Cal intercepts four passes in win over Auburn

Field Level Media|published: Sat 7th September, 19:42 2024

California Golden Bears defensive back Marcus Harris (5) breaks up a pass intended for Auburn Tigers wide receiver Cam Coleman (8) as Auburn Tigers take on California Golden Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. California Golden Bears leads Auburn Tigers 14-7 at halftime.

Nohl Williams intercepted two passes, including one with 2:11 to play, and California avenged a home loss last season with a 21-14 road win over Auburn in a nonconference game Saturday afternoon.

Fernando Mendoza threw two touchdown passes to Nyziah Hunter before leaving the game with a leg injury and Jaivian Thomas produced the eventual difference-making score on a 32-yard run with 11:27 remaining in the game, allowing the Golden Bears (2-0) to score the upset.

Auburn (1-1) won the first-ever meeting between the schools 14-10 last September in Berkeley, Calif.

Payton Thorne threw for 165 yards and one touchdown and ran for another for Auburn, but was intercepted four times. His TD pass covered 15 yards to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the game's first score just 3:18 into the contest.

Auburn, which rolled up 628 total yards in a 72-3 romp over Alabama A&M last week, was held to 286 by Cal.

The Golden Bears finished with 332 total yards without a turnover. Auburn lost the ball five times, including once on a fumble.

Lu-Magia Hearns III and Ja'ir Smith also intercepted passes for Cal, which struggled at home to beat UC Davis 31-13 in its opener last week.

The Golden Bears, who joined the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, were able to win despite getting minimal production from star running back Jaydn Ott, who suffered an ankle injury in the Davis win. The All-American candidate gained just 11 yards on 10 carries.

Mendoza finished 25-for-36 passing for 233 yards and the two scores. Hunter, Mavin Anderson and Jonathan Brady had four catches each for Cal, which spread the ball around to nine different receivers.

Hunter's TD catches covered 19 yards to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter and 13 yards to give Cal a lead it never relinquished in the second period.

Thomas was Cal's leading ballcarrier with 53 yards on eight attempts.

Auburn's Jarquez Hunter was the game's leading rusher with 68 yards on 12 carries. Thorne's TD run came from 2 yards out for the game's final score with 6:06 to play.

-Field Level Media

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