Emory’s touchdown with 18 seconds left lifts Cal past Virginia Tech, 25-20

Ashten Emory crossed the goal line with 18 seconds left, giving California one more answer than Virginia Tech could produce. His 2-yard touchdown run completed a late comeback and lifted the Golden Bears to a 25-20 victory Saturday in Berkeley.

Emory scored twice and rushed for 46 yards on 19 carries. Jackson Brousseau completed 29 of 43 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown, helping Cal win a game in which the lead changed three times during the fourth quarter. The Bears improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC; Virginia Tech fell to 4-2 and 1-2.

Cal played without quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who was ruled out following warmups because of a concussion, the Associated Press reported. Brousseau made his first start for the Bears. Emory also took on a larger workload with running back Adam Mohammed sidelined by a foot injury, according to that report.

The replacements carried the final possession. Ethan Grunkemeyer's 1-yard touchdown run had given Virginia Tech a 20-19 lead with 1:15 remaining, after the Hokies marched 73 yards in nine plays. Cal responded with six plays and finished when Emory scored from the 2. The Bears failed on their two-point try, leaving Virginia Tech a chance to win with a touchdown.

The Hokies reached the Cal 7-yard line on their final possession, but Grunkemeyer's last pass into the end zone fell incomplete. That finish preserved a recovery built largely through Brousseau's arm. Cal totaled 403 yards, including 321 passing yards and 82 on the ground.

Ian Strong caught five passes for 97 yards, and Chase Hendricks added seven receptions for 94. Brousseau spread the ball around enough to keep Cal moving despite the limited rushing total, then found Carson Perry-Smith for a 3-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter. That score had put the Bears ahead 19-14 before Virginia Tech's response.

The Hokies led 14-10 at halftime. Grunkemeyer hit Ayden Greene for a 30-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Emory answered with his first scoring run, and Marcellous Hawkins Jr. restored Virginia Tech's advantage with a short touchdown. Cal stayed close through a field goal before halftime and another in the third quarter.

Grunkemeyer finished 21 of 31 for 288 yards and a passing touchdown, plus his late rushing score. Jeffrey Overton Jr. rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries, while Que'Sean Brown caught seven passes for 63 yards. The Hokies had enough offense to reclaim the lead but could not stop Cal's last scoring possession.

Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech next Saturday after consecutive close losses. Cal remains in Berkeley to face Wake Forest, having won its second ACC game with a reserve quarterback and a touchdown in the final seconds.