Cal vs. UC Davis Thread - Bears Finish Strong in 31-13 Victory

Jaydn Ott scores two TDs before limping off the field; the defense intercepts three passes

Memorial Stadium / Photo courtesy of Cal Athletics

Cal struggled to find a rhythm but wore down visiting UC Davis, dominating the second half to post a 31-13 victory in its season opener in front of 32,275 fans at Memorial Stadium.

There will be plenty the Cal coaching staff will focus on before the Bears head to Auburn next week. One question is the status of star running back Jaydn Ott, who scored two touchdowns before limping off the field - entirely on his own - with 3:58 left in the third period. He did not return.

Somehow, the Bears held a 14-13 lead going into halftime, even though most statistics favored the FCS-level visitors.

Cal coach Justin Wilcox, who had declined to name a starting quarterback all week, said on his pregame show that redshirt sophomore Fernando Mendoza, who started the final eight games last season, will get the call.

Mendoza and North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers had competed throughout fall camp and both were being considered for the starting assignment, Wilcox has maintained.

Cal's efforts to win for the 12th time without a loss in a series dating back to 1932 netted them a one-point halftime lead despite mostly being outplayed.

Here are the details:

PRE-GAME PERSONNEL UPDATES: No sign of starting RG Sioape Vatikani or WR Tobias Merriweather in pre-game warmups. WR Mikey Matthews was on the field and dressed but it remains to be seen if and how much he will play.

9:46 1st Q: Hunter Ridley of UC Davis misses wide right on a 46-yard field goal after the Aggies drove from their own 23 to the Cal 29. The Bears, who went 3-and-out on their first possession, take over at the 29. Cal 0, UC Davis 0

6:23 1st Q: Jaydn Ott scores on a 1-yard run and Ryan Coe converts the PAT. The Bears went 71 yards in eight plays. They appeared to score two plays earlier, when Mendoza passed to New Mexico State transfers Jonathan Brady, who was hit by safety Rex Connors at the 6 but popped up and went into the end zone. The play was initially ruled a touchdown but an official review showed Brady's left knee touched the ground at the 6. A personal foul flag against the Aggies moved the ball to the 3. Ott scored two plays later. Other big plays on the drove: A 19-yard completion to Mavin Anderson, a 17-yard pass to TE Corey Dyches and a 23-yard pass to Ott. Cal 7, UC Davis 0.

0:16 1st Q: Cal's defense stopped Davis on a fourth-and-goal play from the 2 before disaster greeted the Bears. RB Kadarius Calloway, on his first carry as a transfer from Old Dominion, was hit by Kavin Bains and fumbled. Linebacker Porter Connor took the high bounce and trotted into the end zone from the 6-yard line. The PAT was wide left. Cal 7, UC Davis 6.

4:42 2nd Q: Lan Larison scores on a 1-yard run to cap a nine-play, 66-yard drive. Ridley's PAT is good this time as the Aggies take the lead. Larison had four rushes for 32 yards on the drive, including gains of17 and 13 yards. UC Davis 13, Cal 7.

4:32 2nd Q: Well, the Aggies' lead lasted all of 10 seconds. They kicked off short to avoid letting Jaydn Ott touch the ball, and cornerback Nohl Williams took it at the 20-yard line on the east and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. Cal 14, UC Davis 13.

HALFTIME: Cal 14, UC Davis 13. Statistics suggest the Aggies are at least controlling this game, although certainly not dominating.

UC Davis ran 48 plays in the first half to just 21 for Cal. The Aggies outgained the Bears 234 yards to 109, including 82 to 30 in rushing yards. First down are 16 to 4 in the Aggies' favor.

Running back Lan Larison, the Big Sky preseason Player of the Year, rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown. Cal starback Jaydn Ott was well-contained, rushing six times for just 11 yards.

Mendoza started and played the first four offensive series, guiding the Bears to their lone offensive touchdown. He was 7 for 8 for 79 yards, withoua touhdown or intereption. Rogers was the Bears' QB for the final three series of the half, going 1 for 3 for zero yards and running three times for 15 yards.

7:18 3rd Q: Cal pads its lead when Ott goes around right end for a 6-yard TD. The Bears went 55 yards in 10 plays, including a key fourth-and-4 conversion from the UC Davis 49 where Mendoza passed 7 yards to Utah transfer Mikey Matthews for the first down. Mendoza also had a 12-yard completion to Mavin Anderson and a 9-yard run up the middle on a designed keeper. Cal 21, UC Davis 13.

2:14 3rd Q: The Bears stretch their lead after a 25-yard field goal by new kicker Ryan Coe. But the scoring drive might have come at a cost. Ott, who carried four times for 21 yards on the possession, limped off (without help) after a 4-yard gain to the 12. No immediate word on his condition, but we'll be surprised if he returns. Cal 24, UC Davis 13.

14:15 4th Q: The Bears have all but locked this one up after WR Nyziah Hunter, a redshirt freshman from Salinas, snared a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza, cradling it just off the ground in the end zone on a fourth-down play. Cal went 29 yards in six plays after ILB Cade Uluave's interception. Cal 31, UC Davis 13.

*****

Some pregame reading: 

— Today’s extensive game preview

— Can a deep dive into the transfer portal help Cal change its fortunes after four straight losing seasons?

— Inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan could become a star for Cal after transferring from UC Davis

— A beat writer for UC Davis answers our 5 Questions about the Aggies

— Junior wide receiver Mavin Anderson, limited by a groin injury last season, promises to wear “the biggest smile ever” onto the field today.

— Sophomore outside linebacker Ryan McCulloch was the surprise of fall camp

-- Mississippi native and ODU transfer running back Kadarius Calloway adjusting to Berkeley

— Redshirt freshman tackle Nick Morrow is raw but has a high ceiling, Cal’s coaching staff believes

— How much can improved special teams benefit the Bears?

— How do we pick this game and others in the ACC this week? Our weekly game predictions