Cal is riding a serious wave after consecutive wins, absolutely pummeling Wagner 49-7 this past Saturday. They hit the ground running with an insane 29-point first quarter outburst that set the tone immediately. This wasn’t just a win, it was the momentum boost the Golden Bears desperately needed as they dive headfirst into a brutal stretch of their schedule, kicking off with Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers.
Cal’s Offense Just Found Its Groove, And It’s Scary
The Golden Bears’ offense looked like a completely different beast against Wagner compared to their slow starts against UCLA and Syracuse. Sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was on fire from the jump. His confidence was through the roof, he had time to work, and his passes were crisp, landing exactly where they needed to be. He finished the day with a career-high 413 yards on 27-for-33 passing, slinging three touchdowns. That’s the kind of performance everyone knows Sagapolutele is capable of, with his quick reads, fast releases, and knack for extending plays with his feet.
But it wasn’t a one-man show. Running back Adam Mohammed, a transfer from Washington, is really emerging as a dynamic threat. He accounted for a massive 169 of the team’s 492 total yards and bagged three touchdowns himself. Mohammed rumbled for 91 yards and two scores on 13 carries, plus snagged two passes for 78 yards and another touchdown. This kid was a game-changer, getting involved early and often, and completely opening up the offense for guys like Oregon transfer Cooper Perry, who hauled in his first collegiate touchdown on a 16-yard reception from Sagapolutele. Chase Hendricks also had his best game this season with nine catches for 98 yards, proving once again he’s a dependable target, even if he missed out on a score this time after finding the end zone in the first two games.
Lupoi’s Call to Arms: Make Clemson’s Visit a Nightmare
First-year head coach Tosh Lupoi finally got his first win at California Memorial Stadium with over 35,000 screaming fans in attendance, and he wants that same energy, that same vibe, when Clemson comes to town. Clemson’s flying 3,000 miles for this ACC showdown on Friday, September 25, and Lupoi is pulling no punches, telling reporters, “If you have any plans that’s not coming to the Cal game, you need to cancel them. We want to make this a miserable environment for the opponent that’s coming in Friday night.” It takes a full team effort, and that includes the defense. Defensive back Kingston Lopa, another Oregon transfer following Lupoi, is the leader on that side of the ball. Playing safety, Lopa sees the entire field and is instinctively quick enough to make big plays, whether it’s dropping a crucial hit or breaking up a pass. He even earned ACC Defensive Player of the [Last Week], which is a huge deal.
Cal faces an absolutely massive test this Friday, September 25, when Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers fly 3,000 miles into California Memorial Stadium. Lupoi’s squad is staring down a brutal schedule with UNLV, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and No. 16 SMU looming right after Clemson. Can they keep that offensive fire burning and make that stadium truly miserable for opponents? You better believe the Golden Bears are going to try and build on this momentum.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply