Cal Game Thread: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's 3 TD Passes Lift Bears

Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw three touchdown passes and Cal opened its season with a 31-15 road victory over Oregon State on Saturday night.

Cal, seeking its first winning season since 2019, fields a team with 13 starters who weren't even part of the program a year ago. That list starts with Sagapolutele, who becomes just the second freshman quarterback to start the season opener for Cal. Yep, the other one was Jared Goff.

Sagapolutele wound up 20 for 30 for 34 yards with the three TDs and no turnovers. He also had a 25-yard run on a scramble.

The Bears crushed the Beavers 44-7 last year. That game was in Berkeley, this one in Corvallis, Ore. And that was a different Cal team.

Here's our game thread:

COIN FLIP: Oregon State wins the toss and Cal will receive the opening kickoff.

11:23 1st Q: Sagapolutele throws a 19-yard TD pass to tight end Mason Mini, capping a seven-play, 73-yard drive. The two big plays on the drive: an illegal substitution penalty against the Beavers on a Cal punt play, giving the Bears a first down at their own 41; and a 35-yard completion to Trond Grizell to the 24-yard line on the next snap. Cal 7, OSU 0

7:56 1st Q: After a 3-and-out by Oregon State on its first series, Cal starts at its own 23 and goes 77 yards in six plays, with Sagapolutele firing a 32-yard TD pass down the right sideline to Grizzell. RB Kendrick Raphael had 3 rushes for 11 yards and Sagapolutele was 3 for 3 for 66 yards. After his first two series as a college QB, he is 6 for 6 for 125 yards with two touchdowns. Cal 14, OSU 0

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Cal will start with the ball and a first down at its own 30-yard line after a 25-yard punt return by Jacob De Jesus. Total yards: Cal 169, OSU 38. First downs: Cal 7, OSU 1. The Bears are averaging 8.9 yards per play. Sagapolutele completed his first 9 pass attempts and is 9 for 11 for 146 yards with two TDs. Cal 14, Oregon State 0

9:29 2nd Q: After Cal's first non-scoring possession of the night, the Beavers go 43 yards in six plays before Caleb Ojeda drills a 53-yard FG. The series included a 14-yard run by Anthony Hankerson and a 30-yard completion from Maalik Murphy to Trent Walker. Cal 14, OSU 3.

0:00 2nd Q:Junior Abram Murray easily delivers on a 49-yard FG as Cal caps a five-play, 35-yard drive to end the half. Sagapolutele's 25-yard scramble the big play on the possession.Cal 17, OSU 3.

HALFTIME STATS: Sagapolutele is 17 for 25 (68 percent) for 190 with the two TDs and no interceptions. The Bears rushed 12 times for 56 yards, but 25 of those came on a scramble by Sagapolutele. Cal's two running backs, Kendrick Raphael and Brandon High Jr., combined for 36 yards on 10 attempts.

The Bears outgained OSU 246 yards to 129. First downs: 11-7. OSU had the only turnover of the first half.

11:37 3rd Q: Sagapolutele throws his third touchdown pass of the night, a 4-yarder to tight end Landon Morris, the Bears stretch the lead. Sagapolutele's 35-yard completion to WR Mark Hamper to the 3-yard line set up the TD. Sagapolutele is 19 for 27 for 229 yards. Cal 24, OSU 3

4:16 3rd Q: Running Anthony Hankerson scores on a 2-yard run, capping an 11-play, 84-yard drive. The big play on the drive was one that did not count - Cal senior cornerback Zeke Masses intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned the length of the field for an apparent Cal TD. But he was flagged for pass interference, with replays showing he wrapped his left around loosely around the waist of intended receiver Trent Walker. That gave OSU a reprieve - and a first down - and Hankerson took the direct snap and scored the Beavers' first TD of the night. Surprisingly, OSU went for a 2-point conversion and Murphy's pass was incomplete. Cal 24, OSU 9

END OF THIRD QUARTER: OSU starts the fourth quarter with a 2nd and 8 play from its own 3-yard line after Cal downed a punt at the 1. The Bears have a total yardage edge of 300 to 209 and a 13-11 advantage in first downs. Sagapolutele is 20 for 29 for 234 yard and has thrown at least three accurate deep balls that his receivers were unable to catch. Cal 24, OSU 9

12:02 4th Q: Brandon High Jr. powers in from the 2-yard line to give the Bears some breathing room. Zeke Masses, who had a third-quarter pick-6 nullified by a pass interference penalty, nearly takes this one to the end zone. The transfer CB from Florida International return his INT 41 yards to the 2-yard line to set up the 1-play scoring drive. Cal 31, OSU 9

8:16 4th Q: QB Maalik Murphy scrambled 3 yards for a touchdown, climaxing a 10-play 78-yard drive. The 2-point conversion failed. Cal 31, OSU 15

0:20 4th Q: Chase Meyer conveted a 23-yard field goal to complete a 10-play, 29-yard drive as the Bears tried to run out the clock. Cal 34, OSU 15

Pre-game reading:

-- Our comprehensive game preview

-- Four big questions we have about the Bears

-- An Oregon State beat writers provides a scouting report

-- Is freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele ready for tonight?

-- No one will be busier tonight than Jacob De Jesus

-- Linebacker Cade Uluave embraces his role as team captain

-- Defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina welcomes underdog role

-- Cal's Week 1 depth chart