PROVO, UT – The Cal defense once again put on a suffocating performance and quarterbacks Chase Garbers and Brandon McIlwain combined for all three touchdowns and the Golden Bears held off Brigham Young 21-18 on Saturday night at Lavell Edwards Stadium.

Garbers, making his first career start, threw scoring passes to Patrick Laird and Kanawai Noa while McIlwain provided a spark off the bench and added a 2-yard touchdown run. The Bears' defense, meanwhile, held the Cougars to 287 yards of offense and didn't allow a touchdown until the game's final minute.

The Bears' defense also produced when it mattered most, forcing the Cougars to go three-and-out on offense following each of their touchdowns. Cal's defense also came up with interceptions after Vic Wharton III fumbled away a punt and following a failed fourth-down conversion by its offense.

"I think our guys understand we could be a pretty good football team if we keep working at it," Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. "We are a long way away yet but the thing I appreciate is how we keep competing and keep fighting. Even when there were momentum shifts in the game, there was calm on the sideline. There was problem-solving going on, no panic. It was about finding solutions, and we were able to do that as a team against a good football team."

The Bears scored first when Garbers found running back Patrick Laird over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter. BYU responded with a second-quarter field goal and it was 7-3 at the half.

Cal made an immediate statement to begin the second half, forging a 79-yard drive on seven plays on the first possession of the third quarter that culminated on a 52-yard touchdown pass when Garbers found Noa wide-open down the left sideline on a wheel route for a 14-3 lead.

BYU cut the deficit to 14-10 on a 36-yard fumble return, but its offense found itself running in place for most of the game.  

McIlwain, the transfer from South Carolina who made his Cal debut during last week's win over North Carolina, engineered the Bears' final scoring drive, going 3-for-3 passing for 23 yards and rushing for another 27 yards during an 11-play drive that culminated in his 2-yard scoring run.

"Both Chase and Brandon did some really good things," Wilcox said. "We all know they still have a lot of work to do but I was really proud of how both of them competed."

The Cougars closed to within 21-18 with a late drive that ended with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but Cal recovered the ensuing onside kick and McIlvain was able to run for a first down and the Bears ran out the clock.

Garbers finished 18-for-28 for 176 yards while McIlwain led the Bears with 74 yards rushing. Garbers also produced some key runs and finished with 45 yards rushing. Noa had seven catches for 93 yards.

Junior Evan Weaver, one week after announcing himself as a defensive force with a career-high 13 tackles, once again was dominant with a co-team high 12 tackles, three pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry on a key third down.

"Evan is playing really well," Wilcox said. "We expect him to play well, to be quite honest. He has a really good feel and understands what we are asking him to do. I'm really proud of how far he's come. It's great to see him around the ball. That's just kind of who he is."

The Bears return home next week to host Idaho State then will enjoy a bye week before beginning Pac-12 play against Oregon.