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Northwestern defeats Cal

Quarterback Brett Hundley led the Bruins to an impressive win. (Associated Press)
Quarterback Brett Hundley led the Bruins to an impressive win. (Associated Press)

Collin Ellis returned two interceptions on deflected passes for touchdowns to help No. 22 Northwestern spoil Sonny Dykes’ debut as California coach with a 44-30 victory in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday night.

Ellis had a 56-yard return in the third quarter and then put the Wildcats (0-1) in control when he took another one back 40 yards midway through the fourth to take a 10-point lead.

Those were rare blemishes on an otherwise strong debut by Jared Goff, who became the first true freshman ever to start the season opener for the Golden Bears (0-1). Goff went 38 for 63 for 445 yards and two touchdowns and Cal also scored on a fake field goal on the opening drive in an entertaining start to Dykes’ tenure.

Despite the win, it was a taxing opener for the Wildcats, who lost starting quarterback Kain Colter to an upper-body injury after their second play from scrimmage and then saw starting cornerback Daniel Jones go down with an apparent leg injury late in the first half.

Trevor Siemian, who normally splits time with Colter, went 18 for 29 for 276 yards and a TD.

(3) Oregon 66, Nicholls 3: At Eugene, Marcus Mariota threw a touchdown pass and ran for two additional scores and the Ducks made easy work of the lower-tier Colonels.

Mariota, who set an Oregon record with 38 touchdowns last season as a redshirt freshman, completed 12 of 21 passes for 234 yards before sitting after the third quarter.

Mariota also ran for 113 yards for his second career game with more than 100 yards rushing.

De’Anthony Thomas ran for 128 yards and two more touchdowns for Oregon in the debut of new head coach Mark Helfrich.

UCLA 58, Nevada 20: At Pasadena, Calif., Brett Hundley passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores, leading the Bruins (1-0) to a second-half surge in a victory over the Wolf Pack (0-1).

Jordon James rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown, and Phillip Ruhl returned a blocked punt for a short touchdown as UCLA thoroughly spoiled the debut of Nevada coach Brian Polian with a 41-point second half.

Shaq Evans had six receptions for 81 yards and a score, and Malcolm Jones caught a late TD pass during a dominant effort by the UCLA offense.