Brown superb, leads Cal to opening win
ETTRICK, Va. – Garry Brown had the fourth-best receiving day in school history, helping California University overrun Virginia State, 35-16, in a non-conference season opener for both football teams Saturday afternoon.
Brown caught four passes for 203 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Vulcans won their 12th season opener in the last 15 years.
Brown became the first person in Cal history to have two games in which he surpassed 200 receiving yards. The 203 yards is fourth-best in Cal’s history. Brown’s 282 receiving yards in a 59-49 loss to Mercyhurst last season set the school record.
Pete Gialames is second with 226 against Edinboro in 1968 and Ron Simpson had 222 against West Chester in 1995.
In his last three games, Brown caught 19 passes for 591 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 31.1 yards per catch.
Against Virginia State, the defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion, Brown caught a 90-yard touchdown in the first quarter and an 87-yard touchdown in the second quarter to help the Vulcans take a 28-9 halftime lead.
Kowan Scott caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from James Harris on the first play of the game. Scott finished with four receptions for 128 yards. Harris finished with 12 completion of 14 attempts for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
The 387 passing yards by Harris was ninth best in school history. Harris has the top spot with 473 yards against Mercyhurst last year. He’s also third on the list with 439 against Shippensburg last season.
Luke Smorey caught a 31-yard touchdown from Harris in the third quarter to make it 35-9. John Franklin scored on a three-yard run in that quarter.