Weber punts with cast on hand

BERKELEY, Calif. - Playing with a cast on his left hand, Thomas Weber on Saturday managed to catch snaps and punt well enough to keep California's dangerous return unit in check.

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Weber, who has a broken bone in his wrist, averaged 43.3 yards on seven punts. There was just one close call against a Golden Bears special teams that this season has scored three touchdowns on blocked kicks and one on a punt return.

"We had one bad snap on the ground, but I was able to trap it and get it off," Weber said.

With ASU trailing 24-14 with a minute remaining in the game, coach Dennis Erickson sent Weber out to attempt a 44-yard field goal that would make it a one-score game. But the 2007 Lou Groza Award winner pulled the ball to the left, only his third miss in 35 career tries.

"I was talking to (holder) Danny (Sullivan), and he said it looked like the wind got it," Weber said. "To tell you the truth, I just thought it was a bad kick. I just hit it poorly. I have to be able to make those."

TAKING IT AWAY

The ASU defense forced a turnover for just the second time in five games when Mike Nixon stepped in front of a pass in the first quarter and returned it 25 yards.

"If I had any athletic ability, I might have been able to take it for a touchdown," Nixon said.

Before Saturday, the Sun Devils had forced just three takeaways, all interceptions against Stanford.

RETURN SUCCESS

Kyle Williams had a productive day returning kicks for ASU, averaging 19 yards on three punts and 22.6 yards on three kickoffs.

The punts were particularly challenging, with the wind whipping around Memorial Stadium and California punter Bryan Anger sending his kicks high and far, including a 72-yarder in the fourth quarter.

"It wasn't too bad, but he really boomed that one at the end," Williams said. "It was pretty good because the guys on the punt-return team were blocking their tails off. I can't take all of the credit."

LOCAL FLAVOR

Defensive end Cameron Jordan had his best game for California, with eight tackles and two sacks in his second career start at defensive end. The sophomore filled in for Rulon Davis, who was out with a leg injury.

Jordan is a Chandler High product whose father, Steve, played 13 NFL seasons as a tight end.

"Cameron has really matured," Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford said. "He played last year, but the coaches have done a nice job with him to broaden his moves. He's more disciplined and a little bigger this year. He's a guy who can really run, a guy we count on, on the defensive front."