Rod Brower, KLC Fotos
The Bears celebrate after Luke Ferrelli’s game-clinching interception.
28
Winner
4-1 , 1-0
24
1-3 , 0-2
Winner
28
24
1-3 , 0-2
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
|
|
14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Game Recap: Football | | Cal Athletics
Ferrelli Seals Victory With Late Interception
BOSTON – Redshirt freshman Luke Ferrelli made a game-clinching interception in the end zone with 19 seconds remaining and the California football team overcame an early deficit to defeat Boston College 28-24 in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
After true freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele connected with tight end Mason Mini on a 51-yard touchdown pass to put the Golden Bears (4-1, 1-0 ACC) in front with 1:30 remaining, the Eagles took over at their own 25 and drove to the Cal 5-yard line, converting a 4th-and-8 along the way.
But Ferrelli stepped in front of a pass by BC quarterback Dylan Lonergan that was intended for tight end Kaelan Chudzinski to register his first career interception, and the Bears were able to run out the clock to seal the win.
“I’m super excited, but we definitely have a lot to do as a team to get better,” Ferrelli said. “The main thing for us is to get past adversity. They gave us some great looks. They are a great football team. I’m just glad we came out with the win.”
The Bears quickly fell behind 14-0 midway through the first quarter but answered with back-to-back sustained scoring drives to tie it at 14-14. The Eagles added a field goal late in the second quarter to take a 17-14 lead at the half.
Cal went in front after Hezekiah Masses notched his fourth interception of the season and returned it to the BC 2-yard line, and running back Kendrick Raphael scored two plays later to give the Bears a 21-17 advantage.
Cal, which was coming off a disappointing 34-0 loss last week at San Diego State, was faced with a challenge again when Boston College running back Turbo Richard scored on a 71-yard touchdown run on the next play from scrimmage to immediately put the Eagles back in front.
Still trailing 24-21, the Bears began their final drive at their own 12-yard line with 4:48 to go. They faced 4th-and-11 from their own 34 but a defensive pass interference call gave them a first down from their own 49. Two plays later, Sagapolutele delivered a perfect throw past two defenders to Mini, who turned up field and raced untouched into the end zone.
“Jaron gave me a great ball. I just jumped up to get it and took off,” Mini said. “I feel like I’m building a great connection with Jaron. He’s a young quarterback who is figuring out who to get the ball to, and I feel like I’m one of those guys.”
It was Mini’s second touchdown of the season and the longest reception of his career.
Raphael finished with 113 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 carries. Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had eight catches for 61 yards and a score and Sagapolutele was 22-for-34 for 254 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.
“In the moment, the guys made the plays that we needed to make to win, and it’s great to learn all those lessons in a victory,” Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox said. “Every time you line up, you have to bring your A game. I’m looking forward to us getting better throughout the season. I think we can make massive improvements this week. There are a lot of things we can do better.”
The Bears return home to play Duke in their homecoming game next Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The contest will air on ESPN.
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