What QB Controversy? Kevin Riley Was the Right Pick by Jeff Tedford

The much talked about University of California quarterback battle turned out to be to be nothing close to it, if Saturday's game against Michigan State was a sign of things to come.

Kevin Riley is now the man, proving head coach Jeff Tedford to be right once again.

"He played within himself," Tedford said. "[He] did a nice job of running the clock and running the huddle. He did a really nice job."

When Nate Longshore came in and threw two consecutive interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, every Cal fan in unison stood up and yelled for him to never play again in a Cal uniform.

It also proved why Tedford's choice was the correct one.

Riley didn't light up the stat sheet, completing 17 of 24 for 202 yards and two touchdowns, but he was in command of the offense all night. He lead scoring drives of 76, 59 and 64 yards, all of which came after the Spartans cut the lead.

"When it came down to time to make plays, I made some and got lucky on some," Riley said. "We did our job. We got first downs and went down and scored when we had to."

With every series that went by, you could tell that Riley got more comfortable with what was happening around. With every series went by, it meant another series that Longshore was forced to hold the clipboard.

"I'm more comfortable," he said. "I have a better grasp of the offense, I know exactly what we're trying to do against every look, and the line did such a good job that I didn't have to run around."

And when Riley didn't throw it, he had the luxury of handing it to sophomore running back Jahvid Best, who enjoyed his own coming out party on Saturday, who ran the ball 22 times for 111 yards.

Not bad for a kid making his second ever collegiate start.