BERKELEY — The schedule is about to get considerably harder for the Cal soccer staff, which improved to 2-0 with its 35-3 victory Saturday over Texas Southern.
The ultimate rating was the least of coach Justin Wilcox’s considerations. He was centered extra on how the Bears bought there.
“We’ll acknowledge the things we did well. It’s not about beating people down,” he stated after the win. “It’s about mentioning issues we should enhance upon to proceed to get higher as a staff.
“We’re going to wish to play significantly better than that. That’s what we have to see subsequent week.”
Minnesota, of the powerhouse Massive Ten Convention, visits Memorial Stadium on Saturday for what actually would be the most difficult of Cal’s 4 non-conference video games.
The Golden Gophers, coming off an eight-win season in 2024, are 2-0 after a 66-0 thrashing of Northwestern State. Minnesota scored 35 factors within the first quarter in opposition to the FCS program and led 59-0 at halftime.
Cal additionally performed the lone FCS-level staff on its schedule, however staggered to a 3-0 lead getting into the ultimate 2 minutes of the primary half. It was removed from the sharp efficiency the Bears delivered of their 34-15 victory in Week 1 at Oregon State once they led 14-0 after two possessions.
“We didn’t really block, run, throw, catch very well in the first half,” Wilcox stated of the offense’s gradual begin on this one. “If we’re not doing that up to par, it’s going to be hard to move the ball.”
Listed here are 5 takeaways:
The distinction in per week
Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who accomplished his first 9 go makes an attempt and completed with three touchdowns and no turnovers in his debut at Oregon State, wasn’t almost as sharp in opposition to the Tigers.
He misfired on his first 4 passes and Cal left the opening quarter with simply 48 whole yards and two first downs.
“It all starts with me. I came out flat,” Sagapolutele stated. “I was missing passes that were wide open. I’ve got to be able to hit them.”
“Jaron will learn a lot from this game,” Wilcox stated. “He did some really good things, especially later in the game.”
On three scoring drives that pushed the Cal result in 25-0 halfway by the third quarter, Sagapolutele discovered his rhythm, going 12 for 12 for 142 yards. He completed 26 for 37 for 259 yards and his first interception.
Protection hardly excellent
Cal simply missed posting its first shutout in 20 years, however Wilcox stated the main points of the efficiency left a lot to be desired.
“How we rush the quarterback, how we tackle at certain positions, our decisions at the end of the play,” he stated, citing three points. “To keep them from scoring is great, but we need to be competing against what we’re capable of.”
Uluave’s expensive penalty
Junior linebacker Cade Uluave, the staff’s greatest defensive participant, was ejected after a focusing on penalty within the third quarter when he hit Texas Southern quarterback TJ Cooper. Uluave might be required to sit down out the primary half of the Minnesota sport.
Wilcox known as it a method error. “You’ve got to hit them in the strike zone,” he stated. “If you don’t, you get a targeting call and they throw you out of the game. It’s really unfortunate.”
Kendrick Raphael shines
The Bears rushed for 181 yards, together with a career-high 131 and a landing from North Carolina State junior switch Kendrick Raphael in his first collegiate begin.
“That’s what we were hoping for, absolutely,” Wilcox stated after Raphael averaged 7.3 yards per carry. “Made some good, hard runs in there, made some great cuts. I’m really proud of him.”
Particular groups progress
Cal has proven main enchancment in two areas on particular groups. The Bears missed 12 subject objectives final season, however new kickers Abram Murray and Chase Meyer every transformed one in opposition to Teas Southern, and the Bears are actually 4 for 4, together with three from at the very least 40 yards.
UNLV switch Jacob De Jesus has made the return sport a weapon, averaging 16.7 yards on seven punt returns and 26.0 yards on 5 kickoff returns.
