BERKELEY - California didn’t have its full lineup, didn’t have much margin for error, and still found a way to finish the job.
Cam Sidney’s deflection of an Ethan Grunkemeyer pass meant for Luke Reynolds as time ran out sealed a 25-20 win over Virginia Tech at Memorial Stadium, and the homecoming crowd got the kind of ending that turns a tight Saturday into a scene.
“The game ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” Golden Bears defensive tackle Jericho Johnson said after the stop from Cal’s own seven-yard line. “Just making sure everybody stayed locked in and making sure everybody was doing their job [were] the biggest key[s].”
That was the story for the Bears all night: next man up, one snap at a time. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and Kingston Lopa were out, but Cal kept its poise and kept making plays.
Coach Tosh Lupoi credited the team’s preparation and connection after the late surge.
“Ultimately, our preparation is our separation, and our connection is our weapon,” Lupoi said of his team’s late heroics.
The defense set the tone when it mattered most. Sidney made the game-saving play, but he had plenty of help.
Daniel Harris and Isaiah Crosby each finished with eight tackles in the secondary, while Johnson added five tackles up front. Michael Hutchings’ defense bent at times, but it rarely snapped - again.
Cal also got a calm, efficient performance from backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau, who completed 29 of 43 passes for 321 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. He got the start on Friday and looked like he’d been in the role all along, especially working the middle of the field.
“I thought it was great,” Brousseau said of working with McCann. “It really wasn’t nothing different for us. We were just sticking to the process and doing what we’re told.”
His favorite targets were Chase Hendricks and Ian Strong, who combined for 12 catches and 191 yards. And when Cal needed a spark late in the fourth quarter, Brousseau found a different kind of weapon.
With 4:06 left, he hit hybrid running back Carson Perry-Smith for a three-yard touchdown on a wild circus catch to cap a long drive.
“It was an amazing throw by Jackson,” Perry-Smith laughed. “He put it exactly where only I can catch it. … I saw it up there, and I just had to get vertical and go up and make a play.”
Ashten Emory kept grinding in place of Adam Mohammed and Carter Vargas, and he delivered the kind of physical, timely production that can tilt a close game. He scored twice, including the go-ahead direct-snap touchdown from two yards out with 18 seconds left, and finished with 23 touches for 76 yards.
"I used to call him Auntie because he wears something silly on his head to preserve his beautiful hair,” Lupoi spontaneously said of Emory. “I changed his nickname to Uncle.
“He's been a physical individual. He's been a guy that's inspiring, as far as the next-man-up attitude.”
Cal also survived a penalty-filled night, absorbing 10 flags for 99 yards and a pivotal targeting call on linebacker AJ Tuitele. Even so, the Bears stayed composed after falling behind early.
One of the boldest calls of the night helped keep them alive: a 29-yard fake punt by Dorian Thomas while trailing, a gamble that ended with a field goal on the drive.
The defense’s biggest number may have been Virginia Tech’s third-down struggles. The Hokies came in averaging more than 40 points per game, but Cal held them to 4-for-11 on third down.
Now the Bears turn to Wake Forest next week under the lights at home, with a chance to get some injured players back. For Lupoi, the win was more than just survival.
“We’re the furthest thing from pressing the panic button,” Lupoi said. “We’re learning as a team [how] to finish, as you just saw.
… That’s a really good football team that we just beat. I’m most proud of how these guys have responded to me, the staff and just rolled up the sleeves, ignored all noise, gone to work …”
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
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 🡒]