Virginia returned two interceptions for touchdowns and beat California 36-7 on Saturday in Charlottesville, Cal Athletics reported, dropping the Bears to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the ACC.
The Mercury News said the defeat was Cal's fourth in a row and that the Bears have been outscored 167-44 in that span, the worst four-game stretch in school history. Correspondent Jeff Faraudo's account, updated at 8:48 p.m. PT, described the result as a routing that further damaged bowl hopes. Cal's postgame notes said the Bears are now 0-2 all-time against the Cavaliers. Virginia improved to 5-5 and 3-4.
Trailing 9-0 early in the second quarter, Cal drove from its 25 to the Virginia 4 before the drive stalled, the official recap said. The Bears tried a fake field goal, and Brandyn Hillman intercepted Mason Mini's pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Virginia led 16-0 with 2:02 left in the half.
Cal answered with a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele hit Mark Hamper for 19 yards on third-and-7 at the Virginia 31; Hamper finished with six catches for 66 yards. A roughing-the-passer penalty on third-and-8 at the 10 gave the Bears first-and-goal at the 5, and Adam Mohammed scored from there with 14 seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to 16-7. Mohammed finished with a team-high 41 yards on 13 carries, the Mercury News photo caption said. It was Cal's only touchdown.
Virginia led 19-7 late in the third quarter before Kam Robinson intercepted a short Sagapolutele pass and returned it 33 yards for a score and a 26-7 lead. Cal's notes and box score listed later Virginia scores as a 42-yard field goal and a 1-yard Xay Davis run that made it 36-7. The notes said Cal was outgained 424-201, with 42 rushing yards, and held the ball for 25:12 to Virginia's 34:48. Attendance was 39,423 at Scott Stadium.
Linebacker AJ Tuitele had a career-high 10 tackles. Other notes included Solomon Williams' first career forced fumble, Dominic Ingrassia's first career completion, Sagapolutele's 500th career completion and Derek Wilkins' second career blocked kick.
Cal plays its last two games at home, starting with Stanford next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on ACC Network in the 129th Big Game. Coach Tosh Lupoi said he told the locker room that the rivalry "is an extremely special opportunity." Sixth-year center Bastian Swinney, who was on teams that earned the Axe in his first four Big Games before last year's 31-10 loss at Stanford, said he planned to "drive that home" for teammates playing in the game for the first time.