Category: Cal Bears

North Carolina State Blows Game Open In Second Half Beating the California Bears 31-10

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Cal Bears running back Ashten Emory (20) rushes against the NC State Wolfpack defense at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh NC on Sat Oct 31, 2026 (Cal Bears photo)

By Barbara Mason

The California Bears (3-6) matched up with the North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-4) Saturday in a week-nine game at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Bears just couldn’t get a better effort much like their last game losing to SMU in a very disappointing second half of football after leading at the half. This week the Bears went down with a tough 31-10 loss to Wolfpack.

The first quarter was an extremely slow start for the Cal Bears trailing 7-0 after the first fifteen minutes of this game. In the second quarter North Carolina scored a 43-yd field goal extending their lead to10-0. California scored their first touchdown of the day at 4:58 and with one second left on the clock in the first half kicked a 38-yd field goal to tie up this game 10-10.

The Wolfpack scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, the first one at 9:40 and the second at 0:11 to close out the third quarter. Going into the fourth quarter North Carolina had a 24-10 lead.

North Carolina State blew this game wide open in the fourth quarter. Another rushing score for the Wolfpack taking a 31-10 lead at 9:05. It was another disappointing second half of football for the California Bears.

GAME RECAP

Unlike last week, the California Bears had a slow start in the opening quarter of this game. They could not get much going offensively or defensively. North Carolina’s first touchdown of the game was an explosive play; a CJ Bailey pass to Deandre Desinor for 49-yards. The PAT was good and the Wolfpack took a 7-0 lead.

North Caroling extended their lead at 9:28 with Kanoah Vinesett kicking a 43-yd field goal giving the Wolfpack a 10-0 lead. At 4:58 the Bears were finally up on the scoreboard with a JK Sagapolutele 30-yd strike to Chase Hendricks for the touchdown and the Bears were back in the game. As the clock began to run out on the first half, California’s Towns McGough kicked a 38-yd field goal to tie up this game 10-10.

Going into the third quarter the Bears were in this game with the score tied. North Carolina took back the lead minutes into the quarter. Bailey connected with Chance Robinson for 38 yards, the PAT was good and North Carolina had taken a 17-10 lead.

The Wolfpack struck again just as the clock ran out on the third quarter. A rushing touchdown from Darius Johnson for two yards gave NC a 24-10 lead. It was a miserable quarter for the Bears with only 25 yards gained. Again penalties were a major factor for the Bears something they have struggled with all season among offensive and defensive struggles.

As the fourth got underway more penalties for Cal an unsportsmanlike for 15 yards. They now had six penalties today and coupled with the inability to not only run the ball but also stopping the run, the Bears were in trouble.

NC blew this game wide open with another touchdown at 9:05 giving the Wolfpack a 31-10 lead. At 9:05 Davion Gause rushed through a gaping hole into the end zone for six yards and the score.

With 7:43 left in the game, the Bears needed to play with tempo, they needed to play fast as if they were down to two minutes. The North Carolina defense was just too much for the Bears.

Cal gave up the ball on downs with 7:33 left in the game and the Wolfpack took over on the Bears 44-yd line. This pretty much sealed the win for the North Carolina State Wolfpack 31-10, now with a 4-4 season

GAME NOTES

This game was simply a sloppy game for the California Bears. No discipline, poor offense, the inability to stop the run, interceptions, penalties; whatever could go wrong did go wrong. Another drastic difference between the first and second halves of games.

The Bears struggled with inconsistent offense, difficulty running the ball and defensive breakdowns. Throw in lack of discipline resulting in far too many penalties have hurt the team all season. They let the Wolfpack strike early giving quarterback CJ Bailey a field day. He finished with 192 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Cal offense struggled to start the game. They went three-and-out on their first possession and were forced to punt on their next several drives. Again the Cal running game could not establish a consistent ground attack which put a lot of pressure on quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. On top of it all the defense allowed too many rushing yards resulting in two touchdowns for the Wolfpack.

California quarterback JK Sagapolutele finished with 196 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked three times Cal rushed for 73 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per play. Ashton League led the Bears with 29 yards receiving yards. Corey Hendricks received for 67 yards, seven receptions and one touchdown.

In a nutshell, right now Cal has an inconsistent running game, no ground attack to speak of. It all falls to their quarterback and with so much trouble protecting their quarterback they continue to struggle on offense.

The defense is not consistent with a lot of trouble stopping the run. In today’s game they converted three of 13 third-downs and that is a lowly 23%. They simply could not keep drives alive. There were no explosive plays at all for the Bears today while they gave up big plays defensively.

Again the inability to make any adjustments when it all began to go south was puzzling. There are huge issues regarding the offensive line, the running game and the defensive secondary that need to be addressed.

Cal will now have a bye week and time to figure out who on this team is giving their heart and soul into every game and as for the rest of them a lot of questions. Who is competing in every game and who is not. In two weeks the Bears will take on Virginia. That game will take place at Scott Stadium November 14 with the start of the game still to be determined.

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason: Will Golden Bears have quarterback controversy?

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Cal Bears quarterback Jackson Brousseau (11) started the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at UC Berkeley Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 17, 2026 (Cal Bears photo)

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason:

1. Quarterback controversy: Why did Cal Bears (3-4) head coach Tosh Lupoi start Jackson Brousseau instead of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, and how might the quarterback competition affect Cal moving forward in the 41-7 loss to Wake Forest (6-1)?

2. Sagapolutele’s return: After entering the game later, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mason Mini. Could that connection help the Bears’ passing attack regain momentum?

3. Running game struggles: Ashten Emory led Cal with 56 rushing yards. What must Emory and the offensive line improve to make the Bears more effective on the ground?

4. Receiving production: Chase Hendricks caught eight passes for 54 yards, while Mason Mini added five receptions and a touchdown. How can Cal get more explosive plays from these two targets?

5. Defensive response: With Isaiah Crosby recording six tackles and Kamar Mothudi adding five, what changes must Cal make defensively to prevent opponents from scoring so easily after allowing 509 total yards to Wake Forest?

Cal Bears podcast with Barbara Mason are heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum: Tough waking up to Wake Forest, Cal gets clobbered 41-7

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Cal Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) got into the game against Wake Forest at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum:

1. Quarterback controversy: Why did head coach Tosh Lupoi start Jackson Brousseau instead of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, and how might the quarterback competition affect Cal moving forward?

2. Sagapolutele’s return: After entering the game later, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mason Mini. Could that connection help the Bears’ passing attack regain momentum?

3. Running game struggles: Ashten Emory led Cal with 56 rushing yards. What must Emory and the offensive line improve to make the Bears more effective on the ground?

4. Receiving production: Chase Hendricks caught eight passes for 54 yards, while Mason Mini added five receptions and a touchdown. How can Cal get more explosive plays from these two targets?

5. Defensive response: With Isaiah Crosby recording six tackles and Kamar Mothudi adding five, what changes must Cal make defensively to prevent opponents from scoring so easily after allowing 509 total yards to Wake Forest?

Cal Bears podcast with Daniel Dullum are heard Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Demon Deacons unphased in the bay as they defeat the Golden Bears, 41-7, on “Grateful Bear Night”

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California Golden Bear (#7) Chase Hendricks makes the tackle on a Wake Forest Demon Deacon wide receiver Kameron Shanks (5) in a NCAA football game at the California Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 18th, in Berkeley, CA. (Photo credits to Sports Illustrated)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – Saturday night, once again, the California Golden Bears (3-4) hosted and took on the no.21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1). Back to back conference matchups for the Bears after coming off of a Win against Virginia Tech. However, the Bears would have their hands full against Wake Forest as the Demon Deacon’s offense was too much for the Golden Bears with the final score being, 41-7

On November 8, 2024, the Bears traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for their first game with the Demon Deacons. Cal won 46–36 to secure its first conference win as an ACC member. Linebacker Liam Johnson’s game-winning interception and  future Super Bowl starter Craig Woodson and third-round NFL draft choice Nohl Williams were among the three passes that Cal intercepted. Fernando Mendoza, this year’s first-round pick in the NFL Draft, helped the Bears win throwing for a career-high 385 yards and three touchdowns.

In the first quarter, Cal started the game with the ball, and with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele listed active, after recovering from a concussion two weeks ago, Sagapolutele was assigned the backup quarterback in this game. Cal’s Jackson Brousseau would get the start again, after coming off his first win as a starter against Virginia Tech last week. However, Brousseau first offensive possession, he couldn’t get the Bears to pass their 40-yard line.

Wake Forest would have early success on their offensive possession’s which led to them scoring twice. On their first offensive drive, they had to start at their 1-yard line from Cal’s punt. That wouldn’t phase Wake Forest, as it took them just five plays to get the first touchdown of the night in Berkeley. Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez would complete a 39-yard touchdown pass to Dominick Barry and making the score 7-0.

After another three and out on Cal’s offense. Wake Forest returned to the field and on their first play on offense, they would score. Cal’s defense would send an all out blitz on Wake Forest, but their quarterback Gio Lopez anticipated them and was able to find Jack Foley for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Lopez and hiss offense would change the score, 14-0, over the Bears. Cal’s offense altogether in the first quarter would put up just 52 yards, while Wake Forest had 163 yards.

Going into the second quarter, Wake Forest started with the ball and took their time marching down the field on Cal’s defense. It would take the Demon Deacons eleven plays to score on this drive. Wake Forest’s running back Jamar Searcy, from Oakland, CA, would rush in a 1-yard touchdown, and push the lead to 21-0. Wake Forest’s defense has given the Bears a hard time, that they would see another three and out on their offense. Then in just five plays, Wake Forest would score again, Ty Clark III would rush in a 31-yard touchdown. However, Deamon Deacon’s would go a 2-point conversion, but failed to get it. The score would now be 27-0. Wake First first four drives in the game all ended in a touchdown for them.

With just a minute and twelve seconds left of the first half, Wake Forest defense stopped the Bears from scoring on their 1-yard line. So from starting a yard away from your end zone, Wake Forest has the ball in awkward field position. However that wouldn’t affect them as it took them just seven plays to score. Gio Lopez would find Dominick Barry, again, for a 30-yard touchdown pass. This is now Barry’s second touchdown of the night, and setting up halftime with the score at, 34-0.

Heading back from halftime and going into the third quarter, Wake Forest’s offense would hop on the field first. This time, Cal’s defense would come up and hold the Demon Deacons offense to punt on nine plays. However, Cal’s offense on their first possession entering the second half wasn’t much either. The Bears would only snap the ball for 6 plays until they were met to punt. Gio Lopez wasn’t done yet as him and his offense would put up anither touchdown in seven plays.

Lopez would find his receiver, Dominick Barry., for a 2-yard touchdown pass. Barry’s touchdown was his third one of the night. His efforts and touchdown on this drive would push the lead for Wake Forest to 41-0. Going into the final quarter of the game, the Bears wouldn’t take a blowout loss. At the five minute mark of the fourth, the Bears tight end Mason Mini, would catch a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Sagapolutele would make his mark after being benched at the start of the game. He would bring the Bears first and only touchdown of the game.

With the clock winding down and Wake Forest’s offense putting up 20 points in the second quarter. The Bears would fall to the Demon Deacons of the final score being, 41-7. Gio Lopez would throw for 4 touchdown passes to cruise right through the Bears and get the Demons feeling Golden.

After playing at home in their last two games, the Bears will hit the road for their next three games. Cal’s first stop on this three game road trip will be with the SMU Mustangs. The Bears and Mustangs will play each other on October 24th at 9 a.m. and will be broadcast live on the CW Network. After the Mustangs, the Bears will take on North Carolina State and then face off against Virginia. `

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason: Bears find their way back to win column against Hokies

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Jackson Brousseau threw for 321 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 10, 2026. Photo by: Brianna Ali/Cal Athletics

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason:

1. Jackson Brousseau’s performance: How important was Brousseau’s 321 passing yards and one touchdown in keeping Cal competitive, especially with starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele unavailable due to injury?

2. Ashten Emory’s big night: How did Emory’s two rushing touchdowns, including the decisive two-yard score late in the fourth quarter, change the momentum of the game?

3. Cal’s receiving threats: How did Ian Strong’s 97 receiving yards and Chase Hendricks’ 94 yards help Brousseau move the ball against Virginia Tech’s defense?

4. Defensive resilience: How did Cal defenders Daniel Harris, who recorded a career-high eight tackles, and Cam Sydney, who broke up Virginia Tech’s final pass attempt, help secure the five-point victory?

5. Clutch plays under pressure: How crucial was Carson Perry-Smith’s late touchdown reception, along with the contributions of Towns McGough on field goals, in setting up Cal’s dramatic finish against the Hokies?

Join Barbara for the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum: Cal scores big in win over Virginia Tech 25-20; Brousseau passes for 321 yards

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Cal Bears running back Carson Perry Smith (17) makes the catch in front of the Virginia Tech Hokies safety Tyson Flowers (1) at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum:

1. Jackson Brousseau’s performance: How important was Brousseau’s 321 passing yards and one touchdown in keeping Cal competitive, especially with starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele unavailable due to injury?

2. Ashten Emory’s big night: How did Emory’s two rushing touchdowns, including the decisive two-yard score late in the fourth quarter, change the momentum of the game?

3. Cal’s receiving threats: How did Ian Strong’s 97 receiving yards and Chase Hendricks’ 94 yards help Brousseau move the ball against Virginia Tech’s defense?

4. Defensive resilience: How did Cal defenders Daniel Harris, who recorded a career-high eight tackles, and Cam Sydney, who broke up Virginia Tech’s final pass attempt, help secure the five-point victory?

5. Clutch plays under pressure: How crucial was Carson Perry-Smith’s late touchdown reception, along with the contributions of Towns McGough on field goals, in setting up Cal’s dramatic finish against the Hokies?

Join Daniel for the Cal Bears podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears beat the Virginia Tech Hokies, 25-20

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Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback (#17) Ethan Grukenmeyer looks downfield for an open receiver in an NCAA football game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10th, 2026, in Berkeley, CA. (Photo credit to IMAGN IMAGE)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – Saturday afternoon, the California Golden Bears (3-3) returned home to host the Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2) in this week’s six-game matchup. The Hokies led all game until a late fourth-quarter Bears offensive drive took the lead. However, Virginia Tech would have a chance to win the game, but the Bears’ defense came alive. California would get the win, 25-20 over Virginia Tech; this was also the Hokies first time playing in Berkeley.

Cal and Virginia Tech played their first-ever ACC football game at Databricks Field at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The Golden Bears and Hokies have a 1-1 record in their all-time series. In their first game as conference rivals last season, Virginia Tech won 42-34 in double overtime in Blacksburg, Virginia. The game was tied at 27 points at the end of regulation in last year’s back-and-forth game, forcing overtime. Before Virginia Tech scored the game-winning goal in the second extra time, the Bears and the Hokies traded touchdowns in the first overtime.

Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele did not play this afternoon as he’s recovering from a concussion in last week’s matchup against the UNLV Rebels. Jackson Brousseau started for Cal, his first start as a Golden Bear. Brousseau started 8 games at Colorado State last year. Adding to the bad news for the Bears, their star defensive back Kingston Lopa was also out. He’s recovering from a concussion he got last week as well, and he was leading the country in interceptions.

In the first quarter of the game, both teams were struggling offensively. Neither team was able to score in this quarter. The Bears were struggling to convert the ball on third downs; by the end of the quarter, the Bears went 0-of-3 on third downs. Also, Cal’s rushing game wasn’t seeing any success either, as the team’s rushing had -3 yards to start the game.

Going into the second quarter, Virginia Tech would get on the board first. Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer would throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Greene, and the Hokies led 7- 0. Then about six minutes later, the Bears were able to respond in five plays with Cal’s running back Ashten Emory. Emory would rush in a 5-yard touchdown and tie the game, 7-7.

Right before the two-minute warning, Virginia Tech would march down the field and finish their drive scoring. Hokies running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. rushes a 5-yard touchdown for Virginia Tech, giving them the lead, 14-7. However, to end the first half of the game, Bears kicker Towns McGough makes a 35-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 14-10.

At the start of the third quarter, the Bears’ offense became aggressive, and being at home helped Cal. After an eleven-play drive, the Bears weren’t able to get a touchdown but were able to get a field goal. California McGough would make another field goal, this time at 22 yards. He brought the Bears, 14-13, to the Hokies. Bears’ defense also came up big on their stops and didn’t let the Hokies score in the third quarter.

In the final quarter of the game, Virginia Tech and Cal gave it their all to get the win. Both of these teams lost last week, so a win can help project the rest of both their seasons. With four minutes left on the clock, the Bears were able to convert a touchdown while in the red zone. Bears Brousseau would throw to Carson Perry-Smith for a 3-yard touchdown, giving Cal the lead, 19-13. California would go for the 2-point conversion, but failed.

Virginia Tech’s turn on offense after Cal scored, it took the Hokies nine plays to score. Virginia Tech’s Grukenmeyer rushed in a 1-yard touchdown for them and gave the Hokies back the lead, 20-19. Hokies went for the 2-point conversion, but failed. That gave the Bears hope for a comeback, whether it ends on a touchdown or field goal. So in six plays, Cal’s Ashten Emory would get his second touchdown of the game after rushing in a 2-yard touchdown. His scoring gave the Bears the lead and was ultimately the dagger on the Hokies, 25-20.

The Hokies had 18 seconds left of the game with no timeouts. However, they were able to bring the ball into their red zone, the 7-yard line. 3 seconds and the ball at the 7-yard line, Cal’s defense holds off Virginia Tech. Hokies Grukenmeyer was looking for Luke Reynolds, who couldn’t hold on to the ball as it hit his chest and then dropped. Reynolds had 4 catches in this game, but couldn’t grab this catch for the Hokies. Giving California the win and feeling Golden at home, the Bears’ last home win this season was on September 19th, against Wagner Seahawks.

California is now 2-2 at home this season. The Golden Bears will enjoy this conference win and get ready for their next game. Their next game will be on Saturday, October 17th, at home, as the team will get ready to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1) in another conference matchup. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network.

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason: Cal can’t keep up with Rebel’s QB Arnold in 39-31 loss

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Tight end Taimane Purcell caught a 91-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Photo by: Max Wood/Cal Football

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 How did the Cal Bears (2-3) offense manage to rally from a 17-point halftime deficit and briefly take a 25–24 lead in the fourth quarter?

#2 How significant was the loss of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who left late in the first half, and how well did backup Jackson Brousseau respond? Brousseau finished 19-for-32 for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

#3 What made UNLV Rebels (3-2) quarterback Jackson Arnold so difficult for Cal to contain? Arnold accounted for five touchdowns, including 110 rushing yards and two rushing scores.

#4 Which defensive lapses cost Cal the game after its comeback? UNLV produced several explosive plays, including touchdown passes of 70, 36 and 10 yards.

#5 What should Cal take away from the 39–31 loss going forward, and does the comeback suggest the Bears are closer to turning their season around than the 2–3 record indicates?

Join Barbara Mason for the Cal Bears podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum: Rebel’s Arnold five touchdowns is the difference as Cal takes tough 39-31 loss

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UNLV Runnin Rebel quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) takes off for a first half touchdown against the Cal Bears at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sat Oct 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 How did Cal’s offense manage to rally from a 17-point halftime deficit and briefly take a 25–24 lead in the fourth quarter?

#2 How significant was the loss of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who left late in the first half, and how well did backup Jackson Brousseau respond? Brousseau finished 19-for-32 for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

#3 What made UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold so difficult for Cal to contain? Arnold accounted for five touchdowns, including 110 rushing yards and two rushing scores.

#4 Which defensive lapses cost Cal the game after its comeback? UNLV produced several explosive plays, including touchdown passes of 70, 36 and 10 yards.

#5 What should Cal take away from the 39–31 loss going forward, and does the comeback suggest the Bears are closer to turning their season around than the 2–3 record indicates?

Join Daniel Dullum for the Cal Bears podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rebels’ Scoring Frenzy Finds California on Losing End of a 39-31 Final

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Cal Bears defensive back Aidan Manutai (14) intercepts a pass intended for UNLV Rebels tight end Keynan Burnett (bottom) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sat Oct 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason


Saturday afternoon, the California Bears (2-3) matched up with the the UNLV Rebels (3-2). The game was played in the fully enclosed climate controlled Allegiant Stadium keeping fans happy and comfortable escaping the 95 degree temperatures which is relatively cool for Las Vegas. This will be the final non-conference game of the season for Cal.

It was a great start for the Bears in the opening quarter. Californis was first up on the scoreboard taking a 7-0 lead. The Rebels tied up the game 7-7 going into the second quarter. The Rebels took the lead in the second quarter 14-7.

Las Vegas would continue to push their lead hitting a 31-yard field goal taking a 17-7 lead. They would close out the second quarter scoring their third touchdown of the day taking a 24-7 lead into the third quarter. This game went loco in the third quarter with Cal going on a wild ride.

The Bears scored a touchdown followed by a successful two-point conversion to open the second half. With the score now 24-15 Cal forced a turnover on the next drive finishing it with a field goal and the Bears inched closer to Las Vegas 24-18 in a one-score game.

Cal scored in the early minutes of the fourth quarter taking their first lead since the first quarter 25-24. Las Vegas answered back scoring extending their lead to 32-25. Las Vegas quarterback Arnold went on to score his second rushing touchdown of the day and the Rebels had a 39-25 lead. With little time left on the clock the Bears kept playing tough scoring a touchdown but unsuccessfully going for the two-point conversion. The final score in a wild one was in favor of the Rebels 39-31

GAME RECAP
The Bears were first up on the scoreboard taking a 7-0 lead at 11:30 in the first quarter. Quarterback Jason-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a bomb for 91 yards to Taimaine Percell for the touchdown and the early lead. At 5:31 the Rebels would tie up the game when quarterback Jackson Arnold completed a 70-yard pass to Kayden McGee for the touchdown. It had been an electric showing through the air for both quarterbacks in the first quarter.

Las Vegas broke the tie in the second quarter scoring early at 11:18. Arnold had his second touchdown of the day this score a 55-yard rush taking a 14-7 lead. When it looked as if the Bears had tied up this game mid-way through the second quarter, Cal was called for holding putting an end to an impressive drive.

The Bears were forced to attempt a 51-yard field goal which failed and the score remained 14-7 in favor of UNLV. After the opening touchdown, California began to stumble. In the closing minutes of the second quarter Las Vegas not only hit a 31-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead but with 51 seconds left on the clock Arnold continued the beautiful rhythmn he had started to play with.

He completed a 36 yard pass to Taz Reddicks and the Rebels took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at the half. The Bears would have the ball to start the second half. In the closing minutes of the half Cal quarterback Sagapolutele took a late hit and was forced to leave the game. Jackson Brousseau took over to finish the second quarter.

Mid-way through the third quarter Cal finally got something going. They were able to force the Rebels to punt and began their drive on their own 42-yard-line at 5:43. Brosseau found Alonzo Esparza for 63 yards, the touchdown and a successful two-point conversion and the Bears now trailed 15-24 with a lot of time left in the game.

This game took a shocking turn when at 4:32 the Bears forced a turnover and began operaging at the Rebels 16-yard-line. Again another penalty for Cal backing the ball up to the 28-yard-line. The Bears got a little closer but were unable to get a first down.

They successfully kicked the field goal and the score was 24-18 in favor of Las Vegas. This game had not yet reached the fourth quarter and the Bears were nipping at the Rebel’s heels in this one-score game. It had been a crazy momentum turnaround. In the closing minutes of the third quarter Cal again held the Rebels taking possession.

As the fourth quarter got underway Cal sacked Arnold for an 11 yard lpss and the Bears took possession inside Rebel territory. California continued to advance the ball getting inside the ten-yard-line via a holding penalty. Ashton Emory rushed for 7-yards and the touchdown; Cal taking their first lead 25-24 since the first quarter. The Bears had scored 18 unanswered points.

A second targeting call in this game was called this one on Cal’s Daniel Harris and he was ejected leaving the Cal defense vunerable. Cal was now 3 players down defensively. Las Vegas went on to score hitting a wide-open Keyan Burnett catching his first touchdown of the season.

Las Vegas went for the conversion with Arnold successful and UNLV had a 32-25 lead with 5:42 left in the game. The Bears Miles Davis very nearly scored on the ensuing possession when he stepped out of bounds near the 50-line yard line. The Rebels defense held Cal and took possession moving downfield aided by Cal’s 14th penalty of the game.

Arnold would score his second rushing touchdown of the day and the Rebels had errupted leading 39-25. The Bears would drive downfield in their next drive going for it on fourth and 12 and succeeding leading to another touchdown. Ian Strong caught his first touchdown of the season in the endzone, the two-point attempt failed and that was the ball game with Las Vegas coming away with the win 39-31 in an abolute marathon.

GAME NOTES

It was a banner day for UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold throwing for 172 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for two. Cal’s quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was on his way to a productive afternoong before leaving the game just before the first half came to an end.

He suffered a rough hit to the head and remained out for the rest of the game. Bears quarterback Jackson Brousseau came in for Sagapolutele and came away with some nice numbers. He finished with 200 passing yards and two touchdowns.

What probably hurt Cal the most were the plethora of penalties. Fifteen penalties resulted in 152 yards which extended or disrupted drives. UNLV only had 7 penalties for 67 yards. Cal was penalized more than twice as many times as UNLV. If Cal can clean just this one thing up, things could go very well going forward for the Bears. They made an amazing attempt at a comeback.

Next up for California will be the Virginia Tech Hokies next Saturday October 10th at California Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 12:30 PM.

Penalties had marred the Bears in this game. They average just under 8 penalties per game and in this game it cost them a touchdown.