The s have a brief week with n flying 3,000 miles into the Bay Space for an ACC matchup at California Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25. It's a real check for the Golden Bears, who at the moment are coming off consecutive wins.
Cal pummeled Wagner Saturday, 49-7, beginning with a 29-point first quarter outburst. It was a obligatory momentum-boost for the Golden Bears as they get into the thick of their robust schedule, beginning s. Following Clemson, the Golden Bears have UNLV, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and No. 16 SMU.
It's not going to be straightforward for California.
First-year Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi obtained his first win at California Memorial Stadium with 35,586 in attendance. It was the power that the Golden Bears wanted coming off their highway win in opposition to Syracuse. Lupoi needs that very same power, that very same vibe in opposition to Clemson when Swinney and firm come to city.
"In case you have any plans that's not coming to the Cal recreation, you could cancel them," Lupoi informed reporters. "We need to make this a depressing atmosphere for the opponent that's coming in Friday evening."
The Cal offense took time to get going within the first two video games in opposition to UCLA and Syracuse. Sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele took no time getting going in opposition to Wagner. His confidence appeared totally different, he was given extra time and threw crisp passes, proper on course the place the ball wanted to be. Sagapolutele completed 27-for-33 for 413 yards, a career-high, and three touchdowns.
These are the sorts of recreation that Sagapolutele is able to having. He makes fast reads and will get the ball out quick. Typically he’ll prolong performs together with his ft.
The Golden Bears' offense goes to be extra dynamic as operating again Adam Mohammed, a Washington switch, continues to emerge. In opposition to Wagner, Mohammed accounted for 169 of the staff's 492 yards, and had three touchdowns.
Mohammed completed with 13 rush makes an attempt for 91 yards and two scores. He caught two passes for 78 yards and a landing. He was a distinction maker for Cal, as he was capable of get going early and sometimes. It's the efficiency Cal wants from Mohammed because it prepares for Clemson. He opened the offense up for receivers to get open.
It helped Oregon switch Cooper Perry rating his first collegiate landing with 4:08 left within the second quarter after his 16-yard reception from Sagapolutele. Chase Hendricks has been a reliable goal for Sagapolutele. He had 9 catches for 98 yards on Saturday. It was his greatest recreation this season. All he was lacking was a rating, which he had in every of Cal's first two video games.
It takes a staff effort, particularly on the defensive facet of the ball. Kingston Lopa is the chief of this protection as a defensive again within the security place. Lopa, who transferred from Oregon following Lupoi, sees your entire subject and he's instinctively fast sufficient to make the play, whether or not it's delivering a vital hit or breaking apart a go.
Final week, Lopa earned ACC Defensive Participant of the Week honors with three interceptions and a go-ahead landing in opposition to Syracuse, placing the protection on his shoulders. It wasn't as flashy in opposition to Wagner, however he confirmed off the identical functionality. He led the staff with 5 tackles, together with 4 solo and a sort out for loss. He had one other interception, his NCAA-leading fifth. Lopa's play is necessary and dictates how issues will go for Cal.
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