Slippery Rock rolls past California
CALIFORNIA – It’s going to be a long week in PennWest California’s film room.
Watching a rerun of Saturday’s 41-26 loss to No. 10-ranked Slippery Rock in the PSAC football opener promises no satisfaction for the Vulcans.
Cal managed just two scores in the second half and surrendered numerous plays of huge chunks of yardage in giving up 34 points,
“They’re an explosive offense,” Cal head coach Garry Dunn said of Slippery Rock. “The key was we didn’t convert touchdowns. The key to
the game was we had to kick field goals. and we had to convert when we’re in the red zone.”
Cal fell to 2-2, 0-1 in the PSAC while Slippery Rock moved to 4-0, including 2-0 in the PSAC.
Slippery Rock rolled to 494 yards, 245 through the air. Cal managed 147 rushing and 287 passing. Cal’s defense held top-flight running back JayJordan to just 66 yards but quarterback DaOne Owens sliced up Cal for 116 yards rushing and 245 passing.
“The first game of the season (a 45-43, double overtime win against Minnesota Duluth) we were down 13 points with five, six minutes left in the game,” said Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz. “I knew we would come back.”
Cal saw a 13-point lead dissolve under the pressure of Slippery Rock’s offense in the first half.
Tavin Willis scored the game’s first touchdown when he caught a pretty, 30-yard pass from Cal quarterback Eric Gibson, Jr. The Vulcans scored on two field goals, one a 22-yarder and the second a 27-yarder by Harry Radcliffe.
But Slippery Rock rallied to score the next three touchdowns. quarterback DaOne Owens ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run to cut Cal’s lead to 13-7.
Tight end Vincent Bernardi then caught a 14-yard touchdown pass with a little more than two minutes to play to give Slippery Rock its first lead of the game at 14-13.
Owens took the wind out of Cal by breaking off a 53-yard run with 1:47 remaining in the half to give the Rock a 21-13 lead.
Cal’s defense managed to stop Slippery Rock near the goal line when Donte London picked off Owens.
“He’s a dual threat and he can run,” said Lutz of Owens. “This is only his second year so I hope he stays.”
Slippery Rock had plays of 22, 22 and 28 on the ground and completions of 39, 36 and 38 yards through the air for scores.
Cleat Marks
Ruben Gordon, a Washington graduate, had five tackles and a pass breakup for the Vulcans. … Jake Layhue, a graduate of California High School, had two receptions for 11 yards for the Vulcans. … It was a sloppy game with Cal committing 10 penalties for 126 yards and the Rock being flagged 12 times for 125 yards.