Boller Gets Win in His First Start

Freshman Kyle Boller led two fourth-quarter scoring drives in his first college start as California rallied to beat Arizona State, 24-23, Saturday in a Pacific 10 Conference opener.

A blocked extra-point try was the difference in the game.

Boller, the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Bears, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Pac-10, since current assistant coach Troy Taylor in 1986, completed 17 of 32 passes for 213 yards.

He threw touchdown passes of 16 yards to Marcus Fields and 12 yards to Michael Ainsworth, who finished with 11 catches for 121 yards.

The victory ended the Bears’ four-game losing streak to the Sun Devils (1-2, 0-1) and marked the second win in eight meetings since Sun Devil Coach Bruce Snyder left the Bears after the 1991 season.

Ryan Kealy threw Arizona State’s first two touchdown passes of the season, both to Richard Williams, but he was knocked out of the game early in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs. John Leonard replaced him but was ineffective.

With the score tied, 14-14, the Sun Devils started the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Stephen Baker and a 27-yard touchdown run from Delvon Flowers. However, Tully Banta-Cain broke through to block Baker’s extra-point try.

Boller, from Newhall Hart High, shrugged off a earlier interception to lead a 75-yard drive, ending in a 12-yard scoring pass to Ainsworth with 10:05 remaining. Cal’s defense then forced a punt that led to Steve Hershey’s 25-yard field goal with 7:11 left.

The Sun Devils’ last good chance came when freshman running back Joe Igber fumbled with 1:28 remaining, but Leonard’s third-down pass was intercepted by cornerback Atari Callen.