PROVO, Utah - After spotting 24th-ranked BYU a 21-0 lead, Cal roared back to pull within three points entering the fourth quarter, but couldn't finish off the comeback bid and the Cougars emerged with a hard-fought 38-28 victory before a sold out Homecoming crowd in Provo.

The loss offset brilliant performances by Cal senior Deltha O'Neal, freshman tailback Joe Igber, and the relentless Cal defensive front seven. All did more than their share to help the Golden Bears nearly upset the Cougars. O'Neal had a pair of key interceptions, one he returned for a TD, and a big punt return to set up another score. Igber became only the third Cal freshman to rush for more than 110 yards in a game as he finished the night with 18 carries for 116 yards.

Cal opened the game in familiar fashion with an impressive offensive drive that resulted in futility.

Igber exploded on the game's first play with a 55-yard run to the BYU 25-yard-line. After moving to the 5-yard-line, Cal's drive appeared to be stopped when a Jeremy Hershey 22-yard field goal bounced off the left upright. However, a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Bears new life.

Cal, though, couldn't punch it in, and Hershey was called upon one more time. This time he pushed the 39-yard field goal attempt wide right and Cal had nothing to show for a 12-play drive.

BYU's first three offensive plays resulted in first downs and then, facing a third-and-10, quarterback Kevin Feterik lofted a perfect 41-yard TD pass to receiver Jonathan Pittman, and the Cougars had a 7-0 lead with 7:25 left in the first quarter.

Feterik used a little more magic on BYU's next possession when he broke loose from an apparent sack and hit running back Lucas Staley for a 36-yard pass to the Cal 14-yard-line. A pair of Cal sacks, however, forced a BYU punt.

Two plays later, Igber fumbled after a 20-yard run, and the ball was picked up by Heshi Robertson and returned 18 yards to the Cal 20-yard-line. After a sack, Feterik took advantage of a coverage breakdown and hit a wide-open tight end Tevita Ofahengaue for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The conversion made it 14-0 with 1:25 left in the quarter.

The hot hand of Feterik continued in the second quarter. He drove the Cougars 68 yards in just seven plays and culminated the drive with a 29-yard strike down the right sideline to receiver Margin Hooks for a TD and a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. At this point, Feterik had completed 9-of-10 passes for 191 yards and 3 TDs, despite being sacked seven times.

The Bears defensive pressure on Feterik finally paid off on the next series when the BYU QB was trying to avoid Cal players in the backfield and his pass attempt fluttered in the air. O'Neal stepped in front of the Cougar receiver and tiptoed 19 yards down the right sideline for Cal's first touchdown.

After Cal's defense stuffed BYU on its next three plays, it was O'Neal who set up another Cal scoring opportunity when he returned the punt 31 yards to the Cougar 30-yard-line.

A 12-yard pass from Kyle Boller on third down moved the ball to the BYU 16-yard-line. Two plays later, Igber broke through the line of scrimmage and rambled 11 yards into the endzone. Suddenly, Cal was back in the game at 21-14 with 2:22 left in the half.

However, the potent BYU offense wasn't done. Feterik moved his team quickly down the field. But, with BYU deep in Cal territory, O'Neal came up with another huge play when he intercepted a Feterik pass at the Cal 1-yard-line and the Bears ran out the rest of the clock.

After neither team moved the ball on their first two possessions, Feterik completed a 28-yard pass after a scramble to Ofahengaue to the Cal 32-yard-line. The Cougars moved to the 26-yard-line, but then called up Owen Pochman for a 44-yard field goal with 5:13 left in the third quarter.

Later in the quarter, a pass interference call in the Cal endzone on O'Neal gave BYU another scoring opportunity at the Cal 21-yard-line. However, the Cal defensive pressure again paid dividends. An all-out blitz caused Feterik to make another ill-advised pass. This time it was safety Damian Marzett who picked off the pass and ran 80 yards untouched for yet another Cal defensive TD. With 0:18 left in the quarter, Cal had cut the lead to 24-21.

While Cal's defense stopped BYU's next possession, the Cougars pinned Cal at its own 3-yard-line with the ensuing punt less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Three plays later, the Bears had to punt it back and BYU started a possession at the Cal 40-yard-line. The first play was thrown for a 4-yard loss, but then sloppy tackling on an out pattern to Jonathon Pittman saw him break loose near the 35-yard line. He sprinted down the left sideline for a touchdown and a 31-21 Cougar lead.

The Bears appeared to be moving in for another score, but Boller was intercepted at the 6-yard-line. BYU proceeded to march down the field, running time off the clock. A 12-play drive ended when tailback Luke Staley ran into the endzone from seven yards out, giving BYU a 38-21 lead with 1:21 left in the game.

Cal completed the scoring on its final possession. With the ball at the Cal 45, Boller lofted a long pass to LaShaun Ward, who hauled it in for a touchdown with two seconds remaining, making the final score 38-28.