BERKELEY – A strong game on the ground and a spirited starting debut at quarterback by Fernando Mendoza helped keep the California football team within striking distance against No. 15 Oregon State on Saturday at California Memorial Stadium, but the Beavers pulled away in the fourth quarter en route to a 52-40 victory.

Making his first career start, Mendoza guided Cal's offense to points on five of six possessions midway through the game. He finished 21-of-32 through the air for 207 yards and two touchdowns, also making plays with his legs totaling 41 rushing yards on four attempts.

"Fernando did a great job," Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox said. "He brought energy to the game. He made good decisions in the run game and the RPO game. He made good plays with his feet. For his first start, in that environment, against that defense, I thought he did a hell of a job."

The Golden Bears (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) jumped out to a 17-14 second-quarter lead when Isaiah Ifanse scored two touchdowns over a span of 3 minutes, 7 seconds. First, Mendoza extended a third-down play before hitting Ifanse for a 9-yard score at the 11:16 mark of the second. Safety Patrick McMorris recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Jackson Sirmon on the first play of the Beavers' next drive, leading to another Ifanse touchdown from 1 yard out.

"[Ifanse] plays so hard. Every time he carries the ball, you just see how much will he has," Wilcox said. "The entire stadium can see it every time he carries the ball that going down is the absolute last resort. I just love the spirit he plays with and how tough he is. He's got a ton of heart."

Ifanse scored three touchdowns for the first time as a Bear while totaling 86 rushing yards on 11 carries. Jaydn Ott added 85 yards (6.5 YPC) on the ground and Cal finished with 241 as a team, averaging a season-best 7.3 per attempt.

Trading punches with the Beavers into the second half, the Bears went down the field on each of their first two drives of the third quarter. Ifanse punched it in for a third time from 5 yards out and Mendoza hit tight end Jack Endries on a seam route for a 30-yard score. Mendoza followed up his second career passing touchdown with a successful two-point try, once again leaving the pocket and directing traffic before finding wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter in the back of the end zone to bring Cal within just three points, 35-32.

The fourth quarter belonged to Oregon State as the Beavers found the end zone twice in the opening minutes of the period. Cal reached the end zone one more time before it was over, as freshman running back Jaivian Thomas added his first career rushing touchdown in the final minutes from 9 yards out and Mendoza connected with receiver Trond Grizzell for the final two points of the night.

Endries ended his night with a team-leading 66 receiving yards on four catches, both career bests. Receiver Taj Davis tied a career high with six receptions that went for 63 yards.

The Bears will return to the road next Saturday to play at No. 18 Utah. The game will air on the Pac-12 Network.