Red Zone is dead zone for Cal in loss to IUP
INDIANA – The red zone has been the dead zone for California University’s foootball team the past two weeks.
Last week, five failed trips resulted in a blowout loss to Slippery Rock.
This week, three failed attempts in the final half of the fourth quarter resulted in a 20-15 loss to Indiana on a cold Saturday night in the seventh Coal Bowl game.
The Vulcans (2-2, 4-3) saw any hopes for a playoff opportunity evaporate with this loss. They can only play spoiler now, with undefeated Clarion coming to Adamson Stadium next week for another PSAC West Division game.
Indiana moved to 4-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall.
Cal made it into the red zone on four of its drives in the fourth quarter but managed just one touchdown, a one-yard run by tailback John Franklin. For the game, Cal was four of seven in the red zone, that space inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.
“We just didn’t execute there,” said Cal head coach Mike Kellar. “We do that every day in practice. We’ve been money down there. We’re close but not close enough.”
Trailing 20-9 in the fourth quarter, Cal drove to IUP’s 18-yard line, where a fourth-down pass by quarterback James Harris fell incomplete with 13:47 to play.
On the next series, Cal recovered a fumble at the Indiana 22 and scored on a one-yard run by John Franklin to cut the deficit to 20-15. There was still 9:46 to play.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cal recovered a muff and had the ball at the IUP 38. The Vulcans drove to the 6, where a third-down pass by Harris was intercepted by cornerback Mikale Makle.
“I missed a couple feet left and they got it,” said Harris. “It sucks obviously. I need to make those throws. That’s what it comes down to. We’ll wake up Monday and work like we’re 7-0. That’s how this team is.”
The last drive came with 5:33 to play and followed an IUP punt. This time, Cal made it to the IUP four, where Harris’ fourth-down pass bounced off the hands of tight end Desmon Green.
“I don’t think anyone in their right mind that what happened to us last week that we’d have a chance against (IUP),” Kellar said. “I think IUP is the most talented team in this league.
IUP ran for 388 yards with tailback Chris Temple gouging the Cal defense for 255 yards on 37 carries. He also had three touchdowns. Quarterback Lenny Williams had 134 yards on 14 carries.
Harris completed 15 of 30 passes for 185 yards and an interception. Wide receiver Garry Brown caught eight passes for 128 yards.
“It’s frustrating on our end,” Kellar said, “but you have to give them credit. They made the plays when they had to.”
Indiana built a 13-9 halftime lead on the legs of Williams and Palmer. The two combined for 165 yards on 25 carries.
It was Palmer’s one-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter that gave the Crimson Hawks the four-point lead.
Palmer broke off a 31-yard run in the first quarter that gave IUP a 7-6 lead.
Cal scored first when Jimmy Wheeler capped the opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 6-0. The extra-point was no good by William Brazill.
But Brazill made up for it later in the quarter when he nailed a 20-yard field goal to push Cal out to a 9-7 lead. The drive was kept alive when Cal got a first down on a fake punt.
IUP came right back using nine straight running plays to cover 73 yards. Temple went over from the one to make it 13-9.