The Rock rolls over Cal, ending playoff hopes
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s London Cloud attempts to tackle Slippery Rock’s Wes Hills during Saturday’s game at Adamson Stadium.
Observer-Reporter
Head coach Gary Dunn will have California University’s football team in a game for the first time since 2019 when the Vulcans play Fairmont State tonight.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s Brendan Edwards (5) and Gerald Brown tackle Slippery Rock’s Roland Rivers during Saturday’s game at Adamson Stadium.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
California’s Nelson Brown carries the football past Slippery Rock’s Brad Zaffram during Saturday’s game.
The Vulcans’ Craig Thompson holds onto the ball as out the Rock’s Dalton Holt makes the tackle during a game at Adamson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
The Vulcans’ Naszhir Taylor runs the punt return back for a touchdown against the Rock during a game at Adamson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
CALIFORNIA – The postseason hopes of California University’s football team came crashing down to earth, along with a couple dozen of Noah Mitchell passes.
The Vulcans’ offense, especially the passing game, was ineffective and the defense was gouged for 486 yards as Slippery Rock routed Cal, 44-21, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.
Cal fell to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC West Division. Slippery Rock moved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
The Rock wrapped up the division and will play West Chester, the East Division champion, in the State Game in two weeks.
Mitchell, a true freshman, completed just 19 of 48 passes for 184 yards and no touchdowns. He threw two interceptions, the second one being returned for a back-breaking 34-yard touchdown by Eric Glover-Williams that made it 37-14 with 14:33 to play in the game.
“They did everything we thought they would do on defense,” said Mitchell. “It was just a matter of us not executing. It’s not about the drops and it’s not about the overthrows. At the end of the day, we just didn’t get the job done.”
Slippery Rock’s running game rolled up 345 yards and senior running back Wes Hills finished with 248 yards on 33 carries and a college career-high four touchdowns. He’s the first SRU running back since Ryan Lehmeier in 2007 to rush for 200 or more yards in back-to-back games.
“He’s a really good player,” said Cal head coach Gary Dunn. “They have a really nice scheme, a nice offense, and he does well in it.
“We never got into sync (in the passing game) all day. We had some drops early. When it’s a rainy day, you have to secure it. We didn’t do that and it hurt us early.”
Slippery Rock dominated the game but mistakes – seven fumbles, one lost – and penalties – 13 for 141 yards – either halted drives or eliminated scoring chances early in the game.
“We didn’t expect to do what we did. The penalties are just killing us,” said Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz. “Give our guys credit. We ran the football well in the second half. We did some good things and I’m excited to play in the PSAC championship game.”
Hills scored three of his four touchdowns in the second half, going over from three, 10 and 34 yards to help Slippery Rock pull away.
Cal running back Nelson Brown ran for 90 yards on 14 carries and scored twice. His second touchdown, a 37-yard run, cut The Rock’s lead to 37-21 with 11:36 remaining in the game.
The Rock led 17-14 at halftime but it could have been worse. Slippery Rock managed only a 20-yard field goal after getting a first-and-goal at the two-yard line right before the intermission.
The Rock had five first-half fumbles, recovering all but one. The one they did not recover sparked a 54-yard drive capped by Nelson’s five-yard run that tied the game, 14-14, with 2:34 left in the half.
Slippery Rock’s defense allowed only 100 yards to Cal but The Rock was penalized 10 times for 101 yards in the half, gave up a 98-yard kickoff return to Naszhir Taylor and allowed Cal punter Brian Alsobrooks to run 22 yards for a first down on a fake punt.
Slippery Rock needed only two minutes into the game to take a 7-0 lead when Roland Rivers went off tackle from the seven.
Wes Hills made it 14-7 after going over from three yards with 9:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Notes
Jalen Bell, a tailback for Cal and cousin of Steelers’ running back Le’Veon Bell, left the team two weeks ago. He received fewer rushing attempts with the arrival of Nelson Brown. … Jake Chapra had a string of 77 consecutive PAT attempts snapped when Cal blocked the try after Glover-Willliams interception return.