Bears Prevail in Tight 21-18 Defensive Battle at Syracuse

SYRACUSE - The Bears rolled into upstate New York this weekend for their first road contest of the season as well as their conference opener for a game that had the undertones of an early must-win game.

When the chips were down, win is exactly what the Bears did, especially thanks to safety Kingston Lopa's three interceptions, including a game clinching pick six to lead the Bears to a heartracing 21-18 win in New York. In addition to the three big picks, Lopa also had five tackles and three pass breakups in an epic performance.

"It's a blessing to be in those type of positions and just coming up with the the game-winning pick, it was just...I don't even have no words," Lopa said after the game. Just trusting what I do every day, and just going out there on Saturdays and doing what I do all week."

“Just want to acknowledge the staff chemistry and the bond these guys have formed,” head coach Tosh Lupoi said after the game. “It's really special to be a part of. A huge cultural pillar for us. But knowing the hostile environment we're coming into and being five and a half or six hours away from home, and to drop into this environment to start in some tough situations, be down. I think it just speaks volume of our staff, our players, the bond that has been formed, and so thankful to be a part of that. So, want to acknowledge that.

“I think that was a major part of of our success and our overall belief that no matter what occurred in that game, that our guys had the ultimate belief that that pendulum was going to swing back our way.

“We're going to take it, no matter what it took to do that. And so, really proud of our guys' resiliency throughout this game, and a great team win.

“You know, if you compare our two games thus far, goes right back to that huge pillar in our culture of the ball, and we were able to attack the ball at a high level. We were able to cause three turnovers a week ago, but only got one of those back, right? And now we were able to get another additional three, and our offense did not turn the ball over. So no matter what chaos occurred with our offense, didn't turn the ball over. We went and got the ball on the defensive side, and ultimately that's that's what led to our success.”

Cornerback Daniel Harris led the Bears with seven tackles, one sack and one pass breakup in the win. ILB AJ Tuitele‍ menaced the Orange all game, adding six tackles and a QB hurry. DT Nate Burrell was strong on the line, adding three tackles and two QB hurries.

On O, receiver Ian Strong‍ led the Bears in yardage with 63 yards on three receptions. Running back Adam Mohammed‍ led the Bears in rushing with 74 yards in 19 carries.

QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele wasn’t at his sharpest, completing 21-of-34 passes for two TDs and no interceptions, though he did suffer with some catchable drops in the win.

Opposing QB Steve Angeli was harried all game, going just 24-for-49 (48%) for 304 yards and one TD with three interceptions for the 1-1 (0-1) 

The contest got off to a rough start for the Bears, with kicker Chase Meyer coming up well short of the end zone on the opening kick that was run back to the Syracuse 36 by returner Darien Williams. Then on the second play from scrimmage, speedy running back Tylik Williams gashed the Bears up the middle for a 56-yard run to the Cal 8. Only a TD-saving tackle by lightning-quick corner Daniel Harris‍ saved the Bears from a bigger early deficit, with Harris coming from the opposite side of the field, running down Hill. 

The play ended up saving the Bears four points as the defense held and forced a 25-yard Tripp Woody field goal to give the Orange a quick 3-0 lead just 2:23 into the game.

The Bears struggled to move the ball in their first two possessions as Syracuse extended their lead to 6-0 with a 33-yard Woody field goal to start the second quarter. The Bears only put up 30 yards in total offense in their two possessons of the opening stanza.

When the Bears finally managed to move the ball into the Syracuse side of the field courtesy of 25 yards in penalties, they still couldn’t put points on the board as kicker Towns McGough missed a 46-yard attempt wide left with 11:26 left in the half.

Safety Michael Hurst Jr‍ struggled mightily in the first half, whiffing badly on the big first drive run then biting on a fake jet sweep in the Orange’s next drive, leaving receiver Daunte Bacheyie wide open for a 23-yard TD pass from QB Steve Angeli. A missed 2-point conversion attempt put the Orange up 12-0 with 8:55 left in the half.

The Bears finally woke from hibernation, showing their first signs off offensive life in the first half in their next possession.

Taking over at their 25, Sagapolutele unleashed a deep ball receiver Ian Strong‍ came down with for a 43-yard reception. It was a welcome sight for Cal fans as the the big receiver wasn’t able to come down with two contested but catchable balls earlier in the game. Two plays later, the soph QB took advantage of an immaculately clean pocket, hitting receiver Chase Hendricks‍ flashing across the back of the end zone in double coverage for the 14-yard TD, pulling the Bears to within 12-7 after the McGough PAT. The four-play drive took just 1:35 off the clock for the Bears.

The Bears forced their first big break of the game early in the second half as the defense hurried Orange QB Angeli into an ugly interception that safety Kingston Lopa‍ hauled in and ran back for 53 yards to the Cal 18. It was Lopa’s second interception of the young season which soon turned into four by the end of the night.

Six plays later, Sagapolutele hit receiver Jordan King in the flat for a 2-yard TD to give the Bears their first lead of the game at 14-12 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.

The lead didn’t last long as the Orange sliced right through the Bears’ defense for a 13-play, 75-yard drive where Syracuse only faced two third downs. An 18-yard catch by Darien Williams hauled in at the two yard line followed by a two-yard TD run up the middle by running back Ju’Juan Johnson put the Orange up 18-14 after their second two-point PAT attempt  of the game failed with 1:38 left in the half.

After the Bears were unable to muster any offense on the next drive, disaster almost struck as Syracuse punt returner Demetres Samuel Jr sliced through the Bears’ coverage for an 85-yard TD return but an illegal block penalty brought the ball back to the Orange 15 heading into the final stanza.

The Bears looked ready to challenge to take the lead after DB Quimari Shemwell hauled in an interception at midfield but a questionable roughing the passer penalty took the INT off the board. The replay clearly showed Angeli bouncing off the first tackle attempt into the hit where the Bears were whistled.

Syracuse took advantage of the gift, driving to the Cal 18. Facing fourth-and-1, the Orange caught the Bears scrambling with a quick snap that saw the Bears not set and also with 12 men on the field, which negated a fumble recovery and once again gave Syracuse new life. However the Bears were able to avoid further damage as kicker Woody clanked a 31-yard field goal attempt off the left upright to leave the score unchanged with 9:30 left.

Taking over at the 20, Sagapolutele hit tight end Mason Mini right away with a 38-yard completion to the Syracuse 42. Five plays later with an opportunity to move deep into Orange territory, Sagapolutele hit receiver Jordan King right on the numbers with a third-and-20 attempt but the senior receiver dropped the pass, wasting another opportunity to take the late lead.

Where the offense couldn’t get it done, the defense stepped up, coming up with another turnover as Lopa stepped up to pick off Angeli at the Syracuse 24, returning it for a pick-six to give the Bears the 21-18 lead with 4:51 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, the Bears had Syracuse in a third-and-13 situation at the Cal 49 but under heavy pressure, Angeli hit receiver Justus Ross-Simmons with a clutch one-handed grab at the Cal 19 with two minutes remaining.

The Bears’ defense stepped up from there, forcing Syracuse into a 46-yard field goal attempt after a third down Jayden Wayne sack. The snakebit Syracuse kicker again couldn’t convert, this time coming up short on the kick as the Bears clung to their three point lead with 1:35 remaining.

Trying to run out the clock out as Syracuse used all their remaining timeouts, the refs ruled an Adam Mohamed run short of the first down marker on a third down rushing attempt in their first series of the possession when it appeared the junior RB clearly seemed to earn the first down. Forced to punt, the Bears pinned the Orange at their 21.

Another late interception by Lopa in the closing minute closed the book on the Bears’ first win of the season - a win the Bears really needed to kick off their conference season.