One win, and a taste for a second
Tosh Lupoi got his first win as a head coach last Saturday at Syracuse, and Cal were outgained by nearly 200 yards while collecting it. That is how a 21-18 scoreline happens. Kingston Lopa intercepted three passes, took one back in the fourth quarter for the lead, and handed his coach a result the box score never really promised.
Nobody in Berkeley is arguing about yardage. Cal (1-1) had opened with a 45-24 home beating from UCLA and needed to look like a football team again. Three turnovers against the Bruins became none against the Orange. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele went 21 of 34 for 182 yards and two touchdowns, unspectacular and tidy, which was the job.
Lopa’s afternoon found its way into the record book. No Cal player had picked off three passes in a game since Jaylinn Hawkins managed it against TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
Try it for $0.99.
Wagner arrive from the worst afternoon of their season
Saturday brings FCS side Wagner (1-2) to Berkeley for the first meeting between the two programmes, a final non-conference date before Cal restart ACC play on 25 September.
The Seahawks lost 87-3 at James Madison last weekend. That total broke the Dukes’ single-game scoring record of 84, set against Rhode Island in 2016. Wagner were outgained 588-204 and conceded three touchdowns on special teams alone. Benjamin Newman threw for 101 yards. Freshman Johnny DiSalvatore kicked a 40-yard field goal for the only points his team put on the board.
A long way from Staten Island
This is Wagner’s first trip to California since they played San Diego in 2004. The programme has never beaten an FBS opponent, and the closest it has come was a 24-21 defeat at UConn in 2019.
Coach Tom Masella keeps returning to his group’s willingness to play hard and stick together, the language of a man whose season just met a wall at 87 points. Cal will not be judged on the margin here. They will be judged on what turns up on 25 September.
Discover the rest of our college football news on MathODDS!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply