Four scores for Keir as Cal edges Gannon
ERIE – Michael Keir passed for 435 yards and four touchdowns – two to Tom Greene – and California University held off Gannon 38-35 Saturday afternoon in a PSAC West Division game.
Keir threw scoring passes of 70 yards to Greene, 30 yards to Craig Thompson and 36 yards to Luke Smorey as the Vulcans (3-2, 6-2) forged a 31-14 lead in the second quarter.
Gannon (2-3, 3-5) rallied and pulled to within 31-28 on Marc Jones’ five-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Keir, however, connected with Greene on a 17-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter to push the Vulcans’ lead back to double digits at 38-28.
Gannon’s Jimmy Keefe threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a nine-yarder to Dontae Owens with 7:20 remaining, to draw the Golden Knights back to within three points but the California defense blocked a potential game-tying 43-yard field goal by Gannon with 30 seconds remaining to preserve the victory.
California was held to 11 rushing yards but Keir’s passing made the difference, as did a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by the Vulcans’ Lamont McPhatter that opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game.
Will Brazill kicked an 18-yard field goal for Cal in the second quarter.
Jones rushed for 171 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries for Gannon, which had 28 first downs.