The California Golden Bears improved to 4-1 on the season with a thrilling 28-24 victory over the Boston College Eagles on Saturday.
Yet it did not seem likely that California was going to come up victorious especially after being shutout by San Diego State the previous Saturday. The ugliness started from the opening kickoff as Boston College got a nice return and added yardage thanks to a facemask penalty. Though there was a bit of fortune too as a fair catch got called, yet it was not done by the one who returned the kick.
As a result the ball got placed at the 16 instead of near midfield.
Boston College’s offense looked good on the opening possession of the game. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan was able to get the football to his receivers and running back Turbo Richard kept making California defenders miss tackles.
Lonergan capped the 12-play 84 yard drive off with a seven yard rushing touchdown.
So how would the Bears respond to falling behind 7-0 early? Not well. Their first offensive play of the game resulted in a holding penalty, Kendrick Raphael picked up some yardage back with a six-yard run. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele then was intercepted by safety Omar Thornton.
Two plays later, Richard scored on a 27 yard touchdown run and like that Cal was down 14-0.
On California’s second offensive possession it was clear what the game plan was, run the football to take pressure off Sagapolutele. It worked too as LJ Johnson finished off the drive on 4th and 1 with a touchdown run.
Also, Boston College was penalized several times on that drive as well. One was for pass interference and the other a facemask.
With points on the board, the special teams of California once again gave up a nice return to Boston College. Fortunately the Bears defense was up to the task and Cade Uluave came up with a sack to force a punt.
Momentum seemingly was turning and Cal drove down the field, aided by a facemask penalty by Boston College. Sagapolutele found Jacob de Jesus for a five yard touchdown reception. The Bears tied the game up at 14.
Lonergan was able to shake off a false start penalty get the Eagles offense in field goal range. Luca Lombardo nailed a 52-yard field goal to give Boston College a 17-14 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter neither team got much going offensively.
Yet California made things interesting to start the fourth. Justin Wilcox instead of kicking a short field goal elected to go for it on 4th and 1 at the three and the result was a turnover on downs. Cornerback Zeke Masses came up with at that point the biggest play of the game as he intercepted Lonergan. Raphael got the touchdown from two yards out.
For the first time the Bears led the Eagles.
That lead did not last long for California. The poor tackling was once again on display and Richard took it 71 yards for one of the easiest touchdowns he will ever have.
California turned it over on downs again. Interestingly enough the officials did not appear to even try to measure to see if Sagapolutele who took off with the football got the first down or not on the third down play.
The fourth down play had no chance of succeeding.
Another punt by Boston College, gave California the football back at the 12. Which meant Sagapolutele was going to have his work cut out for him. He found Jordan King for 12 yards. After picking up another first down, a holding call on what was a nice run by Raphael, seemingly changed the momentum of the game.
Sagapolutele nearly was picked off after trying to escape pressure. He then found Trond Grizzell for nine yards to give California a more manageable 3rd and 11. After the two-minute timeout, Boston College came up with a pass breakup.
Now it was fourth and 11 with a freshman quarterback on the road for Cal. So what is the play call? Take a shot down the field to Grizzell who was interfered with and nearly came up with an incredible catch.
Two plays later Sagapolutele rolled out found tight end Mason Mini for a 51 yard touchdown reception. With the extra point being good, Cal was back on top 28-24.
With the Golden Bears struggling in short yardage situations all game long, cannot blame Mini for electing to go for the touchdown. It did leave plenty of time on the clock for the offense of the Eagles.
Longergan started the drive off with a nice completion to his favorite receiver Lewis Bond. A false start penalty led to a Boston College timeout. Back-to-back completions to tight end Kaelan Chudzinski with the latter being reviewed, which interestingly was not overturned though there was clear evidence that his foot was out-of-bounds. So instead of third and 12, it was third and three.
Boston College was then called for a false start so what should have been 3rd and 17, was 3rd and eight. Bond was found for 14 yards, a pass interference, and a 26 yard completion to Reed Harris and the Eagles were in business with a first and goal at the five.
Interestingly enough on the first down play, Cam Sidney elected to not contest the football thrown to Harris and instead put a big hit on the receiver who was unable to come down with the football.
Bears linebacker Luke Ferrelli read the eyes of Lonergan and came up with the interception. He unfortunately ran the football out of the end zone instead of taking a knee for a touchback. Which led to a number of false starts and finally some breathing room as the Eagles were called for offsides. Sagapolutele was then able to kneel down and let the clock run out.