COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Cal Gets First Victory, Routing San Jose State

BERKELEY —  California stopped its slide by extending San Jose State’s.

Regrouping after starting the year with consecutive losses, Cal came off a bye to rout winless San Jose State, 40-7, Saturday.

Pat Barnes got the offense going with three touchdown passes and the Bears’ defense was equally effective. The Spartans (0-4) had virtually no running game and Cal (1-2) didn’t give their passing game a chance to get off the ground either, registering nine sacks, 3 1/2 by Duane Clemons.

“Obviously, we’ve made some improvements,” said Cal Coach Keith Gilbertson, whose offer to resign after the 0-2 start was turned down by Athletic Director John Kasser.

“But we’re probably not as far along as we need to be in order to start the Pac-10 season,” said Gilbertson, whose squad next plays at conference rival Arizona. “It feels good to win a game. The first few weeks were awfully frustrating. I just think if we keep staying with it, we’ll improve.”

While expressing relief, Gilbertson, coming off a 4-7 finish last year, doesn’t necessarily believe the pressure is off him.

“Who knows?” he said. “The pressure on me is to coach well and to get the team to play well.”

Barnes completed 16 of 20 passes for 305 yards as Cal, which had averaged only 16.5 points in its season-opening losses, extended its winning streak against San Jose State to eight, longest in the series between the regional rivals.

“Berkeley has not been good to us over the years,” said San Jose State Coach John Ralston, whose teams have struggled through a 5-21 mark over the past three seasons. “Our problem is stopping the other team effectively.”

San Jose State also had problems moving the ball.

Carl Dean was 11 for 21 for 138 yards, but was sacked six times.