Big first half sends Cal past The Rock
California’s Terrell Roberson finishes a 4-yard touchdown run ahead of Slippery Rock’s Bob Vernick during the second quarter of Saturday’s PSAC game at Adamson Stadium.
California’s Mark Thomas gains some of California’s 500 yards ot total offense.
CALIFORNIA – Don’t look away or go for a heaping bowl of nachos supreme or visit the restroom at games such as the one played at Adamson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
You could miss 24 plays in this type of track meet, er, football game.
California and Slippery Rock combined to run 93 offensive plays in the first half and 166 for the game. The Vulcans produced more points than The Rock with their plays in a 48-26 victory in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game.
The win moved Cal’s record to 5-1, including a 4-1 mark in the conference. Slippery Rock fell to 5-1 and 4-1.
The victory, the first for Cal coach Mike Kellar in three tries against The Rock, sets up another big game next week against rival Indiana, also set for Adamson Stadium.
Slippery Rock came into the game ranked 19th in NCAA Division II by the AFCA and 14th by d2football.com, and with the top rushing attack and best offense in the PSAC. Shamar Greene was the third-leading rusher in the nation but was held to 55 yards on 13 carries.
Sophomore Nick Grissom rushed for a game-high 121 yards on 21 carries and scored a touchdown. Terrell Roberson had 49 on 14.
Cal’s passing attack won the day, and this game.
Quarterback James Harris completed 19 of 35 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Two of them went wide receiver Garry Brown, who had nine receptions for 111 yards. Kowan Scott caught four for 86.
“It’s good to know I have (Brown) and Kowan who can go up and get the ball,” said Harris. “At the goal line, it’s good to have them.”
Cal’s offense produced 500 total yards, did not turn the ball over and the defense held The Rock to a respectable 436 yards. The Vulcans also forced four turnovers.
Cal built a 38-17 halftime lead, then had a ragged effort through the final 30 minutes.
“I gave them the Knute Rockne speech about playing like it’s 0-0 in the second half,” said Kellar, “but they know it ain’t. You only have so many scoring plays in you. People ask me why we put on the brakes (in the second half), but it’s hard to do.”
California built a 38-17 lead at halftime as Harris completed 13 of 23 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was Brown, who snagged his two TD passes, a 12-yarder and five-yarder on fade patterns that produced back-to-back scores that put the Vulcans up 28-3.
“We put that play in this week because they like to play man (coverage),” said Brown. “We felt the fade would be wide open. Our cornerbacks are real good, and we have to go against them all week in practice.”
Harris also hit tight end Paul Butler on a pretty rollout pass that went for 32 yards and opened the scoring with 11:27 to play in the first quarter.
“We couldn’t stop them in the first half and couldn’t move the ball. And four turnovers … you don’t win when you have four turnovers,” said Slippery Rock head coach George Mihalik.
Grissom scored on a 25-yard run and Roberson went over from four yards as Cal’s running game produced 114 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Slippery Rock scored three times in the first half, the latter a two-yard run that pulled The Rock to within 35-17. Cal might have settled to run out the final 45 seconds of the half but Roberson had a 74-yard kickoff return that set up a 24-yard field goal by Cody Nuzzo with three seconds left.
An official was injured right before halftime after being knocked to the artificial turf. He was placed on a stretcher and removed from the field. Kellar, who saw the hit, said he might have a concussion. … Slippery Rock guard Kirk Nypaver, who lives in Scenery Hill and went to Bishop Canevin, injured his leg and was carted off the field in the third quarter. … Spencer Lynn led Cal with 11 tackles. Jawan Turner, Chaz Veal and Jordan Bowman each had an interception.