WATCH: Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele takes blame for shutout loss to SDSU
Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has not been shy to take the blame for any miscues on Cal’s offense this season. That was again the case Saturday night when the Bears fell to San Diego State. It was the first time Cal has been shut out since 2019 and came with its fair share of offensive mishaps.
Sagapolutele threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. But, it was hardly solely his play that resulted in the 34-0 dismantling. The receiver group had multiple drops throughout the night, and the Cal ground attack was kept in check in the loss.
Still, Sagapolutele put the onus of the defeat on his shoulders and his play Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium.
“It really starts with me,” the freshman quarterback said. “I didn’t come out firing. I wasn’t hitting the throws that I need to hit. It just started with me. I wasn’t doing my job. I think we just gotta attack practice harder, and we just gotta take it day by day. This is gonna be a big one for us to learn from.
“There’s so much learning points and learning curves we can learn from this. We’re a better team than we were today.”
Sagapoultele has consistently shouldered blame through the first four games whenever the offense isn’t clicking on all cylinders. Team captain and linebacker Cade Uluave made it clear Saturday that the rest of the Bears continue to support their quarterback.
“The only thing that I’m gonna say here is that Jaron is a hell of a player,” Uluave said Saturday. “And, we have his back. Defense has got his back, and offense has got his back. And, we’re gonna do whatever it takes to make him make plays, because he’s a baller. He’s a playmaker.
“And, we’re all supporting each other. And, we all love each other, honestly. I think our team is super well-knitted together, and we got each other’s backs. It’s more than football.”
