Cal-Minnesota Game Thread: Bears Stay Perfect With 27-14 Victory

Freshman quarterbak Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw 3 touchdown passes and Cal stayed unbeaten after a 27-14 victory over Minnesota on Saturday night in front of 38,556 fans at Memorial Stadium.

Cal senior receiver/return specialist Jacob De Jesus talked in the video earleir this week about the increased energy in practice all week, suggestng the Bears understand how big a non-conference game this can be.

"It's a big challenge for us, which I'm excited for," he said. "To see where we're at as a team. If we can win this game, it says lot about us and it can say a lot about us."

Cal plays next Saturday at San Diego State (1-1), hoping to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2019.

The game thread:

COIN TOSS: Cal wins the toss and opts to receive the opening kickoff

2:54 1st Q: On its third possession of the game, Cal goes 62 yards in seven plays with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele passing 3 yards to Jacob De Jesus for the touchdown. Sagapolutele completed his final four pass attempts on the drive for 59 yards, including a 22-yarder to Trond Grizzell to the 3-yard line. Cal 7, Minnesota 0

0:43 2nd Q: Cam Davis scores on a 1-yard run that was really more like 6 inches. Cal stopped the Gophers on 1st and 2nd down from the 1 before Davis went in through left tackle to cap a 16-play, 69-yard drive. QB Drake Lindsey completed three passes for 43 yards to WR Le'Meke Brockington. Cal 7, Minnesota 7

0:00 2nd Q: Abram Murray kicks a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the half to send Cal into the locker room with the lead. The Bears went 48 yards in six plays in 43 seconds, with Sagapolutele getting things started with a 39-yard completion to Mark Hamper to the Minnesota 46. He also hit De Jesus with a 19-yarder for a first down at the Gophers' 30-yard line. Cal 10, Minnesota 7

HALFTIME STATS: Cal has outgained Minnesota 244 yards to 163, including 241 to 101 through the air. But the Bears have just 3 rushing yards on 6 attempts. First dwn are 10-9 for Cal. Average per play is 7.4 yards for the Bears, 4.8 for the Gophers. Sagapolutele is 18 for 26 for 241 yards to nine different receivers with a touchdown. Neither team has a turnover. Michael Kern is averaging 49.0 yards on 3 punts and two of them pinned Minnesota at its own 2-yard line. The Bears are 5 for 5 on field goals this season.

11:32 3rd Q: Cal forces the first turnover of the game when CB Hezekiah Masses collects his third interception in three games, giving the Bears possession at their own 37. Cal 10, Minnesota 7

4:36 3rd Q: Drake Lindsey passes 3 yards to tight end Jameson Geers and the Gophers take the lead for the first time. Minnesota went 64 yards in nine plays, aided by two Cal penalties that provided first downs. Minnesota 14, Cal 10

0:20 3rd Q: Sagapolutele hits TE Mason Mini at the 4-yard and Mini spins free of a tackle and runs into the end zone to complete a 9-yard scoring play. The Bears went 75 yards in nine plays. Sagapolutele went 5 for 6 for 36 yards on the drive. Brandon High had runs of 18 and 13 yards, giving a dormant run game a big boost. Cal 17, Minnesota 14

6:55 4th Q: Sagapolutele uses a play fake to roll left and throw a 2-yard TD pass to a wide-open Jordan King, pushing Cal's lead to double digits after the PAT.. The 8-yard scoring drive was set up by freshman Aiden Manutai's recovery of a muffed punt return try to Minnesota's Koe Perich. Cal 24, Minnesota 14

1:15 4th Q: Chase Meyer kicked a 38-yard field goal to cap the scoring and keep the Bears perfect on six FG attempts through three games. Cal 27, Minnesota 14

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