SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012
California 50, Southern Utah 31: Keenan Allen scored two touchdowns as the host Bears broke open a close game by scoring 24 points in the first 7:32 of the fourth quarter.
The Golden Bears (1-1), clinging to a 20-17 lead to start the fourth quarter, got a 19-yard touchdown catch and a 69-yard punt return for a score from Allen to avoid their second straight home loss.
Brad Sorensen threw four touchdown passes for Southern Utah (0-2), an FCS school from the Big Sky Conference which was playing a Pac-12 school for the first time.
California looked to have the game in hand late in the first half with a 20-3 lead. Southern Utah, though, scored on a Hail Mary on the final play of the second quarter when Sorensen hit Cameron Morgan for 37 yards to cut the deficit to 20-10.
The Thunderbirds took the opening kickoff in the second half and went 75 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass from Sorensen to Henna Brown.
Allen's TD reception from quarterback Zach Maynard extended the lead to 27-17 on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the Bears got a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown by Marc Anthony before Allen sealed the game when he returned a punt 69 yards for a score after fumbling the kick.
Sorensen completed 31 of 45 passes for 292 yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tailback Isi Sofele, who had four 100-yard games last year for California, had 104 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. ... The Bears outgained Southern Utah 353-83 in total yards in the first half, but two turnovers and 10 penalties killed several scoring chances. ... The Golden Bears are 6-0 all-time against FCS members. ... California is 62-5 under coach Jeff Tedford when scoring more than 30 points.