Cal scores 24 in 2nd half to pull away from San Diego State

Fernando Mendoza threw for two touchdowns, Jaivian Thomas rushed for 169 yards and California came on strong in the second half to defeat visiting San Diego State 31-10 in a penalty-marred non-conference game Saturday night.

The Golden Bears (3-0) led just 7-3 at halftime before scoring on their first four possessions of the second half to go up 31-10.

Kadarius Calloway got the flurry going with a 7-yard run. Mendoza then hit Corey Dyches with a 20-yard touchdown strike, Ryan Coe kicked a 48-yard field goal and Mendoza found Nyziah Hunter for a 15-yard TD.

The only points the Aztecs (1-2) scored in the second half occurred when Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson hit Jordan Napier with a 40-yard touchdown pass, temporarily getting the visitors within 24-10 with still 11:05 to play in the fourth.

Playing without star running back Jaydn Ott, Cal ran up 473 total yards, including 275 on the ground. Thomas' 169 yards came on 17 carries, while Calloway finished with 87 yards on nine rushes.

Mendoza, who opened Cal's scoring with an 8-yard run in the first quarter, went 21-for-29 for 198 passing yards and his two scores. He threw one interception.

Hunter (52 yards) and Dyches (48 yards) each had four catches for the Golden Bears, who play their first Atlantic Coast Conference game next week at Florida State.

Playing without starting quarterback Danny O'Neil, who missed the game due to a knee injury, San Diego State was held to 276 total yards. Tupou'ata-Johnson went 13-for-29 for 156 yards, with one TD and two interceptions, while Marquez Cooper was the Aztecs' leading rusher with 87 yards on 22 carries.

The game was stalled by 27 penalties for 233 yards.

-- Field Level Media