Cal picked up its first conference win of the season Saturday at home with a 24-21 victory over the visiting Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Golden Bears were outgained in the contest and turned away on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard-line that would have iced the game, but they got just enough plays from Jaydn Ott, Jeremiah Hunter, and Kaleb Elarms-Orr to escape with a narrow win.

Ott finished with 165 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. The Cal passing game, led by Sam Jackson V, produced just 130 yards on 12-of-29 passing. Ott had to carry the load for an offense that really struggled to create some verticality.

Hunter was the bright spot in the pass game, bringing in a 31-yard reception in the first quarter to set up Cal’s first score, and then a 21-yard touchdown for himself in the third. He finished with 89 yards on six catches.

Elarms-Orr had 15 tackles to lead the defense. Jackson Sirmon had 13 as well.

ASU scored with 9:18 on the game clock to claw within three points. When Cal took over on the ensuing possession, it felt like surely the Sun Devils would at least get one or two more cracks at it. Instead, Cal embarked on an 18-play, 74-yard drive that took 6:28 off the clock and went all the way to the 1-yard-line.

Facing a fourth-and-seven from the ASU 25, Cal opted against kicking a field goal and went for the kill shot. What followed was a comedy of errors.

Jackson dropped the snap, and when he picked it up, he was almost immediately sacked by ASU. He managed to escape the first tackle and found himself on his back foot with multiple Sun Devil defenders bearing down on him. He threw the ball up to the goal line just hoping for a miracle. One of two ASU defenders in the area tipped the ball over the intended receiver, but ASU’s Ed Woods was flagged for pass interference.

The ball was moved to the 10 and Cal was given a new set of downs. Ott eventually pushed it to the 1 and Cal went again on fourth down. This time, ASU stonewalled an Ott rushing attempt and gave its offense a chance.

Trenton Bourguet — who finished the day 26-for-41 for 344 yards and a pick — got ASU to its 39 but no further, firing incomplete on third and fourth down to end the game.

Arizona State finished with 430 yards of total offense, biting off 6 a play. Cam Skattebo was held to just 59 yards rushing on 24 carries, but he got loose for 98 receiving yards on four catches. He had a 66-yard reception that nearly set up a touchdown in the third. ASU had a fourth-down touchdown run from the 1 negated because of a penalty and settled for a field goal, one of two times the Sun Devils got into the red zone and were held to three points.

Cal (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) hosts Oregon State next Saturday.

Arizona State (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) hosts Colorado.