Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw three touchdowns, leading Cal to a 27-14 win over Minnesota and the program’s second straight 3-0 start Saturday night in Berkeley, Calif.
Three minutes after Minnesota missed a game-tying field goal and two plays after Cal’s Aiden Manutai recovered a muffed punt inside the Minnesota 10-yard line, Sagapolutele threw his third touchdown of the night to Jordan King.
Sagapolutele finished 24-of-38 passing for 279 yards, throwing touchdowns to three different receivers.
Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey completed 19 of 32 passes for 205 yards, a touchdown and an interception. A large percentage of those yards went to receiver Lemeke Brockington, who finished with 106 yards on eight catches.
For a long early stretch, Minnesota’s offense appeared to be missing standout running back Darius Taylor, who was out after sustaining a leg injury last week.
The Golden Gophers (2-1) managed just 33 yards and one first down on their three first-quarter drives. After four scoreless possessions to begin the game, the Gophers finally reached the end zone on a 16-play, 69-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard TD run by Cam Davis with 43 seconds left in the half.
Cal responded with a quick 48-yard drive to set up a 45-yard Abram Murray field goal for a 10-7 halftime lead.
The Gophers took their first lead on a 3-yard TD pass from Lindsey to Jameson Geers with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
Again, the Golden Bears scored right back, reclaiming the lead at 17-14 on their ensuing 75-yard drive with a 9-yard scoring toss from Sagapolutele to Mason Mini.
Without Taylor, Minnesota managed to be two-dimensional offensively with 205 passing yards and 130 rushing yards. Fame Ijeboi stepped up in Taylor’s absence with 85 rushing yards while Davis had 44.
Cal’s offense was not as two-dimensional as the Bears managed just 61 rushing yards, 40 of which came in the fourth quarter. But Sagapolutele put the offense on his back once again, completing passes to nine different receivers.
Through his first three starts, the true freshman has thrown for 780 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
Cal wideout Jacob De Jesus led the way with seven catches for 54 yards and the first touchdown of the game while Trond Grizzell added 60 yards on four catches.
