The California Golden Bears were able to survive its toughest matchup of the 2025 season with a win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Berkeley.
California was also able to make up for mistakes by freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Still he continues to impress as in the first quarter alone he completed 11 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. He completed passes to eight different receivers.
Penalties also hurt the Golden Bears. Yet momentum seemingly shifted after Sagapolutele made a poor throw to Jacob de Jesus on fourth and two resulting in a turnover on downs. For the first time the Golden Gophers offense seemed to have life.
Running back Cam Davis capped the drive off with 43 second left with a one yard touchdown run.
Still that gave California an opportunity to get points on the board as Minnesota was going to get the football to start the second half. After a 29 yard completion to Mark Hamper by Sagapolutele, he took a sack instead of throwing the football away. He made up for that mistake by finding de Jesus for 19 yards, a short completion to tight end Mason Mini, allowed for a 45-yard field goal attempt which was made by Abram Murray.
At the half California lead 10-7.
Minnesota freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey made a mistake of his own as he got intercepted by Hezekiah Masses. That seemed like a momentum changing play for California. Yet Sagapolutele made seemingly his biggest mistake of the game. As once again he did not throw the football away when there was nothing there for him. He ended up taking a 16 yard loss. As a result the Golden Bears punted.
Since California was not able to take advantage of the turnover, momentum swung back in Minnesota’s direction. Lindsey found his favorite target Le’Meke Brockington for 23 yards, runs by Fame Ijeboi and Davis got the offense going more. A questionable holding call on Masses allowed for the drive to continue. Jameson Geers caught a three yard touchdown pass. The Golden Gophers now led 14-10.
For the first time all game the Golden Bears made a concerted effort to run the football. Brandon High Jr was the recipient of those carries, and he had runs of 18 and 13 yards. Mini finished off the drive with an impressive nine yard touchdown reception.
A tremendous answer by California to retake the lead at 17-14.
It seeemingly looked like Minnesota was going to answer with a score of their own. Yet a mistake on the play call allowed for linebacker Ryan McCulloch to go untouched and tackle Davis for a three yard loss. The result a 51-yard field goal attempt that was missed.
Yet once again California was not able to take advantage of the momentum from the missed field goal. On the ensuing punt though, Koi Perich made the biggest mistake of the game for either team, instead of letting the ball go he decided to attempt a return. He muffed the punt and the Golden Bears recovered for a first and goal.
Sagapolutele on third down found a wide open Jordan King for the touchdown. A turnover on downs by Minnesota gave the football right back to California. After running the clock down, after several first downs were picked up on the ground. Chase Meyer made a 38-yard field goal.
For Sagapolutele he finished by completing 24 of 38 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Kendrick Raphael finished with 13 carries for 42 yards, de Jesus caught seven passes for 54 yards, Trond Grizzell caught four passes for 60 yards, Jaiven Plummer one catch for 51 yards.