Late 51-yard strike lifts Cal past Boston College in ACC opener

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Mason Mini with 1:34 left in regulation, lifting visiting California to a 28-24 win over Boston College in their first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference meeting Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Sagapolutele finished 22-of-34 for 254 passing yards and two touchdowns for Cal (4-1, 1-0), which bounced back from a shutout loss at San Diego State last week.

Jacob De Jesus (eight receptions, 61 yards) also caught a touchdown, while Kendrick Raphael rushed for one as part of a 25-carry, 119-yard performance.

The Golden Bears scored the deciding touchdown to complete an 11-play, 88-yard drive in just 3:18. A pass interference penalty on a long 4th-and-11 pass gave Cal new life before the score two plays later.

Boston College (1-3, 0-2) then marched 70 yards in eight plays, but quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw an interception to Luke Ferrelli in the end zone with 15 seconds left to finalize the result.

The Eagles were hurt by 15 penalties for 109 yards.

Turbo Richard anchored the Eagles who led 14-0 and 17-14 before halftime, rushing for two touchdowns and 171 yards on 15 carries. Lonergan was 21-of-37 for 197 yards.

After the teams combined for four punts in a scoreless third quarter, the fourth featured wild momentum swings including a pair of scores within 12 seconds in the opening stages.

The first play of the final quarter saw Quintavious Hutchins stop Kendrick Raphael on a 4th-and-1 rush from the 3-yard line, forcing Boston College's first of two turnovers on downs in a span of three series.

Three plays later though, Hezekiah Masses intercepted a Lonergan pass and Raphael punched in a 2-yard score to give the Golden Bears the lead back.

After the ensuing kickoff, Richard blazed through the middle and scored a 71-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 24-21 lead at the 13:35 mark.

The Eagles started the game with a methodical scoring drive, covering 84 yards in 12 plays across a 5:54 span to take the lead on Lonergan's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Lonergan connected with top receivers Lewis Bond and Reed Harris for a combined five receptions on the way.

Omar Thornton intercepting Sagapolutele's first pass attempt set up Boston College for another score in plus territory. Turbo Richard needed just one play to score, bouncing to the outside for a 27-yard run.

Cal chewed up 6:42 on an 11-play drive and trimmed its deficit to 14-7 with 1:05 left in the first quarter. After two penalties moved the play into the red zone, the visitors punched in an LJ Johnson Jr. 1-yard touchdown on fourth down.

The Golden Bears also ate up 9:03 in the second, finishing a 14-play, 84-yard march down field with a 5-yard pass to De Jesus with just 3:46 left before halftime.

Richard's catch along the sideline on a 4th-and-3 conversion extended the Eagles' final first-half drive. With 33 seconds left, Luca Lombardo drilled a 52-yard field goal to make it a 17-14 game.

--Field Level Media