Ashten Emory delivered the decisive punch, and Cam Sydney delivered the stop.
That combination carried California to a 25-20 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon at Databricks Field at California Memorial Stadium, with Emory powering in from 2 yards out with 18 seconds left and Sydney batting away the Hokies’ final throw as time expired.
The winning march was all business. Backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau steered a 57-second drive that covered 75 yards in six plays, giving the Golden Bears the lead for good after Virginia Tech had answered late. The Hokies, who were one missed field goal away from being unbeaten entering the game, pushed quickly to the Cal 7-yard line on their last possession, but Sydney shut the door on a pass intended for tight end Luke Reynolds in the end zone.
Brousseau, filling in for injured starter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, was sharp throughout. He finished 29 of 43 for 321 yards and a touchdown without an interception, and he kept Cal moving when it needed a steady hand.
Emory carried a heavier load with starting running back Adam Mohammed out for his second straight game because of injury, and he made it count. He finished with 76 total yards and two touchdowns, including his short scoring run at the end and a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Cal also got major production through the air from its wideouts. Chase Hendricks caught seven passes for 94 yards, and Ian Strong added five grabs for 97 yards.
The Bears’ defense had to grind through its own absences, but it still came up with nine tackles for loss and enough disruption to keep Virginia Tech from settling in for long stretches.
The game was tight all afternoon. Towns McGough knocked through two field goals, and Virginia Tech carried a 14-13 lead into the end of the third quarter. Then Carson Perry-Smith hauled in an acrobatic touchdown on a crucial third-down snap from the Virginia Tech 3 with 4:12 left, putting Cal ahead before the Hokies briefly reclaimed the lead at 20-19.
In the end, though, Cal had the final surge. Emory finished it, Sydney sealed it, and the Bears walked away with a hard-earned conference win.
In Other News...
Cal Just Found A Reason To Believe Again
California had reason to exhale Saturday night, and a lot of it came from a backup quarterback who had not been asked to carry this kind of load before. Jackson Brousseau stepped in with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sidelined by injury and turned in the kind of performance that can steady a season, throwing for more than 300 yards while helping the Bears erase a fourth-quarter deficit against Virginia Tech. Even with safety Kingston Lopa also leaving the lineup hurt, Cals defense stayed in the fight long enough for Ashten Emory to finish the comeback with a late touchdown.
For a program that has spent plenty of time searching for a foothold, the win offered something more than just relief. It was the kind of result that can change the tone around a locker room, especially when it comes with the added reminder that the Bears have some depth to lean on if the injuries linger. Now they get a home date with Wake Forest, and after the way this one unfolded, Cal at least has a fresh reason to believe the next stretch can look a little different. [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 🡒]