Berkeley, CA (Sports Network) - Stefphon Jefferson rushed for 145 yards and
three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute, as the Nevada
Wolf Pack defeated the California Golden Bears 31-24 at Memorial Stadium.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo was a duel-threat on the afternoon for Nevada (1-0),
completing 25-of-32 passes for 230 yards while adding 97 yards and a touchdown
on the ground. Brandon Wimberly made seven catches for 83 yards for the road
team.
For Cal (0-1), Zach Maynard finished 17-of-30 for 247 yards and two
touchdowns. C.J. Anderson ran the ball 14 times for 66 yards while Keenan
Allen and Chris Harper each caught five passes.
The Wolf Pack got the scoring started with 4:34 left in the first quarter with
a two-yard touchdown run from Jefferson.
They extended their lead to 14-0 just as the first quarter came to a close
when Fajardo ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run.
Cal cut into the lead midway through the second quarter when Bryce Treggs
found himself on the receiving end of a 37-yard touchdown pass from Maynard.
The score remained 14-7 as the teams went into halftime.
Another two-yard touchdown run from Jefferson with 6:20 to play in the third
quarter put the Wolf Pack back up by two touchdowns.
The Golden Bears didn't waste much time responding, as Allen took a 39-yard
run into the end zone on the second play of the drive to make the score 21-14.
After Cal recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Vincenzo D'Amato
converted on a 40-yard field goal to bring his team to within four, 21-17.
A 14-play drive by the Wolf Pack early in the fourth quarter resulted in a 39-
yard field goal from Allen Hardison, which extended their lead to 24-17.
Less than two minutes later, Cal answered with a 13-yard touchdown pass from
Maynard to Harper. After a successful extra point, the score was tied up at
24-24 with 7:24 to play in regulation.
Nevada kept a late drive alive with a pair of key third down conversions by
Fajardo, which put Jefferson in position to punch it in from two yards out for
the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
Cal went just 2-of-12 on third down conversions, while Nevada was 12-of-19.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network