Sagapolutele's 3 TD passes lead Cal to 27-14 win over Minnesota

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BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw three touchdown passes and California beat Minnesota 27-14 on Saturday night for the Golden Bears' third straight win to open the season.

“It was a big win for us,” Sagapolutele said. “We knew coming into this that it was going to be a big game and a big test. Throughout the week we prepared right. Guys were fired up about this. We just came out swinging, way better than we did last week.”

Cal (3-0) got its stiffest test after easy wins to open the season and Sagapolutele delivered once again and showed unusual poise for a freshman quarterback.

Sagapolutele finished 24 for 38 for 279 yards and the three short scoring passes to help the Bears earn the win against a power conference opponent.

The Golden Gophers (2-1) were in the game until special teams mishaps in the fourth quarter proved costly. Brady Denaburg missed a 51-yard field goal that could have tied the game with less than 10 minutes to play and Koi Perich muffed a punt at his own 8 the next Minnesota possession.

Sagapolutele made Minnesota pay with a 2-yard TD pass to Jordan King that made it 24-14 with 6:55 to play.

“None of it happens without the quarterback,” coach Justin Wilcox said. “Jaron, he just continues to impress. His demeanor out there. Just his understanding of the offense and what we’re asking him to do. ... You all see the accuracy and the way he can throw the ball. He threw some amazing passes again tonight. It’s not all that surprising because we see it every day.”

Cal struck first when Sagapolutele threw a 3-yard TD pass to Jacob De Jesus in the first quarter and Minnesota answered with 43 seconds left in the half on Cam Davis’ 1-yard run.

But Sagapolutele managed to move the Bears 48 yards in the closing seconds to take a 10-7 halftime lead on Abram Murray’s 45-yard field goal.

The teams traded TDs in the third quarter with Drake Lindsey giving Minnesota the lead with a 3-yard pass to Jameson Geers and Sagapolutele answering with a 9-yarder to Mason Mini that put Cal up 17-14 in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

Minnesota: The Gophers weren't seriously threatened in the first two games against Buffalo and Northwestern State but fell short against the Bears. Minnesota was hurt by the absence of star running back Darius Taylor, who missed the game with a leg injury.

California: The Bears started 3-0 for the second straight season and fifth time in nine years under coach Justin Wilcox. Now Cal needs to carry that over for the rest of the season. The Bears haven't finished with a winning record since going 8-5 in 2019.

Minnesota: Hosts Rutgers on Sept. 27 in Big Ten opener.

California: Visits San Diego State on Saturday night.

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