Erickson Has Off Day but Miami Rips Cal, 31-3

Craig Erickson overcame four interceptions and four sacks with three touchdown passes as the third-ranked Miami Hurricanes beat California, 31-3, Saturday.

Erickson threw scoring passes of two yards to Shannon Crowell, 18 to Dale Dawkins and 33 to Randall Hill. All three touchdowns came after Bears’ turnovers inside their 35-yard line.

The Hurricanes (2-0) allowed Cal (0-2) to cross midfield only twice. Nine of Miami’s past 14 opponents have failed to score a touchdown.

Erickson, making his second start, completed 25 of 48 passes for 267 yards, but was intercepted three times inside the Bears’ 25-yard line.

Cal’s Troy Taylor completed nine of 23 passes for 77 yards before sophomore Mike Pawlawski replaced him with Miami leading 24-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Taylor’s passing yards and completions totals were his lowest in 28 games with the Bears. His previous lows came in his freshman season, when he completed 10 of 18 passes for 89 yards against Arizona.

The victory in the Hurricanes’ home opener extended their winning streak at the Orange Bowl to 27 games.

Cal moved inside the Hurricanes’ 10-yard line twice in the first half but still trailed 17-3 at halftime. The noisy crowd flustered Taylor and helped Miami turn away the second scoring threat.

Cal drove from its 24 to the Miami 14 with 35 seconds left in the first half. The clock ran down to 16 seconds while Taylor complained to an official--in vain--that the crowd noise was too loud to call signals.

Taylor used the Bears’ final timeout, then hit Mike Ford on a pass to the Miami five. But the clock ran out while California was lining up for a field-goal attempt.