Cal holds off Belichick’s Tar Heels, but ‘have to play much better’

BERKELEY — Cal has forged a 5-2 start to its football season for the first time in 10 years.

But the Bears’ 21-18 victory over coach Bill Belichick’s struggling North Carolina team on Friday night at Memorial Stadium won’t be the standard they aspire to the rest of the way.

“They’re hard to come by so we will celebrate a victory,” said Cal coach Justin Wilcox, whose team was favored by as many as 10.5 points late in the week. “We have to play much better football moving forward in every phase of the game — that’s obvious.”

Cal went to great lengths to improve its offensive production this season — bringing on board an almost entirely new staff on that side of the ball, led by coordinator Bryan Harsin.

But after averaging 32 points through their first three games, the Bears (5-2, 2-1 ACC) are scoring just 17.5 points per game in four outings since.

Two plays by defensive backs — one early, one late — saved their bacon against the Tar Heels.

Cam Sidney forced and recovered a fumble on UNC’s first play of the game, setting up a 25-yard scoring that gave the Bears a quick 7-0 lead.

Kendrick Raphael #1 of the California Golden Bears celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at California Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)

Then, with the Tar Heels (2-4, 0-2) a step or two from taking the their first lead of the night, Brent “Paco” Austin changed everything.

Carolina had second-and-8 from the Cal 13-yard line when quarterback Geo Lopez connected with wide receiver Nathan Leacock steaming toward the goal line.

Austin, a senior transfer from South Florida, arrived too late to stop Leacock’s momentum into the end zone, but he punched the ball free near the 1-yard line, then scrambled after it for the recovery on the left edge of the end zone with 3:48 left.

“That’s as good of an individual player as we’ve had this year,” Wilcox said. “That is an elite play. Whatever adjective you want to throw in front of it, that’s what it was.”

Austin called it the biggest play he’s made in his football career.

A LOT TO FIX

Aside from the two big defensive plays and the outcome, Wilcox wasn’t happy about much his team did. The problems on offense were prominent.

Cal totaled just 294 yards, the third time in the past four games the Bears have failed to reach 300 yards. They did not turn the ball over — a big improvement after six turnovers the previous three games — but they averaged just 2.6 yards per rush. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed only 54 percent (21 for 39) for a season-low 209 yards, although he did have a touchdown pass and a TD run.

“Penalties (9 for 79 yards) were terrible. We dropped the ball too many times. We’ve got to play the run better. Punt game? We’ve got to do a better job there,” Wilcox said, referring a 36.8-yard average on eight punts.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele #3 of the California Golden Bears throws a pass during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at California Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)

“That wasn’t a complete game from us by any means, far from it,” slot receiver Jacob De Jesus said.

DE JESUS RESPONDS

Wide receiver Trond Grizzell and tight end Mason Mini entered Friday night with a combined 50 catches for 687 yards. Grizzell didn’t catch a pass against Carolina’s defensive attention and Mini had just one for 8 yards on six targets.

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De Jesus was the beneficiary, grabbing 13 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

“What they were doing gave Jacob more opportunities,” Wilcox said. “He wants the ball, he competes really hard and he’s got one speed.”

A transfer from UNLV, De Jesus had the most catches by a Cal player in nine seasons and tied for the sixth-most ever in a game. He now has 47 receptions for 398 yards with three TDs.

NEXT UP

The Bears play next Friday night at Virginia Tech (2-5, 1-2), which has lost its past two games and had a bye this weekend. A victory would make Cal bowl eligible for the third straight season.