David Ash caught one touchdown and threw for another, and Texas capitalized on five California turnovers to push past the Golden Bears 21-10 in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday in San Diego.

Ash, a freshman who was announced as the starting quarterback just hours before the game, helped the Longhorns (8-5) close the season on a high note after losing three of their final four regular-season games.

Ash’s 4-yard touchdown catch on a trick play from wide receiver Jaxon Shipley gave Texas a 7-3 lead after a grinding first half in which the two teams combined for 165 total yards, including 8 on the ground.

Things opened up a bit after the break when Ash found Marquise Goodwin streaking wide open down the right sideline for a 47-yard score that put Texas on top 14-10 midway through the third quarter.

Isi Sofele rushed for 48 yards and a score for California (7-6), which struggled with Texas’ suffocating defense.

The fourth of the Golden Bears’ turnovers was Zach Maynard's fumble that led to Cody Johnson’s 4-yard rushing score to give the Longhorns a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

After snapping a 12-year postseason run with a sub-.500 season in 2010, the Longhorns have won six of their last seven bowl games and moved to 9-4 in bowls under coach Mack Brown.

California dropped to 5-3 in bowl games under coach Jeff Tedford.