Bears Rout North Texas To Open 2023 Season - California Golden Bears Athletics

Saturday, September 2

Denton, TX

1:00 PM

California

1-0 , 0-0

North Texas

0-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
California	14	19	15	10	58
North Texas	7	14	0	0	21

Isaiah Ifanse (22) rushed for three touchdowns in Cal's victory on Saturday.

Photo by: Andrew Madsen/KLC Fotos

9/2/2023 4:48 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Stats (XML)Stats (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Pressers (Earby, Elarms-Orr, Finley, Ifanse, Ott, Spavital, Wilcox)

Cal Scores Most Points In Game Since 2015

By: Cal Athletics

DENTON, Texas – In the Cal football team's first game with Jake Spavital as its offensive coordinator, the Bears did something they hadn't done since the last time he was the offensive coordinator.

The Bears racked up their most points in one half since 2016 and rolled to a 58-21 rout of North Texas in their 2023 season-opener on Saturday.

Cal led 33-21 at halftime and then shut out the Mean Green in the second half. It was the most points the Bears have scored in a half since amassing 35 in a victory over Texas in 2016, when Spavital served one season as the team's offensive coordinator.

Cal tallied 669 yards of total offense, its most in a game in eight seasons. It was also the most points the Bears have scored in a game since 2015.

"We expected to come out and play well," Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox said. "To say you're going to have 669 yards of offense every week is not realistic, but we have some good players and we felt like we matched up well and should have been able to move the ball on them. Spav and all of those coaches and players on that side of the ball contributed today. It was a big day for them."

Spavital went on to serve as the offensive coordinator at West Virginia before moving on to become the head coach at Texas State for four years. He returned as the Bears' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before this season.

Sophomore running back Jaydn Ott exploded for 188 yards rushing with two touchdowns, the second-highest total of his career. Backup Isaiah Ifanse tied a career-high with three rushing touchdowns in his Cal debut. He previously accomplished the feat twice while playing for Montana State.

Quarterback Sam Jackson V threw his first career touchdown pass on his first attempt at Cal before eventually being replaced by Ben Finley due to injury. Finley went 24-for-34 for a career-high 274 yards in his Cal debut after transferring from North Carolina State.

"When I sat down with Spav and he told me they were going to go with Sam as the starter, I respected the decision and totally understood," Finley said. "Sam is a great player. At the same time, I had to prepare like I was the starter."

The Bears return to action next Saturday for their 2023 home opener when they host traditional SEC power Auburn at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.