California Golden Bears Athletics
California
1-1
Southern Utah
0-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Utah | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| California | 0 | 20 | 0 | 30 | 50 |
Cal Thumps Southern Utah, 50-31
9/8/2012 12:00 PM | Football
| GAME COVERAGE Stats |  Stats | Quotes |
Notes | 
Photos |  Game Report | Highlights Post-Game Interviews: Tedford | Allen | Anthony | Harper
|
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -
Final Stats |
Quotes |
Notes |
Photo Gallery
California cornerback Marc Anthony scored on a 61-yard interception return in the fourth quarter and the Golden Bears shook off another sluggish start at home to beat Southern Utah, 50-31, on Saturday.
Keenan Allen had two touchdowns, one on a 69-yard punt return, to help the Bears notch their first victory at newly renovated Memorial Stadium.
A week after losing the home opener to Nevada, Cal (1-1) had 518 yards of offense but couldn't shake Southern Utah, an FCS school playing its first season in the Big Sky Conference, until the fourth quarter when the Bears forced two turnovers and scored 30 points.
Anthony, who tipped a Hail Mary pass the Thunderbirds converted into a touchdown just before halftime, made the biggest play after Southern Utah receiver Henna Brown appeared to run the wrong route.
Quarterback Brad Sorensen threw a short pass intended for Brown, who kept running while Anthony turned to make the interception. Anthony then worked his way down field into the endzone to help give Cal a 34-17 lead.
The Bears piled on quickly after that.
Defensive end Aaron Tipoti recovered a fumble on Southern Utah's next possession, and Vincenzo D'Amato's third field goal made it 37-17.
Allen, who caught a 19-yard touchdown from quarterback Zach Maynard on the first play of the fourth quarter, made it 44-17 with a long punt return. Allen fumbled the ball, but recovered it and then broke free down the right sideline on his way into the endzone.
The Bears hit the road to face No. 14 Ohio State next Saturday and then take a trip to second-ranked Southern California the following week.
Maynard, making his first start of the season after being benched for the first three series in the loss to Nevada, completed 17 of 23 attempts for 229 yards and the touchdown to Allen.
C.J. Anderson and Isi Sofele both added short touchdown runs, and Daniel Lasco scored on a 77-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The two big mistakes by the Bears' defense - and an outstanding one-handed catch by the Thunderbirds' Cameron Morgan - kept the game from being a total blowout before halftime.
Sorensen's Hail Mary pass in the endzone as time expired fell incomplete, but Cal defensive back Steve Williams was called for pass interference, giving the Thunderbirds an extra play. Sorensen then heaved another long pass that Morgan pulled in for a 37-yard touchdown. Anthony tipped the ball in the air, but Morgan alertly grabbed it with his left hand as he was falling out of the back of the endzone for the score.
That was one of the few things that went right for Southern Utah.
Sorensen, a preseason candidate for the Walter Payton Award, passed for 292 yards and four touchdowns to become the school's career leader, though most of it came in the second half after Cal built a substantial lead.
It was a much better finish for the Bears.
They committed turnovers inside their own territory on consecutive drives in the first quarter and had 10 penalties for 96 yards before halftime.
This time, Cal overcame its mistakes.
Maynard was intercepted by Southern Utah defensive end James Crowser while attempting a screen pass in the first quarter, then freshman wide receiver Chris Harper fumbled away the Bears next possession following a short completion.
Southern Utah (0-2) had its own issues on offense and couldn't take advantage of the good field position.
The Thunderbirds took a 3-0 lead on Colton Cook's 40-yard field goal. Then they spent the rest of the afternoon playing from behind.
Cal scored on four consecutive possessions in the second quarter to go in front.
Anderson's 7-yard touchdown run capped a 94-yard drive for the Bears, Sofele scored on a 12-yard run and D'Amato added a pair of field goals to give Cal a 20-3 lead.
Southern Utah stayed close and pulled within 20-17 midway through the third quarter on Sorensen's 5-yard touchdown pass to Brown, but the Thunderbirds couldn't slow Cal down in the fourth.
Sofele finished with 104 yards on 19 carries.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
SUU 3, CAL 0
SUU - Colton Cook 40 yd field goal 4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:34
SUU 3, CAL 3
CAL - D'Amato, Vincen 18 yd field goal 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:52
SUU 3, CAL 10
CAL - Anderson, C.J. 6 yd run (D'Amato, Vincen kick), 7 plays, 94 yards, TOP 2:08
SUU 3, CAL 17
CAL - Sofele, Isi 12 yd run (D'Amato, Vincen kick), 5 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:58
SUU 3, CAL 20
CAL - D'Amato, Vincen 27 yd field goal 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:54
SUU 10, CAL 20
SUU - Cameron Morgan 37 yd pass from Brad Sorensen (Colton Cook kick) 4 plays, 57 yards, TOP 0:19
SUU 17, CAL 20
SUU - Henna Brown 5 yd pass from Brad Sorensen (Colton Cook kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:33
SUU 17, CAL 27
CAL - Allen, Keenan 19 yd pass from Maynard, Zach (D'Amato, Vincen kick) 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 2:46
SUU 17, CAL 34
CAL - Anthony, Marc 61 yd interception (D'Amato, Vincen kick)
SUU 17, CAL 37
CAL - D'Amato, Vincen 47 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 1:12
SUU 17, CAL 44
CAL - Allen, Keenan 69 yd punt return (D'Amato, Vincen kick)
SUU 24, CAL 44
SUU - Brian Wilson 8 yd pass from Brad Sorensen (Colton Cook kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:33
SUU 24, CAL 50
CAL - Lasco, Daniel 77 yd run (D'Amato, Vincen kickfailed), 2 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:21
SUU 31, CAL 50
SUU - Fatu Moala 7 yd pass from Brad Sorensen (Colton Cook kick) 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:34
