BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Quarterback Jared Goff threw for two touchdowns in a 21-second span to break open a tight game and California overcame a sluggish start to beat San Diego State 35-7 on Saturday.
One week after putting up 73 points against Grambling State in the season opener, the Golden Bears (2-0) sputtered on both sides of the ball and couldn't shake the pesky Aztecs until pulling away in the second half.
Goff completed 17 of 24 attempts for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He moved within 16 yards of breaking Troy Taylor's school record for passing yards and is also closing in on the records for touchdown throws and completions.
San Diego State (1-1) used two different quarterbacks but was shut down after scoring on its opening possession. Redshirt freshman Christian Chapman replaced starter Maxwell Smith early in the second quarter, though Smith returned to play in the second half.
Cal sputtered on both sides of the ball early, particularly on offense. The Bears punted twice, missed a field goal and turned the ball over on their first five drives.
Goff, who played only one half in the win over Grambling, didn't get a chance to rest against San Diego State. He was chased out of the pocket by a heavy pass rush for much of the first half and made an awful throw that was intercepted by J.J. Whitaker.
The lanky quarterback found his rhythm after Darius White's interception deep in Cal territory just before halftime. Goff needed only three plays to get the Bears into the end zone with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Harris with 11 seconds left in the second quarter.
Goff followed that with an 80-yard touchdown to Trevor Davis just 10 seconds into the third quarter to extend Cal's lead.
Bears coach Sonny Dykes pulled Goff in the fourth quarter, preventing the quarterback from getting the passing record at home. Cal plays at Texas next week.
Daniel Lasco added a 3-yard touchdown run to help the Bears pull away. Lasco finished with 123 yards on 19 carries.
San Diego State, attempting to go 2-0 for the first time since 2011, faded after controlling the pace early with its ball-control offense that quieted the crowd of 50,830 at Memorial Stadium.
The Aztecs switched quarterbacks early in the second quarter, went back to Smith in the third, then used Chapman again in the fourth.
Neither had much success.
Cal limited the duo to just 173 combined passing yards and also held running back Donnel Pumphrey to 76 yards on 21 carries.
-----
AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.