Cal walked into Saturday afternoon with real reason to worry. Starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and star safety Kingston Lopa were both ruled out after entering the game as game-time decisions against Virginia Tech, and the Bears suddenly looked like a team trying to survive more than win.
Instead, they found a spark in backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau.
Brousseau gave Cal the kind of steady, veteran performance that flips a game on its head. He threw for 321 yards and a touchdown on 67% completion, and he did it while taking only one sack.
With the run game stuck in the mud, the Bears leaned on his arm 43 times, and he kept feeding the offense with enough rhythm to keep Virginia Tech chasing. Ian Strong and Chase Hendricks each topped 90 receiving yards, and Brousseau spread the ball to seven different targets.
That passing volume was no accident. Cal’s ground attack never really found daylight, with Ashten Emory leading the way on 19 carries for 46 yards. But Emory still came through when it mattered most, punching in 5-yard and 2-yard touchdowns as the Bears finished 5-for-5 in the red zone.
The fourth quarter is where this one turned into a full-blown test of nerve, and Cal answered it. Head coach Tosh Lupoi had made it clear after last weekend’s loss to UNLV that closing games mattered, and the Bears delivered after going into the final period trailing by a point. They scored on their first drive of the quarter to grab the lead, then watched Virginia Tech answer with a long, nine-play touchdown march that left Cal with 1:15 to work with.
That was enough time for Brousseau to take over again. He led a 75-yard drive in just under a minute, and Emory finished it off with the go-ahead score.
The drama wasn’t done. Virginia Tech still had 15 seconds and three timeouts, and James Franklin’s offense pushed deep into Cal territory after three straight plays of 15 yards or more.
The Hokies reached the 7-yard line, with tight end Luke Reynolds in position for a final shot at the end zone. But Cam Sidney got in the way and broke up the pass to seal it.
Cal’s defense spent much of the afternoon bending without snapping. Even without Lopa, the Bears did enough to keep Virginia Tech’s playmakers in check.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, who had thrown for 434 yards against Pitt last week, was held to 288 yards. On the final drive, Cal’s prevent defense gave up some chunk plays, but the unit still held when it mattered.
The numbers backed up the effort. Five Cal defenders finished with at least five tackles, and the Bears piled up nine tackles for loss, three sacks, four quarterback hurries and three pass breakups.
For Cal, this was the kind of win that can settle a team down in a hurry. Another tough one is already next, though, and Wake Forest is waiting.
The Bears will host the Demon Deacons at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at California Memorial Stadium, and they’ll have to see whether the offense can keep rolling after Virginia Tech had so little tape on Pat McCann’s play-calling. Wake Forest has allowed just 17 combined points in its last two games.
In Other News...
Cal Pulled Off An ACC Escape Nobody Saw Coming
Californias latest ACC escape came down to poise, depth and a little bit of late-game nerve at California Memorial Stadium. The Bears beat Virginia Tech 25-20 on Saturday, with backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau guiding the offense efficiently in place of the injured starter and a supporting cast stepping up on both sides of the ball to keep Cal within striking distance all afternoon.
The finish turned on one final burst from the ground game, as Ashten Emory delivered the decisive score in the closing seconds to put Cal in front. Virginia Tech still had one last chance to answer, but the Bears held firm in the end and sent the Hokies home empty after a tense final snap. [Read more 🡒]
Shorthanded Cal Just Found A Reason To Believe Again
California had every reason to feel short-handed, and for much of the afternoon it looked like that might matter in the worst way. But the Bears kept hanging around long enough for backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau to settle in, and he delivered a steady performance while Ashten Emory gave the offense enough punch to stay within striking distance against Virginia Tech.
The finish belonged to the defense, which spent much of the day forcing the Hokies into long situations and helping California survive its own penalties. In a game that swung late, the Bears found a way to turn a tight road result into something more meaningful, the kind of victory that can linger because it came with grit, control in key moments and a reminder that this team still has some fight left. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Faces A Dangerous ACC Test With One Huge Uncertainty
Virginia Techs trip to Memorial Stadium gives Cal another chance to measure itself against an ACC opponent, and the timing is tricky for the Bears. The Hokies arrive after a narrow loss to Pitt, with coach James Franklin and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer guiding a team that has shown it can travel well and score in bunches, while Cal is trying to sort through a short week of uncertainty and get enough healthy bodies ready for kickoff.
The biggest question hanging over Berkeley is at quarterback, where Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele remains questionable after a concussion. If he cannot go, Jackson Brousseau would be next in line to start, adding another layer of pressure to a game that already feels pivotal for Cals early-season momentum. Virginia Techs recent form and road resilience make this one a dangerous test, and the Bears may not know until late just how much they can lean on their offense. [Read more 🡒]