BERKELEY – The California football team pitched a second-half shutout to pull away from UC Davis in a 31-13 victory in its 2024 season opener Saturday afternoon at California Memorial Stadium.

The Golden Bears recorded three interceptions, including one by senior Nohl Williams, who also returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.

"Nohl was awesome," Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox said. "The kick return was huge. It was a momentum changer. I really like his competitiveness."

Redshirt freshman Nyziah Hunter had four catches for 47 yards and his first career touchdown in his collegiate debut while Jaydn Ott added two scoring runs for Cal, which has won all 12 meetings all-time against the Aggies.

Linebacker Cade Uluave and transfer cornerback Marcus Harris also picked off UC Davis quarterback Miles Hastings while Ott and junior Mavin Anderson each also added four receptions. Sophomore Fernando Mendoza started for Cal and went 15-for-22 for 158 yards and a touchdown. Transfer Chandler Rogers also saw time for the Bears, completing 3 of 6 passes for 21 yards and also gaining 17 yards on the ground.

"I didn't really expect to play this game. I just came in ready," Hunter said. "I kind of blacked out when I scored that touchdown. There was so much emotion going through my body."

The Aggies took a brief 13-7 lead late in the second quarter before Williams ran back the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. The Bears would not relinquish the advantage again, as Ott and Hunter found the end zone in the second half and new placekicker Ryan Coe booted a 25-yard field goal.

"In the first half, we had good effort but our execution was lacking," Wilcox said. "We weren't in any type of rhythm as a team. I'm really proud of the way the guys persevered through that. Once you get out there and you trust your training. … all of the sudden things start going your way. It was really a tale of two halves."

Cal travels to Auburn next Saturday for its first road game of the season. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT and the game will air on ESPN2.