The California Golden Bears defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 25–20 on Oct. 10 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Ashten Emory scored on a two-yard run with 18 seconds remaining to cap a 75-yard drive. California improved to 3–3 overall and 2–1 in the ACC.
Brousseau leads the offense
Jackson Brousseau completed 29 of 43 passes for 321 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in his first start for the Bears. Emory scored twice on the ground. Ian Strong finished with 97 receiving yards, while Chase Hendricks caught seven passes for 94 yards.
Carson Perry-Smith’s three-yard touchdown reception gave California a 19–14 fourth-quarter lead. Virginia Tech answered to move ahead 20–19 before Brousseau led the winning drive. The Hokies then reached the California seven-yard line, but the Bears broke up the final pass in the end zone.
CSB Take
California found a way to finish both sides of a tense closing sequence. Brousseau protected the ball while moving the offense through the air, and Emory supplied the decisive score. The final defensive stand turned those contributions into a conference victory.
