Oregon State Beavers Jermar Jefferson (6) is way ahead of the Cal Bears defenders giving chase in the first half as Jefferson scores at OSU Corvallis on Sat Nov 21, 2020 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sports Radio Service
Saturday, November 21, 2020

Quarterback Tristan Gebbia ran for the eventual game-winning touchdown and threw for one and caught a scoring pass, and Jermar Jefferson gained 196 rushing yards for Oregon State Saturday, as the Beavers held on for a 31-27 Pac-12 football win over visiting California at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Oregon State (1-2) earned its first league win of the season. John McCartan intercepted Cal quarterback Chase Garbers with 1:05 to play in the fourth quarter, sealing the game for OSU,

Cal (0-2), which played without six starters, took a 27-24 lead with 8:04 remaining when Chase Garbers tossed a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Jake Tonges.

The Beavers had taken a 24-20 lead when Tyjon Lindsey threw to Gebbia for an 8-yard score at 14:14 of the fourth quarter. Everett Hayes kicked a 35-yard field goal for OSU at 7:03 of the third period.

The Bears took a 20-14 halftime lead on Dario Longhetto’s 52-yard field goal with four seconds left in the second quarter, nearly three minutes after Garbers connected with Kekoa Crawford on a 21-yard touchdown pass that put Cal ahead 17-14. Cal opened the second quarter with a Longhetto 26-yard field goal.

OSU took a 14-7 first quarter lead on Jefferson’s 75-yard touchdown run and Gebbia’s 35-yard scoring pass to Teagan Quitoriano. In between, Garbers threw a 7-yard TD pass to Makai Polk.

Garbers completed 28 of 42 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns while being intercepted twice. Marcel Dancy led Golden Bears ballcarriers with 76 yards on 17 carries. Crawford hauled in 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown; Polk caught four passes for 81 yards and a TD and Tonges caught nine passes for 55 yards and a score.

Cal hosts Stanford this Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.