BERKELEY — Cal’s football season seemed ready to take a turn for the worse late Friday night when defensive back Brent “Paco” Austin came to the rescue.

The senior transfer from South Florida punched the ball out of the grasp of North Carolina wide receiver Nathan Leacock just before he was ready to cross the goal line for what would have been a 7-yard scoring play.

Austin then recovered the fumble in the end zone with 3:48 left, helping to preserve a 21-18 victory for the Golden Bears.

The Bears struggled offensively much of the game, played before 33,401 at Memorial Stadium and whatever portion of an ESPN audience remained awake before the game ended at 2:15 a.m. Eastern time.

UNC got one last offensive play and tried a series of laterals to keep the play alive from its own 19-yard l

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