WATCH: Justin Wilcox breaks down Cal's win over Minnesota
California scored 17 unanswered points to close out a 27-14 nonconference victory over Minnesota in a battle of unbeaten teams Saturday night at California Memorial Stadium.
The Bears are off to a 3-0 start for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in nine years under head coach Justin Wilcox.
“We talk about momentum, and momentum swings are part of every game,” Wilcox said. “You gotta do everything you can to carry momentum. You want to keep it as long as possible, and then there’s inevitably some adversity that’ll strike — which happened tonight — and you gotta attack that adversity and play yourself through it and recapture the momentum.”
Cal freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed 24 of 38 pass attempts for 279 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
Wilcox was proud of Sagapolutele’s effort on a night the Bears’ rushing attack struggled in the first half and finished with just 2.5 yards per carry.
“We didn’t run it early as well as we’d want to or believe we can,” Wilcox said. “And so, we were throwing it a bunch and were having a lot of success — and that involves everybody. That involves the O-line blocking and the tight ends doing their thing, and the receivers made a bunch of plays — early in the game, especially.
“But none of it happens without the quarterback, and Jaron, I mean, he just continues to impress. His demeanor out there, just his understanding of the offense and what we’re asking him to do.”
Watch Wilcox’s full postgame press conference below:
