Cal Comes from Behind to Hang on and Beat Virginia Tech, 25-20

A wild ride without all the familiar faces

image courtesy of @calfootball

Cal (3-3) and Virginia Tech (4-2) met for the third time this afternoon, and the conference foes have developed an affinity for one another that has, in recent history, translated into odd games. Today kept that tradition alive. The first quarter was scoreless and featured little of note, except for a Hokies field goal attempt that sailed wide left. Standout Cal safety Kingston Lopa and QB1 Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele were both out after sustaining concussions in last week’s game against UNLV.

Virginia Tech broke the seal three minutes into the second quarter, when QB Ethan Grunkemeyer found WR Ayden Greene for a 30-yard touchdown. After little to that point in the game, the Bears answered with their first successful drive later in the quarter, highlighted by a 42-yard shot to Chase Hendricks and another 23-yarder to Jordan King. Ashten Emory, starting in place of Adam Mohammed, scored a few plays later to even the score at 7-7 with six minutes left in the half.

Penalties have plagued Cal all year, and today was no different. On Tech’s next drive, what might have been a crucial stop on second and long turned into a facemask penalty that moved the Hokies into the red zone. Power back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. handled the next few plays and found the end zone, restoring Virginia Tech’s lead at 14-7. Cal then hit back-to-back 21-yard receptions to Jordan King and Ian Strong, setting up Townes McGough for a 35-yard field goal to end the half, 14-10.

Midway through the third quarter, Cal converted a fake punt, with tight end Dorian Thomas running to the Tech 37. Change-up back Carson Perry-Smith acquitted himself well, helping advance the ball into the red zone, where the drive eventually stalled. Faced with 4th and goal from the Hokie 4-yard line, Cal sent out McGough for a field goal that left the Bears down 14-13 as the third quarter closed.

A questionable targeting call against Cal, on what looked like a hard sack, extended a drive that would otherwise have been over and brought the Hokies to midfield. They capitalized, throwing their way into the red zone and facing 4th and 1 at the Cal 16, but the field goal attempt was once again wide left. Cal put together a successful drive on its next possession. The Bears briefly bogged down in the red zone but found the end zone on a tenuous-feeling 3rd and goal, with Perry-Smith making a leaping grab for the touchdown. Cal went for two and missed, but led 19-14 with just over four minutes remaining.

Virginia Tech spent the next two minutes advancing to the Cal 11-yard line and began the final two minutes of regulation with a fresh set of downs. After 45 more seconds, Tech ran it in for a touchdown, but its own two-point attempt failed, putting the Hokies up 20-19 with 1:15 left.

Cal’s final drive was aided by two costly Virginia Tech penalties, with RB Ashten Emory punching in a touchdown with 19 seconds remaining. The Bears again failed on the two-point try, but led 25-20. Virginia Tech made quick work of good field position, helped by more than 15 yards of Cal penalties, and reached first and goal at the Cal 7 with three seconds left. The final throw fell incomplete, handing Cal its first win over Virginia Tech since joining the ACC.