Cal Tops Minnesota 27-14 in Hard-Fought Battle
Cal battles their way to 3-0
The California Golden Bears are now 3-0 to start the season after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 27-14 with freshman Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele turning in another encouraging performance throwing for 279 yards.
This win gives Cal its second consecutive 3-0 start. This is Cal’s first win over a Big Ten school under Coach Justin Wilcox outside of the 35-20 win over the University of Illinois in the Redbox Bowl in 2019.
Cal and Minnesota spent the majority of the first quarter stifling one another on offense. Both sides had inconsistent luck matriculating the ball up field throughout the first half, with the Golden Bears only attempting five runs during that time. Cal’s run defense looked especially stout early in the game, while their DBs felt the strain of Cade Uluave’s absence in the first half.
Hezekiah Masses intercepted a pass early in the 3rd quarter, but the Golden Bears were unable to take advantage of their good fortune, as Sagapolutele ate a sack on a first down leading to a 2nd and 26 situation that the offense could not overcome. This was Minnesota’s strongest quarter of football. Despite that, Cal held a 10-7 lead at the half.
Minnesota’s long, grinding drives threatened to wear down Cal’s defense, and the Golden Gophers scored a go ahead touchdown in the 3rd that felt like the beginning of a slide for the Bears. Cal responded by marching downfield and regaining a three point lead themselves. Although Minnesota trailed for much of the game, the Golden Gophers nearly doubled the Bears in time of possession. Momentum palpably shifted when Minnesota’s defensive back and special teams player Koi Perich fumbled a punt return inside the ten yard line. Cal recovered on the Minnesota 8 yard line, scoring a touchdown two plays later.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele effectively spread the ball around, with three different pass catchers finding the endzone. Wideout Jacob De Jesus in particular had a strong outing, notching 54 yards and a touchdown from 10 targets. Cal had a tougher go of it running the ball, earning only 61 yards total, compared to Minnesota’s 130. Cal won the turnover battle 2-0, succeeding in areas that doomed them in the past. Despite lopsided time of possession and rushing yards in favor of Minnesota, the score tells a different story.
After every thing we’ve been through. The decades of inexplicable injuries, bad calls, heartbreaking losses, disrespect, humiliation, hopelessness, and the constant waving in our face that no one cares about Cal football. Combined with us being the last ones barelyy picked out of the Pac 12, and the soul of our team being snatched by the portal this offseason, this is the sweetest win I’ve ever witnessed in my 20 years of Cal fandom
This really feels like the beginning of a new era. Somehow they corrected all the mistakes that haunted us last year today. I’m so proud of Wilcox and the team for getting to this point.