California Outlasts Boston College with Game Sealing Interception

Chestnut Hill, MA – The California Golden Bears beat the Boston College Eagles 28-24 on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles received the opening kickoff and started at their own 16-yard line. Eagles’ quarterback, Dylan Lonergan, went 6/8 on the opening drive with 65 passing yards and capped off the drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown of his own.

California’s starting drive ended quickly when defensive back, Omar Thornton picked off Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele at the Cal 27-yard line. Boston took advantage of the field position and scored again two plays later with running back, Turbo Richard, rushing up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown. This was a good sign for Richard after he fumbled at the goal line in two straight games against Michigan State in week 2 and Stanford in week 3.

“He did a great job, he really did,” Boston College Head Coach Bill O’Brien said of Richard. “He took care of the football, he was hot tonight, no doubt about it.”

Dylan Lonergan escaping pressure. Photo Courtesy: David Kilburn.

Down 14-0, the Golden Bears started to find their offensive rhythm. Sagapolutele found his 6’4” receiver, Trond Grizzell, along the sideline for a 29-yard completion. A pass interference call on Boston College’s KP Price extended the drive and gave the ball to California at the Eagles’ 9-yard line. After two BC penalties, LJ Johnson Jr. scored from one yard out on a 4th down to give the Golden Bears their first points of the game.

To start the second quarter, Boston College punted and gave the ball back to Cal. After a pair of penalties on the Eagles, California tied up the game at 14 with a 5-yard touchdown reception to wide receiver, Jacob De Jesus. Just before the half, BC put together a strong 3-minute drive to set up a 52-yard field goal by Luca Lombardo. Turbo Richard was crucial in this drive with 34 of the 36 yards including a 5-yard reception on 4th and 3 to put Boston College into field goal range. They would take a 17-14 lead into the half.

Both teams traded punts twice each in the third quarter and no points were scored.

Going into the final quarter, Sagapolutele found Jordan King for a 21-yard reception into the Eagles’ red zone. Boston College’s defense then got a goal line stand on 4th down to give the ball back to their offense while holding on to their 3-point lead.

Two plays later, Hezekiah Masses picked off Lonergan’s pass and returned it to the BC 2-yard line. Running back Kendrick Raphael got the 2-yard touchdown run on the very next play to give Cal a 21-17 lead with thirteen minutes left in the game.

After not having scored a touchdown since there were eight minutes left in the first quarter, Richard took the first play of Boston’s drive to the house for a 71-yard rushing touchdown. He finished the game with a career high 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Boston College would take the lead 24-21.

When asked about his second rushing touchdown, Richard said, “To be honest, I just saw green grass and used my speed the rest of the way.”

After chunk plays from Raphael, Cal found themselves facing a 4th and 1 at the goal line again and for the second time, Boston’s defense was able to save a touchdown. However, they were forced to punt after the turnover on downs.

Carter Davis with 8 total tackles on the day. Photo Courtesy: David Kilburn.

Facing a three-point deficit with the ball, the Golden Bears faced an early third and long that would have given the ball back to the Eagles, but a defensive pass interference on Isaiah Farris saved their drive. BC had 15 penalties for 109 yards in this game, but this one allowed Cal to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Sagapolutele dropped in a pass to tight end, Mason Mini, who then took the pass 51 yards to the endzone. With a minute and half left, California took a 4-point lead.

With their last drive, the Eagles were able to put together a 70-yard drive to Cal’s 5-yard line in a little over a minute with passes to Kaelan Chudzinski, Lewis Bond, and Reed Harris. With the ball at the 5, Lonergan was intercepted by Luke Ferrelli to seal the win for Cal.

Bill O’Brien on the final results of the game said, “We just have to keep fighting, we have to figure it out. We’ll come here tomorrow and try to fix some mistakes.”

California improves to 4-1, while Boston College falls to 1-3.

Boston College plays Pittsburgh away next Saturday at noon, while California hosts Duke on Saturday at 10:30 PM.