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California returns to Ship after 42-13 rout
California University limped away from last week's 42-35 loss to Shippensburg in a foul mood, angered over losing in the PSAC State Game that cost a first-round bye in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Fayetteville State felt that wrath Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium when Cal bottled up the Broncos' potent offense in a 42-13 victory.
The Vulcans (9-3) travel to Shippensburg for a rematch between the two PSAC teams. Shippensburg received a first-round bye.
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"We took the loss to Shippensburg personally," said linebacker Dontey Brown, who was part of a Cal defense that shut Fayetteville State out for three quarters and limited the Broncos to 55 yards on 26 plays in the first half.
"A lot of guys were angry after the (Shippensburg) game. We got our legs back for this game and we played well."
Cornerback Terrance Johnson set the tone on the second play of the game, when he intercepted Fayetteville State quarterback Benjamin Williams at the Cal 45-yard-line.
The Vulcans drove for their first touchdown on that drive with fullback Shawn Johnson bulling over for the first of two one-yard runs. His second one gave Cal a 21-0 lead at halftime. In between those scores, quarterback Josh Portis hit A.J. Jackson with a five-yard touchdown, capping a five-play drive, three of which were completions to Jackson.
The senior wide receiver finished with eight catches for 111 yards and set the school's single-season record for receptions with 82. He broke the mark of 80, set last season by Marcel Pestano.
"Marcel owes him dinner but good luck trying to get it," Cal head coach John Luckhardt joked after the game. "A.J. took the record away from his cousin. He is as big as an offensive lineman and runs so well. He makes the big plays for us and doesn't let us down."
Jackson went over 1,000 yards against Shippensburg last week and has 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns.
"I knew I was close, but I was thinking more about getting a win," said Jackson. "You get on a streak and keep going. I didn't get double-teamed as much today because we were running the ball well."
Tailback Windell Brown bashed his way through the Fayetteville State line for 79 yards on 15 carries before being pulled at the end of the third quarter. Freddie Bacco gained 59 yards on 10 carries and scored a career-high three touchdowns, the final one came with 11 seconds left in the third quarter and gave Cal a 42-0 lead.
"We felt, offensively, we would do a lot better moving the football," said Fayetteville State head coach Ken Phillips. "We were not on the field for that many snaps. We've been playing pretty good defense all year but when you play a team the caliber of California, it's tough. We were giving them a lot of second-and-shorts and third-and-shorts and you can't do that against them."
California sacked Williams four times and intercepted him twice. Besides Johnson's interception, Shawn Anderson had one. Defensive tackles Thomas Mulabah and Ryan Keebler each had a sack.
The defense turned back the Broncos twice in the first half, once when Chedrick Cherry fumbled a punt midway through the second quarter and once when a partially blocked punt gave them good field position.
Fayetteville State was stopped on a fourth-and-two at the Cal six after the first turnover and Austin Turner missed a 52-yard field goal after the blocked punt.
"There's no question our defense was playing well," said Luckhardt. "They got the offense the ball. We had our backs to the wall a couple of times because of the fumbled punt and the blocked punt. Holding them out of the end zone was really big."
B.J. Washington caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and Williams rushed 15 yards for Fayetteville's two fourth-quarter scores.
Notes
Cal quarterback Josh Portis completed 13 of 21 passes for 196 yards and a TD, and rushed for 23 yards on five carries. ... Tailback Richard Medlin led Fayetteville State with 85 yards on 18 carries. Kendon Doe caught six passes for 76 yards.
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