Sept 8, 2001
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By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
BERKELEY, Calif. - Brandon Doman rushed for three touchdowns and passed
for three more as Brigham Young and its high-powered offense rolled past
another overmatched opponent, beating California 44-16 Saturday.
The Cougars (3-0) have scored 166 points this season, awakening memories of
their high-scoring teams in LaVell Edwards' heyday. New coach Gary Crowton's
inventive attack started slowly against Cal, but BYU scored six straight TDs
after a scoreless first quarter.
Doman, the Cougars' senior quarterback, was responsible for all six TDs,
falling two short of the school record set by Marc Wilson in 1977 and matched
by Jim McMahon in 1980.
Doman was 16-of-24 for 272 yards as the Cougars rolled up 488 yards of total
offense - 365 in the middle two quarters.
Doman is the first BYU quarterback to win his first five starts since Robbie
Bosco in 1984. That season ended with the Cougars' only national title.
California (0-2) took its second straight embarrassing home loss under
embattled coach Tom Holmoe, a BYU alumnus.
The Golden Bears, who were beaten 44-17 by Illinois last week, also lost
star tailback Joe Igber to a sprained left ankle at the end of the third
quarter.
Cal scored first on Marcus Fields' 25-yard TD catch less than seven minutes
in, and the Bears' fired-up defense stopped BYU's first three drives. But the
game changed abruptly in the closing minutes of the first half.
The score was tied 7-7 when Igber fumbled at the BYU 19 with 2:04 left in
the first half. BYU needed just six plays - including a beautiful 41-yard
reception by Mike Rigell - to move into position for Doman's 4-yard TD sneak
with 52 seconds left.
Cal quarterback Kyle Boller then fumbled near midfield with 14 seconds left.
Doman threw a short slant to Brian McDonald, who sprinted through the Cal
secondary, dodged several tacklers and tumbled into the end zone for a 53-yard
TD as time expired, putting BYU up 21-7.
Luke Staley opened BYU's scoring with a 27-yard TD reception, and Reno Mahe
caught a 16-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put BYU ahead 41-10. Mahe
had six catches for 64 yards.
The Cougars also got two penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. Left tackle
Dustin Rykert, a native of nearby Roseville, was ejected in the third quarter
after a series of taunts.
Boller was 19-of-33 for 242 yards for the Bears, who missed tackles all day
and clearly became disheartened in the second half. Fields had five catches for
79 yards.
After opening the season against the weak defenses of Tulane, Nevada and
Cal, BYU gets a much stiffer test next week at Mississippi State.
