RENO, Nev., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Colin Kaepernick ran for three touchdowns Friday and passed for another, highlighting an offensive duel in which Nevada downed No. 24 California 52-31.
Nevada took a 24-14 halftime lead and continued to answer California touchdowns in the second half to remain unbeaten in three games. The Golden Bears fell to 2-1.
Kaepernick hit Tray Session with a 15-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring midway through the first period and then ran for scores of 1 and 8 yards in the second quarter.
He also threw a 28-yard pass to Rishard Matthews late in the third period and Matthews fumbled at the goal line. Matthews was credited with a fumble recovery in the end zone rather than a touchdown catch, but it gave the Wolf Pack a 38-24 lead.
Kaepernick finished the night by running 27 yards for another score. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 183 yards and ran 17 times for 142.
Nevada got a 54-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter by Vai Taua to go up 45-24. California trailed by only three in the third quarter and was driving toward a potential go-ahead touchdown when Marlon Johnson intercepted a pass by Kevin Riley and returned it 65 yards for a score.
The teams combined for 46 first downs and 999 yards of offense -- 503 of it from California.
