live contact games in the off season to strengthen and toughen his body up. It looks like the extra effort has paid off for the quarterback.
The Tennessee defense played superb in the win but they got a ton of help from the pathetic performance by the Cal Bears offense. Cal pulled their starting quarterback Nate Longshore to give some snaps and badly needed experience to Joe Ayoob. Ayoob was able to generate a touchdown scoring drive in the 4th quarter after throwing a 40 yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson. Ayoob and the Cal offense were successful at the subsequent 2 point conversion attempt. Ayoob should get the starting job next week but never had a real chance to help the Bears win. Ayoob finished the day with 9 completions on 21 attempts and 194 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. The blow out will cause Cal to drop signicantly in the polls.
Tenessee plays Air Force in Knoxville on September 9th, 2006 and will look to fine tune there game plan for their September 16th, 2006 meeting with the Florida Gators. This year the game with the Gators will be played in Knoxville which should give the Vols a slight end against their conference nemisis.
California Golden Bears vs. Tennessee Volunteers Highlights and Game Recap
1st Quarter: Cal Bears 0 – Tennessee Vols 7
Vols receiver Chris Brown caught a 12 yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge. The scored ended a 10 play drive that went for 65 yards.
2nd Quarter: Cal Bears 0 – Tennessee Vols 14
Wide Receiver Robert Meachem caught a 42 yard touchdown from Ainge.
3rd Quarter: Cal Bears 3 – Tennessee Vols 35
Erik Ainge threw a 80 yard touchdown pass to Meachem. Wide receiver Jayson Swain caught a 50 yard touchdown right up the middle from Ainge. Montario Hardesty ran for a 43 yard rushing touchdown for the Vols. Bears kicker Tom Schneider nailed a 32 yard field goal.
4th Quarter: Cal Bears 18 – Tennessee Vols 35
DeSean Jackson caught a 40 yard pass from Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob for a touchdown. Robert Jordan caught the two point conversion pass from Ayoob right after. Ayoob had a one yard touchdown run.
