Rousing return to lineup for safety Cattouse

This was the kind of work that was expected of Sean Cattouse this season.

Cal's junior safety was the Bears' only returning starter from last season's secondary, but partly because of injuries, he lost the job to Josh Hill during training camp.

But with the Bears employing the nickel defense against pass-happy Arizona State, Cattouse returned to the starting lineup and was arguably Cal's best defensive player during a 50-17 rout Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Cattouse was second on the team with eight tackles and also had a diving interception in the second quarter.

"The whole week of practice, I just wanted to let guys know that I was still here," Cattouse said. "I just wanted to let them know that I started last year. I wasn't in there this year. I wanted to show the guys that I'm here."

Cattouse had two run-stuffing tackles during one ASU possession in the second quarter, the second of which forced a punt after he stopped tailback Deantre Lewis for no gain on third down. He also made a big hit on wide receiver T.J. Simpson to force an incomplete pass on third down.

  • Junior Brock Mansion has replaced sophomore Beau Sweeney as the team's backup quarterback and came in for starter Kevin Riley early in the fourth quarter.

    "He's been a little more consistent," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "That's a competitive

    Advertisement
    spot there. He's been consistent in practice and throwing the ball a little better."

    Mansion was stripped for a fumble late in the game, and ASU's Clint Floyd returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.

  • Arizona State had been one of the surprises of the Pac-10. Picked to finish ninth in the preseason, the Sun Devils barely lost road games at Wisconsin and Oregon State and were coming off a road win over Washington. "They kicked our rear end. I don't know how (else) to put it," ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. "You have to give them credit. They came out after what happened to them last week and played extremely well. It came out of nowhere. I'm very surprised that it happened, but it happened."

  • Cal has scored at least 50 points three times in a season for the first time since 2003.

    -- JONATHAN OKANES