Cal defense in for heavy duty

To reach double digits in victories -- the difference, Coach Jeff Tedford says, between a decent season and a good one -- 20th-ranked California needs to stop a running back who weighs nearly three bills.

Jorvorskie Lane, a 275-pound tailback, leads No. 21 Texas A&M; with 19 touchdowns and is one of a few defensive worries for Cal in tonight’s Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.

“Our 275-pound guys are all linemen,” Tedford said. “And their feet are nowhere near the ballerina’s feet [Lane] has.”

Lane isn’t the only one filling the dance card of Cal’s defense. Quarterback Stephen McGee complemented his 2,118 yards passing with 797 yards and four touchdowns rushing. And tailback Mike Goodson is the Aggies’ leading rusher, with 785 yards (96 more than Lane) and four touchdowns. The school is one of eight this season to average at least 200 yards rushing.

Cal (9-3) and Texas A&M; (9-3), who haven’t met since playing each other twice in the early 1980s, each lost two of its last three regular-season games. Cal lost road games at Arizona and USC before narrowly defeating Stanford. The Aggies lost home games to Oklahoma and Nebraska before finishing the season with a victory at Texas.

Cal is loaded with talent. For the first time in school history, the Bears had the Pacific 10 Conference offensive and defensive players of the year in tailback Marshawn Lynch and cornerback Daymeion Hughes. DeSean Jackson ranks first in the nation in punt-return average and has returned four for touchdowns.

Jackson has also been on the receiving end of 18 deep passes from quarterback Nate Longshore, who has completed 55 passes of 20 yards or longer.