Fast start can’t help Vulcans beat Shepherd
California’s Garry Brown shouts as he scores a touchdown in the first half of Saturday’s game against Shepherd.
California offensive lineman Zach Morehead sits quietly after Shepherd scored to take the lead in the second half during Saturday’s NCAA Division II quarterfinal at Adamson Stadium. Shepherd went on to win, 41-30.
California’s DeVonte Suber, left, and Luke Hrapchak celebrate after a sack in the second half of Saturday’s game.
CALIFORNIA – Apparently, 17-point leads aren’t very safe in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
California University fell behind by that many points in the first half last week but defeated Indiana by three touchdowns.
On a cold, cloudy Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium, the Vulcans darted out to a 17-0 lead in the first 7:24 of the game, only to have Shepherd roar back, twice, to come away with a 41-30 victory in the quarterfinals.
The loss ends Cal’s season under first-year coach Gary Dunn at 11-1. Shepherd, now 13-0, advances to the national semifinals. The Rams are hoping to return to the finals for the second season in a row.
“Give Shepherd credit. They played 60 minutes of football,” said Dunn. “We got out to a fast start, had some big special teams plays. We knew they were going to punch back. That’s who they are.”
Cal led 17-0 in the first quarter and 30-21 early in the third quarter, only to watch both whither against a Shepherd offense that produced 201 rushing yards. Brandon Hlavach became the first running back to break the 100-yard mark in a game against Cal’s defense when he gashed the Vulcans for 159 yards on 24 carries.
Hlavach rushed for 58 of those yards in Shepherd’s last offense possession, a 15-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by backup quarterback Connor Jessop with 1:14 remaining to play.
The play that turned the emotion of the game came midway through the second quarter. Cal quarterback Michael Keir dropped back to pass and was sacked by defensive end Myles Humphreys. Keir fumbled on the play and Bruno Anyangwe recovered and raced 36 yards for a score that cut Cal’s lead to 17-14. It was one of five sacks for the Rams.
“They blitzed on that play,” Keir said. “We had a corner pop up. I was ready to throw but I got hit and the ball popped out. That’s all there was to it.”
“That was one of the key plays of the game, even though it just got us back to within (three),” said Shepherd head coach Monte Cater.
Cal built its 17-0 lead before many of the 3,724 fans had settled into their seats. William Brazill kicked a 30-yard field goal when Cal’s first drive stalled at the Shepherd 12-yard line. Cornerback Vondel Bell made a terrific play on Shepherd’s next series, tipping a Jeff Ziemba pass and grabbing it for an interception he returned to the Rams’ 3. James Franklin scored on the next play to make it 10-0.
A Shepherd punt three plays later was returned 53 yards by Garry Brown for Cal’s third TD and a 17-0 lead.
“We haven’t been down like that all season,” said Cater. “That tells you something about this team.”
Brown and Shepherd’s Billy Brown put on a great show. Cal’s Brown caught 10 passes for 127 yards and had back-to-back scoring receptions. The first went for 40 yards and gave Cal a 24-21 lead at halftime. The second capped the Vulcans’ first drive of the second half to make it a 30-21 lead.
“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted but I’m proud of how hard we played,” said Garry Brown. “We fought as hard as we could.”
Billy Brown caught nine passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown covered 27 yards and gave Shepherd a 21-17 lead right before halftime. The second came with 2:42 left in the third quarter that cut Cal’s lead to 30-27.
Shepherd’s final two drives against a weary Cal defense went 80 yards in seven plays and 83 in 15. The two ate a combined 9:19. C.J. Davis gave the Rams the lead for good when he caught a five-yard touchdown pass with 11:06 to play. Jessop’s one-yard sneak one play after Ziemba was knocked woozy and had to come out for a play put the game out of reach.
“I’m so proud of our players,” said Dunn. “They come ready to work. I haven’t had (more fun) coaching a team in my career. I’m going to miss the heck out of our seniors. It was an awesome deal.”
Rams linebacker Octavious Thomas and Cal inside linebacker Luke Hrapchak each had 15 tackles. … Keir completed 21 of 41 passes for 269 yards and Ziemba went 14 of 26 for 200 yards. … Cal rushed for just 58 yards. … The Vulcans defense had nine tackles for losses.