Defense saves the day for California
CALIFORNIA – The football team at California University could not have left a more impressive calling card for next week’s game against rival Indiana than Saturday afternoon’s game against Slippery Rock.
The Vulcans defense battered Slippery Rock all day, harassing quarterback Don King into a 13-for-31 performance, intercepting him twice and returning one for a touchdown. Cal’s offense rolled up 372 yards behind split end Garry Brown’s record-setting day and quarterback Mike Keir’s four touchdowns and 280 yards passing.
It all added up to a rout over The Rock, 52-26, in front of a crowd of 2,769 fans that included Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, whose cousin, Jalen Bell, is the No. 2 tailback at Cal.
The 24th-ranked Vulcans stayed undefeated on the season, 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC West Division, while ninth-ranked Slippery Rock fell to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The win was Cal’s first over a top-10 team since 2009. The 52 points were the lowest output of the season.
The Vulcans will get another shot at a top-10 team next week against Indiana, which was ranked eighth this week.
“I’m just happy with how hard our guys played,” said Vulcans head coach Gary Dunn. “With Slippery Rock, you have to take away the run. Our plan was to (do that) and pressure the quarterback.”
The turning point came under weird circumstances near the end of the half. Slippery Rock had just scored on a two-yard run by Shamar Greene to cut Cal’s lead to 14-7. Twice Slippery Rock kicked off and twice had a player offside. Cal accepted both penalties and forced a rekick, meaning the third kickoff came from The Rock’s 25-yard line. Jimmy Wheeler fielded the ball at the 7 and returned it to the 27, where he fumbled. Slippery Rock’s Anthony Bridgeworth returned it to the California 4.
But on the next play, Greene took a vicious hit, fumbled and Cal defensive end Jawan Turner recovered.
“That’s a huge play in the game,” said Dunn. “They were getting ready to tie it up and our defense made the play. The defense stood up and made me look smart.”
Greene suffered a severe shoulder injury and did not return. Slippery Rock coach Shawn Lutz said Greene could miss a significant amount of time.
“When we got the fumble, we’re on the 3-yard line and could tie the game, 14-14,” said Lutz. “Plus, we’re getting the ball for the second half. It turned out to be a 21-point swing. When you have those chances, you have to punch it in. That’s a big difference from a momentum standpoint.”
On the Rock’s next series, King was intercepted by Jordan Bowman, who went 68 yards for a touchdown that gave California a 28-7 lead at halftime.
“That was a changing point in the game if they would have scored,” said Bowman, a free safety who has four defensive touchdowns but ony one by interception.
“The interception came on a high pass and they tipped it. It came right to me and I had a nice escort down the sidelines. I knew I was going all the way.”
Garry Brown put the game away with two touchdown receptions in the second half. The first one went for 28 yards and made it 35-7. The second covered 53 yards and made the score 52-20. Brown, who opened the scoring in the game with a two-yard end-around, set record for career touchdown passes (29) and career receiving yardage (2,690). He passed Perry Kemp (2,532, 1980-83) for yardage and A.J. Jackson (28, 2008-09) for career TDs.
“After the last game, they told me I was a touchdown and about 100 yards receiving from the records,” said Brown, who finished with six receptions for 136 yards. “It was in the back of my head but I was just trying to win.”
Keir completed 20 of 35 passes for 280 yards and his other two touchdown passes went 31 yards to Jordan Dandridge and two yards to Tom Greene at the end of the half. An interception by cornerback Aaron Terry set up Greene’s score.
Notes
William Brazill kicked a 27-yard field goal and Nick Grissom rushed for 102 yards and a score. … Slippery Rock scored in the third quarter when a snap by Cal’s long snapper went over the punter’s head, covered 46 yards to the end zone and was fallen on by Patrick Minenok. … Bowman and Brendan Blair each had a quarterback sack.