AUBURN — Auburn football fans packed out Jordan-Hare stadium for its whiteout game against Cal on Saturday. After traveling 2,500 miles, Cal escaped with a 21-14 victory.

Auburn drove down the field on its opening drive and scored the game's first touchdown. Cal scored 14 unanswered points for a touchdown lead at the halftime break.

The Tigers 'struggles on defense led to 326 total offensive yards for the Golden Bears (2-0). A slow afternoon for the Tigers offense led to five turnovers, including four Payton Thorne interceptions.

The Tigers (1-1) will host New Mexico before its conference opener against Arkansas.

Fernando Mendoza torches Auburn football defense

At halftime, Cal quarterback Mendoza had completed 19 of 21 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns to Nyziah Hunter. The Tigers failed to generate a passing rush, giving the secondary a hard time staying in front of the Cal wide receivers.

After keeping the Golden Bears scoreless the entirety of the third quarter, the Tigers allowed the decisive score in the fourth quarter. The Golden Bears converted 10 of 19 third-down situations.

Auburn's ground game struggles, turnovers hurt Tigers

The Golden Bears shut down Auburn's run game and kept the passing game in check. At halftime, the Tigers had 65 total rushing yards. with Thorne contributing 36 of those.

Jarquez Hunter finished with 68 yards on the ground and sophomore Jerimiah Cobb added 43. Hunter's fumble late in the fourth led to a Jaivian Rush 32-yard touchdown run to extend the Golden Bears' lead to double digits.

Auburn finished with four interceptions from Thorne to go with the lost fumble. The Tigers also recovered two of their own fumbles and managed only 121 rushing yards.

What's next?

The Tigers will host New Mexico at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football falls to Cal in turnover-plagued defeat