Aug 30, 2018 2 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Devanaire Conliffe ruined Noah Mitchell’s first game as starting quarterback for California University’s football team Thursday evening.

The big play wide receiver caught two long touchdown passes to pace Ohio Dominican to a 28-23 victory over the Vulcans in a nonconference season opener for both teams.

Mitchell, a true freshman who won the quarterback battle in camp, completed 30 of 42 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions. Two of those interceptions came on deflections.

Mitchell led California to a last-gasp drive in the final minutes, reaching the 15-yard line of ODU with 1:07 to play. But a fourth-down pass to Jordan Dandridge in the corner of the end zone fell incomplete.

Conliffe caught a 50-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio Dominican a 28-17 lead. It was the third straight score for the Panthers in the second half.

The Vulcans made it a five-point game when Chad Livingston caught a one-yard TD pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed with 9:08 to play.

ODU quarterback Shane Bucenell completed 20 of 26 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception. Cal’s defense gave up 319 yards.

Dandridge led Cal with nine receptions for 120 yards and a TD. Nelson Brown rushed 23 times for 69 yards in his debut for Cal.

California built a 17-14 lead at halftime as Mitchell showed his strong arm. He led the Vulcans on scoring drives on their first three possessions.

Mitchell directed a 13-play, 74-yard drive to set up the first score of the game, a six-yard toss to Craig Thompson to make it 7-0.

Mitchell moved the Vulcans into field goal range with about a minute left in the first quarter and Tristan Williams kicked a 28-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

Cal made it 17-7 in thee second quarter when Mitchell found Dandridge from 19 yards.

ODU pulled to within three when Conliffe got behind the Cal secondary for a 59-yard score.