Cal at San Diego State Game Thread: Bears Suffer Shocking 34-0 Defeat

Cal bid for its first 4-0 start since 2019 instead became a stunning 34-0 loss to San Diego State on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

Cal, a 14-point favorite after winning its first three games by double-digit margins, was outplayed in facet of the game.

The Aztecs (2-1) controlled the line of scrimmage and forced Cal freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele into his first ugly game of the season. He completed 7 of his first 8 pass attempts, but finished 17 for38 for 208 yards with two interceptions. The first of those was returned 97 yards for a touchdown.

Cal was shut out for the first time since a 35-0 defeat at No 12 Utah on Oct. 12, 2019. The Bears hadn't gone scoreless in a non-conference game since a 45-0 loss at No. 5 Nebraska on Sept. 11, 1999.

Coach Justin Wilcox talks in the video above about his revamped staff of assistants.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY UPDATE: Redshirt freshman placekicker Abram Murray is listed as unavalable for tonight's game. No reason was given. Murray has shared field-goal duties with redshirt junior Chase Meyer. Each is 3 for 3 on field goals this season.

Murray takes the long field goals, having connected attempts from 44, 45 and 49 yards without a miss. He also has been responsible for 17 of the team's 18 kickoffs. Meyer, who has handled short field goals and is 10 for 10 on extra points, will presumably be responsible for all of Cal's kicks tonight.

Here's the game thread:

COIN FLIP: Cal wins the toss and defers. The Bears will kickoff to SDSU to start the game and will get the ball first in the second half.

2:54 1st Q: After forcing the Aztecs to punt on their first possession, the Bears ran 19 offensive plays, covering 75 yards and holding the ball for 10 minutes, 7 seconds. But they came away with nothing when Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw incomplete to TE Landon Morris in the back of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play from the 2-yard line. Sagapolutele was 7 for 9 for 46 yards, including 4 passes for 32 yards to TE Mason Mini. Cal 0, SDSU 0

END OF 1ST Q: Still scoreless. Cal has a third-and-7 from its oen 39-yard line when the second quarter begins. Bears have 73 total yards to 21 for SDSU. Cal has 47 passing and 26 rushing; SDSU has 4 passing and 17 rushing. First downs are 5-2 in favor of Cal. Cal 0, SDSU 0

11:42 2nd Q: Wide receiver Jordan Napier takes a pitch pass sweeping right to left and goes into the end zone from the 6-yard line. Two plays earlier, Napier beat defensive back Cam Sidney for an 80-yard reception -- the Aztecs' longest pass play since 2017 -- for a first down at the 10. SDSU 7, Cal 0.

6:20 2nd Q: After a 3-and-out by the Cal offense, which has just 2 yards in the quarter, SDSU gets good field position after a 22-yard punt return to the Cal 41 by Eric Butler. The Aztecs then went 25 yards in 7 plays before Gabriel Plasencia kicks a 34-yard field goal -- his 15th consecutive made FG -- and the home team pads its lead. The Bears facing their biggest deficit of the young season. SDSU 10, Cal 0.

3:49 2nd Q: Cal comes up empty again when Chase Meyer misses a 44-yard field goal. It likey would have been Abram Murray to attempt this kick, but he is not available tonight. Back-to-back false starts pushed Cal back from the SDSU 16 to the 26, taking away what would have been a chip-shot FG try. The Bears got into the red zone with a 33-yard pass completiont to Trond Grizzell. But after scoring on all 13 red-zone chances through three games, the Bears are 0 for 2 when crossing the 20-yard line in this one. SDSU 10, Cal 0.

0:00 2nd Q: Plasencia converts his 16th consecutive field goal, this one from 41 yards on the final play of the half, capping a nine-play, 51-yard drive. Another Cal mistake fueled the Aztecs as an offsides penalty against defensive lineman Derek Wilkins nullified an interception in the end zone by Isaiah Crosby. SDSU 13, Cal 0.

11:03 3rd Q: Things went from bad to worse for the Bears when RB Kendrick Raphael fumbled and Aztecs' safety Dwayne McDougal -- a junior transfer from Idaho who played at McClymonds High School in Oakland -- grabbed the ball and ran 35 yards untouched for a touchdown. SDSU 20, Cal 0

5:59 3rd 3rd Q: Wow . . . Cal drove to the SDSU 20-yard line before cornerback Chris Johnson stepped in front of receiver Jaiven Plummer, intercepted Sagapolutele at the 3-yard line and raced 97 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. SDSU 27, Cal 0

9:30 4th Q: The Aztecs put one more TD on the board when Lucky Sutton scored on a 7-yard run to cap a 12-play, 76-yard drive. SDSU 34, Cal 0