Sep 6, 2014 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – Big plays and bad weather were on the menu Saturday afternoon for the California University Vulcans.

The Vulcans endured a pair of lightning delays, blocked a punt for a touchdown and hit two big passing plays for scores in the second quarter en route to a 33-24 victory over Virginia State in a non-conference college football game to open the 2014 season.

“This was a weird opener for us,” said California head coach Mike Kellar. “I say we are a veteran-laden sophomore team. We have a lot of kids back, but they have played sparingly. With a team as good as they were I knew we were going to be in for a tough ballgame.”

The Vulcans (1-0) got off to a nice start after a 33-yard kickoff return from Terrell Roberson that was made even better after a Virginia State (0-1) facemask penalty.

Roberson added a 12-yard carry on the Vulcans first play from scrimmage and shortly after quarterback James Harris hit Desimon Green for a 36-yard gain that moved the ball down to the Trojans’ 13-yard line, setting up a 26-yard field goal from Cody Nuzzo for a 3-0 Cal lead.

Immediately after the score, both teams were pulled off the field for the first of two lightning delays.

“It’s funny because the same thing happened to us on Tuesday for practice,” said Kellar. “I never saw two delays before in my life. It was unique. Certainly the longest game I have ever been a part of.”

After a delay of 31 minutes, both teams started lighting up the scoreboard.

On their first possession, the Trojans drove down the field with ease, scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Tarian Ayres to give Virginia State a 7-3 lead.

After Virginia State stopped Cal to get the ball back, the Vulcans defense held as well. California regained the lead when Corey Ford blocked the first of two kicks he would get a hand on in the afternoon. The loose ball was scooped up by teammate Jordan Bowman, who dove in the end zone for the touchdown and a 10-7 California lead.

“The blocked punt was a momentum swing,” said Bowman. “That’s what we practice every day. Corey came off the edge and I saw the ball and tried to score. We got the win though. That’s all that matters.”

The next three scoring drives consisted of a combined four plays.

Virginia State regained the lead, 14-10, when Jaivon Smallwood hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Ayres to cap a two-play drive.

On the next offensive play, Harris hit Garry Brown with a 69-yard touchdown pass to put the Vulcans back on top, 17-14.

After forcing a Virginia State punt, it only took the Vulcans one play to score as Harris connected with Kowan Scott with a 49-yard touchdown pass to extend the Cal lead to 24-14.

“They were playing a run fit scheme,” said Harris. “We wanted to go over top and soften them up. I saw the opportunity to fit the ball in and threw them both to the left to Garry and Kowan.”

Virginia State (0-1) trimmed the lead to 24-21, ending a nine-play drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Ayres to Kevon Bellamy.

The Vulcans added a field goal before the half to take a 27-21 lead.

After another field goal from Nuzzo in the third quarter put the Vulcans ahead 30-21, the game was stopped a second time for a 30-minute lightning delay.

The Trojans challenged again coming out of the delay, driving 68 yards, but Cal’s defense came up with a third-down stop and forced a field goal that cut the lead to 30-24.

The Vulcans then put the game away with a field goal drive of their own as Nuzzo tied a school record with his fourth field goal with just under 10 minutes to play.

“Holding them to three there was big,” said Kellar. “So was being able to go on a lengthy drive of our own and getting three points. It’s great for a coach to have confidence in a kicker.”

Notes: Harris completed 15 of 27 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns … Scott caught six passes for 113 yards. … In addition to his touchdown, Bowman added an interception in the fourth quarter and also had five tackles. … Trinity graduate Kenny Wilkins, a transfer from Michigan, had a solid performance in his first game for California, recording nine tackles, one behind Branko Busick, who led the Vulcans with 10.