Cal Golden Bears Dominate Minnesota, Improve to 3-0 Behind Stellar Freshman Quarterback
The University of California, Berkeley football team secured a decisive 27-14 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, September 13, 2025, improving their season record to 3-0 for the second consecutive year. A dominant passing performance by freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawei propelled the Golden Bears to victory at California Memorial Stadium.
Keawei Leads Cal’s Explosive Offense
True freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawei continued his impressive start to his college career, throwing for a career-high 279 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears’ offensive strategy clearly prioritized the passing game, a decision that proved successful against the Minnesota defense. Keawei completed 24 of 38 passes with a passer rating of 150.9, showcasing remarkable poise and accuracy.
“Jaron continues to impress,” said Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox. “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.”
Key Performances Fuel Cal Victory
Wide receiver Jacob de Jesus contributed significantly to the offensive effort with seven catches for 54 yards and his first touchdown as a Cal Bear. Jordan King also secured his first career touchdown pass, while tight end Mason Mini added his second scoring catch of the season. Defensively, cornerback Hezekiah Masses recorded an interception for the third consecutive game, and freshman Aiden Manutai recovered a crucial muffed punt in the fourth quarter.
Game Recap: A Battle of Momentum Shifts
The teams traded touchdowns in the first half, but Cal seized control with a perfectly executed two-minute drill before halftime. With 37 seconds remaining, Keawei went 3-for-4 on the drive, culminating in a 45-yard field goal by Abram Murray as time expired, giving Cal a 10-7 lead.
Minnesota briefly regained the lead in the third quarter, going ahead 14-10, but the Bears responded swiftly. A 9-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by a 9-yard scoring pass from Keawei to Mini, put Cal back in front 17-14 with 20 seconds left in the third.
The game remained tightly contested until a pivotal turnover in the fourth quarter. Minnesota’s Koi Perch fumbled a punt from Cal’s Michael Kern, which was recovered by Manutai at the Golden Gophers’ 8-yard line. Keawei capitalized on the opportunity, connecting with King for a 2-yard touchdown pass, extending Cal’s lead to 24-14. A 38-yard field goal by Chase Meyer with just over a minute remaining sealed the victory for the Bears.
“Every win in college football is a big win. It’s not easy to win,” said de Jesus. “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.”
Looking Ahead: Matchup with San Diego State
The Bears will conclude their nonconference schedule next Saturday with a road game against San Diego State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Fans can also tune in on KSFO 810 AM.
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