UC - Davis Aggies vs California Golden Bears Box Score on Aug 31, 2019

Chase Garbers threw two touchdown passes to Michigan transfer Kekoa Crawford on Saturday afternoon as California rallied from a 10-point deficit to run away from UC Davis 27-13 in the nonconference college football opener for both schools in Berkeley, Calif.

Christopher Brown Jr. rushed for 197 yards and scored on a 5-yard run, and Greg Thomas converted 44- and 47-yard field goals for the Golden Bears, who improved to 10-0 all-time against their FCS neighbor from about 75 miles to the north.

Davis, which went 10-3 last season after opening with an upset win at San Jose State, stunned the Cal fans with 10 quick points, taking advantage of three Golden Bears turnovers to dominate early field of possession.

Jr. Ulonzo Gilliam scored on a 2-yard run just 1:16 into the game for the Aggies, before Max O'Rourke's 40-yard field goal in the final minute of the first quarter made it 10-0 for the visitors.

But Cal dominated the final three quarters, initially taking the lead just before halftime on the second of Thomas' field goals.

After O'Rourke connected from 32 yards to draw Davis even in the fourth minute of the third quarter, Cal drove 67 yards in eight plays, capped by Brown's go-ahead TD run.

The Golden Bears created their first comfort zone early in the fourth quarter, when Garbers and Crawford, who had combined for a 37-yard score in the second period, teamed up again for a 26-yard TD that gave Cal a 27-13 lead with 13:52 remaining.

Garbers, who led Cal to a 7-6 record and a berth in the Cheez-It Bowl as a freshman last season, finished 16-for-28 for 238 yards and the two scores. He was intercepted once.

Brown was the game's leading rusher on 36 carries, while Crawford hauled in three passes for 84 yards and his two TDs.

Gilliam accumulated 89 rushing yards for Davis. Jake Maier went 19-for-37 for 173 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.

--Field Level Media