BERKELEY – True freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele continued the dazzling start to his college career Saturday, throwing for a career-high 279 yards and another three touchdowns in a 27-14 victory over Minnesota at California Memorial Stadium.

The Golden Bears, who improved to 3-0 for the second straight season, made it clear they were going to make the passing game the focal point of their game plan on offense, and it proved to be a winning formula. Sagapolutele completed 24 of 38 passes without an interception and finished with a 150.9 passer rating.

"Jaron continues to impress," Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox said. "It's not surprising to us because we see it every day in practice. We don't sit there on the sideline thinking Jaron can't handle it. Those words never come out of our mouth. He's doing a heck of a job."

Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had seven catches for 54 yards and his first touchdown at Cal while Jordan King caught his first career touchdown pass. Tight end Mason Mini added his second scoring catch of the season.

"(Offensive Coordinator) Bryan Harsin told me at the beginning of the week that we were going to have to throw the ball," Sagapolutele said. "All of the receivers were getting open for me, and they made the throws so much easier."

Cornerback Hezekiah Masses recorded an interception for the third straight game and freshman Aiden Manutai recovered a pivotal muffed punt in the fourth quarter for the Bears, who have now started a season 3-0 five times in Wilcox's nine years at Cal.

The teams exchanged first-half touchdowns before the Bears perfectly executed a two-minute drill after starting a drive at their own 25-yard line and 37 seconds left before halftime. Sagapolutele went 3-for-4 on the possession, which culminated in a 45-yard field goal by Abram Murray as time expired to give Cal a 10-7 advantage.

The Golden Gophers briefly went in front 14-10 in the third quarter but the Bears quickly answered, putting together a 9-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Sagapolutele's 9-yard scoring pass to Mason Mini to make it 17-14 with 20 seconds to play in the third quarter.

It was still 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter when Minnesota's Koi Perch couldn't cleanly handle a punt by Cal's Michael Kern and Manutai recovered at the Golden Gophers' 8-yard line. Sagapolutele found King on a 2-yard TD pass three plays later to push the Bears' advantage to 24-14.

Chase Meyer's 38-yard field goal with just over a minute to play closed out the scoring.

"Every win in college football is a big win. It's not easy to win," De Jesus said. "Give that team a lot of credit. They have a lot of great players. We showed we can beat them and where we are at. I thought tonight was our big first test, and it showed what we can do."

The Bears close out the nonconference portion of their schedule next Saturday at San Diego State. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will air on CBS Sports Network.
 

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