Vulcans rally late to edge Clarion
California scored two touchdowns in the last 6:50 to rally from a 10-point deficit to defeat Clarion, 31-27, on Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
Following a touchdown that increased the Golden Eagles’ lead to 27-17, the Vulcans scored on the next possession when Davis Black threw a 23-yard pass to Omari Hopkins and Anthony Beitko connected on his third of four PATs.
California (4-1, 3-0) forced a three-and-out and Clarion (2-4, 0-2) punted back to the Vulcans, who went on a six-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in Black’s 35-yard scoring strike to Demonte Martin with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Golden Eagles drove to California’s 40-yard line with 31 seconds remaining, but the Vulcans’ Dominic Solomon intercepted Anthony Guercio at the 10-yard line to close out the victory.
Black was 31 of 46 for 422 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Martin caught 7 passes for 189 yards and Hopkins pulled in 5 receptions for 53 yards. Eric Willis III caught 10 passes for 100 yards.
Clarion was celebrating homecoming, and the atmosphere must have worked for the Golden Eagles, who took a 7-0 lead with 10:11 left in the first quarter when Matthew McGregor caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Zack Slomers and Adam Scarpino made the first of two extra points.
Khalon Simmons’ three-yard run at 12:38 of the second quarter extended the home team’s advantage to 14-0 before Beitko kicked a 36-yard field goal with 26 seconds left before halftime to cut the deficit to 14-3.
Bobby Boyd Jr. got California back to a one-score game on a two-yard run with 11:39 left in the third period.
Clarion wasn’t fazed by Boyd’s touchdown, as A’mere Hibbler reached the end zone on a seven-yard run at 4:07 of the third but the PAT was no good and the Golden Eagles had a 20-10 lead.
Hopkins’ first touchdown reception came from three yards out with 1:52 remaining in the third period.
Guercio’s one-yard touchdown run and Hunte Robertson’s extra point provided the home team with a 10-point cushion before Black and company went to work.