Sep 10, 2015 5 min read

California University might have found the solution to the running game worries.

Keep throwing the football.

The Vulcans lost tailback Nick Grissom in the spring with a knee injury and that left no experienced tailbacks. Sophomore John Franklin (6-0, 200) had only six carries for 10 yards and that made him the veteran coming into camp.

In the opener, the Vulcans unleashed a powerful passing attack that helped produce a 35-16 victory at Virginia State. Wide receiver Garry Brown caught touchdown passes of 90 and 87 yards and senior Kowan Scott caught four for 128 yards, including a 50-yard score on the first offensive play of the game for the Vulcans.

“If Garry and Kowan keep playing like that, we won’t have to run the ball,” Cal head coach Mike Kellar joked.

“We knew Garry and Kowan could make some plays and James (Harris) is just throwing the ball so well.”

Brown’s receiving yardage against Virginia State was fourth best in school history. Brown already owns the top spot with his 282 yards against Mercyhurst last season.

In the past three games – a win over Virginia State and games against Lock Haven and Mercyhurst to finish last season – Brown has 19 catches for 591 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 31.1 yards per catch in that span.

“I’ve never had a streak like that before,” said Brown, a 6-1, 200-pound junior from Columbus, Ohio. “I usually average about 20 yards a catch. I understand the offense a lot better and that makes it easier to get open. When I see the defense, I know exactly what to do to get open.”

Harris, a senior quarterback, was named the PSAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week after completing 12 of 14 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Harris has been just a hot over the last three games, throwing for 1,171 yards and 11 touchdowns. That will get the attention of NFL scouts.

“James is getting better and better,” said Brown. “That makes my job easier. He hits me right in the chest, right in stride and all I have to do is keep running.”

That will be the plan Saturday, when the Vulcans look for their second consecutive victory when they host Bloomsburg at Adamson Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

Bloomsburg’s loss was surprising considering the Huskies were picked to win the PSAC East Division in the preseason coaches’ poll. Stonehill was tied for fifth in the Northeast 10 Conference preseason poll.

“They are not a team that gives up big plays,” Kellar said of Bloomsburg. “They make you earn every yard. They tackle well and can stop the running game.”

That might be a good thing as far as Brown is concerned.

“Our offense is exciting, no matter if the football is in my hands or Kowan’s hands or James’ hands,” Brown said. “I see Kowan and I running past (Bloomsburg’s) cornerbacks. They play a lot of Cover 2 and Cover 4. On third downs, they play more man coverage. If they play more man, we could have a field day.”

Franklin and Nate Goldsmith, a redshirt sophomore, combined for 98 rushing yards on 24 carries – 12 apiece – but when Harris is throwing touchdown passes of 90, 87 and 50 yards, there is not much need to run the football.

“Our passing game sets up our running game,” said Kellar. When you double team (Brown and Scott), that’s when we are going to run the football. I’m not giving out any secrets here. That’s just football.”

Westminster at W&J

Kickoff: 7 p.m., Saturday

Mike Sirianni accomplished what he hoped for the season-opening victory over Wooster. The head coach at Washington & Jefferson wanted to use plenty of players and be productive on both sides of the football.

Seven different players scored in that 56-10 victory and tailback Ryan Ruffing had 14 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Effective but not too taxing.

“We have depth and we’re going to use it,” said Sirianni. “Some of our players on defense need to understand that they are not there to simply play. They are there to play well.”

That means the defense will be scrutinized in this game. Westminster, which lost 56-21 to W&J last year in New Wilmington, struggled in a 17-9 win over Hiram last week.

The Titans gave up more first downs, more passing yards and more total yards to Hiram. Both teams turned the football over three times.

Westminster quarterback Paul Columbo completed 12 of 21 passes for 117 yards and was intercepted three times.

“They have speed, are well-coached, have good interior linemen and could be in the thick of the championship run this year,” Sirianni said.

The Presidents are expected to get wide receiver Jesse Zubik back. He missed the opener with a hip-pointer. Ten different players caught at least one pass from quarterback Pete Coughlin (21-27-0 229, 4 TDs), including five each for Eric Scott and Daniel Lis.

Waynesburg at Saint Vincent

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday

The early season schedule is giving Waynesburg’s new skill-position players a chance to settle in.

Jerry Lawman, starting at tailback after an injury-plagued 2014 season, scored three second-half touchdowns to push the Yellow Jackets to a 35-10 win over Muskingum.

New quarterback Jake Dougherty passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns and new starting wide receivers Tim Cooper and Kevin Barnes each caught TD passes.

Saint Vincent gives the Yellow Jackets’ offense a chance to improve on those stats. Saint Vincent managed only 204 total yards in a 26-3 loss to John Carroll.

A victory for Waynesburg would give head coach Rick Shepas the 66th at the school, putting him in first place on the career list. Shepas is 65-40 and tied with Frank Wolf (1921-22, 1928-41), who was 65-63-1.