SANTA CLARA, Calif. — California started 13 frosh-sophs and sent in four more underclassmen as reserves Friday night, the eve of Homecoming, as the Golden Bears defeated Santa Clara University, 76-16, on Bellomy Field.
 
The Bears (11-1, 2-0 PAC) had eight different players find the try zone, with hat tricks from freshman Jason Severance and Taylor Damron. Freshman flyhalf Sam Walsh notched 19 points on a try and seven conversions (7-for-9) before yielding the tee to freshman scrumhalf Jack Gallagher (1-for-3).
 
The Broncos (3-5, 2-4 Calif.) got two penalty kicks from flyhalf Owen O'Mahoney (2-for-2), who added a conversion following a try by winger Chris Gerbino. Gerbino also slotted a penalty for Santa Clara.
 
"We didn't play at the level we wanted tonight and Santa Clara capitalized on some of our mistakes," said Severance, who scored his third try in the 48th minute.
 
The Bears will take a very short turnaround to welcome alumni back to Witter Rugby Field on Saturday for Homecoming. Gates open at 10 a.m. and Cal kicks off against Utah at 1 p.m preceded by an 11 a.m. curtain raiser against Humboldt State.
 
Special recognition is planned at Saturday's Homecoming celebration for the 25th Reunion of the 1994 National Collegiate Champions, the 20th Reunion of the 1999 National Collegiate Champions and the 15th Reunion of the 2004 National Champions. All Cal rugby alumni are invited to enjoy a post-match Homecoming Reception at Witter Rugby Field from 3-5 p.m. after the Blue and Gold have played the Utes and Lumberjacks.
 
The Scoring Timeline vs. Santa Clara
 
03:00 Santa Clara (Owen O'Mahoney) 3
 
06:00 Sam Walsh 5
 
09:00 Jason Severance 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
11:00 Gavin Janis 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
14:00 Nathan Zylstra 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
17:00 Santa Clara (Owen O'Mahoney) 3
 
20:00 Sam Golla 5
 
27:00 Jason Severance 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
38:00 Taylor Damron 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
Halftime Score: California 45, Santa Clara 6
 
44:00 Santa Clara (Chris Gerbino) 5, (Owen O'Mahoney) 2
 
48:00 Jason Severance 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
50:00 Zach Neff 5, Sam Walsh 2
 
55:00 Luke Ogburn 5, Jack Gallagher 2
 
62:00 Santa Clara (Chris Gerbino) 3
 
65:00 Taylor Damron 5
 
70:00 Taylor Damron 5
 
Final Score: California 76, Santa Clara 16
 
The Team vs. Santa Clara:
 
15.Purdey (Kurihara @ 40:00), 14. Sharpe (Neff @ 13:00), 13. Ogburn, 12. Janis, 11. Damron, 10. Walsh (Shankland @ 50:00), 9. Gallagher, 1. Tuholski (Weigold @ 40:00), 2. Zylstra (Joyce @ 40:00), 3. Douglas (Perrone @ 40:00), 4. Broekhuizen, 5. Golla (Warnock @ 40:00), 6. Kay, 7. Severance (Tuua-Burch @ 52:00), 8. Freeman