Committing too many physical and mental errors, the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team lost for the first time this season, 24-14, to the University of California Golden Bears in Berkeley. Both teams entered the contest 2-0, and the expectations for a hotly contested matchup were realized. Still, the Bears pulled away in the fourth quarter due to a dynamic offense and an opportunistic defense.

Indeed, Cal gave the Gophers fits all night, including jumping out to leads of 10-7 at halftime and 17-14 after three quarters. And they shut the door on Minnesota after a costly error by the Gophers’ best player that led directly to a Bears touchdown with just under seven minutes left in the game,

Gophers Start Slow

At times early in the contest, it seemed as if the Gophers’ offense would never get untracked. This was never more true than early on when Minnesota was forced to punt the ball away on its first four possessions. Indeed, it was the Golden Bears who broke through for the game’s first score with 2:54 left in the first quarter. California’s freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele led his team on a seven-play 62-yard drive that ended with a three-yard toss from the Cal signal caller to Jacob De Jesus for a 7-0 Bears lead.

The Gophers answered with 46 seconds left in the first half on a Cam Davis one-yard plunge. The touchdown was set up by three opportune catches by Minnesota wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington, including two clutch third-down receptions. Unfortunately, the Gophers had some defensive breakdowns on the ensuing Bears’ possession. Three Sagapolutele passes ate up 51 yards, which led to a 45-yard Abram Murray field goal as time expired in the first half. California ran to the locker room with a three-point lead.

Trading Touchdowns

The Gophers appeared to take command of the game when quarterback Drake Lindsey led his squad on a nine-play, 64-yard drive with Davis and Fame Ijeboi grinding out some tough yards on the ground. On second and 3 from the Bears’ three-yard line, Lindsey threw a short pass to his tight end Jameson Geers, and Minnesota took the lead for the first time, 14-10.

But once again, the resilient Cal team came roaring back. They put together their own nine-play drive, covering 75 yards, spearheaded by some tough runs from Brandon High Jr. Sagapolutele would put a bow on it with a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mason Mini in the waning minutes of the third quarter. The Bears regained the lead 17-14.

Minnesota Commits Disastrous Error

The Gophers dominated the first part of the fourth quarter with a 12-play, 46-yard drive with Brockington again playing the hero with two receptions for 24 yards. But the drive stalled, and Minnesota kicker Brady Denaburg came onto the field to attempt a game-tying 51-yard field goal. But he sailed it wide right, and the Bears maintained their three-point lead. Next, on the California punt, eight plays later, the Gophers’ Koi Perich committed the mistake of the game. 

Bears punter Michael Kern booted it to Perich at the Minnesota eight-yard line. Koi muffed the return, and it was recovered by California’s Aiden Manutai. Two plays later, Sagapolutele threw his third touchdown pass of the night to Jordan King, and the Bears vaulted to a 10-point lead. The Gophers could do nothing with their final two drives, and Cal’s kicker Chase Myer booted a 38-yard field goal. The game ended with the Bears celebrating their 13-point victory.

Recap

Sagapolutele would finish the game 24-38, for 279 yards and the three touchdown passes. De Jesus led all Bears with seven catches for 54 yards and the touchdown. Linebacker Luke Ferrelli was the leading Cal defender with 11 tackles. Lindsey went 19-32, for 205 yards, a touchdown pass, and one interception. Ijeboi was the Gophers’ rushing leader with 85 yards. And linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams paced all Minnesota defenders with seven tackles.

P.J. Fleck’s Gophers next host Rutgers in two weeks at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff time will be determined at a later date.