Vulcans upset No. 6 Slippery Rock
CALIFORNIA — California scored on the first play from scrimmage and the Vulcans didn’t let up in knocking off No. 6 Slippery Rock University, 28-7, on Saturday at Adamson Stadium in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West showdown.
“I think our kids played their hearts out,” California coach Gary Dunn said. “Our coaching staff had a good plan on both sides of the ball. When you control the ball for 39 minutes and hold them to 0-for-8 on third-down conversions, that’s a pretty good mixture for us. Slippery Rock is a really good football team.”
The Rock (6-1, 3-1) won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, which allowed California (5-1, 3-0) to set the early tone.
The kickoff went out of bounds and the Vulcans began their first drive at the 35.
“They hit a home run on the first play, and that was the story of how the day was for us,” Slippery Rock coach Shawn Lutz said. “Give Cal all the credit in the world. They played well, they made plays.
“I don’t know if their quarterback missed a throw all day. He was outstanding, and the receivers were really good. I have no excuses. We got beat in all phases.”
California didn’t rest on its laurels and went right for the throat, as Davis Black threw a bomb to Eric Willis III for a 65-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead after Anthony Beitko made the first of two PATs 10 seconds into the game.
Black was 16 of 26 for 250 yards and didn’t throw an interception. Willis III caught 5 passes for 106 yards.
“We wanted to take a shot on first down,” Black said. “E Will is a phenomenal player, so I knew if I was able to give him a chance to make a big play, he was going to make it. Our wide receivers played great today.
“I feel like our coaching staff prepared us tremendously, and they were 100% ready for it. If they could have played with us today, I think they probably would have. They were that ready.
“Our offensive line did insanely good today. It was probably the best performance I’ve seen from them, and our running backs were great with the ball in their hands, and our defense gave up seven points, so that’s all I can ask for as the quarterback.”
Eric McKan III’s 14-yard run at 14:53 of the second quarter extended the Vulcans’ advantage to 14-0 and Beiko made a 41-yard field goal with 9:04 left in the first half for a 17-0 lead.
Kylon Wilson’s 32-yard touchdown reception from Brayden Long and Jake Mullins’ extra point got Slippery Rock within 10 at 4:51 of the second.
Beitko’s 20-yard field goal with 6:54 left in the third quarter extended California’s advantage to 20-7.
The Rock drove to the Vulcans’ 20, but Dominic Solomon Jr. intercepted Long’s pass at the two-yard line with 4:46 remaining in the third period.
“We just couldn’t get any momentum,” Lutz said. “We had a three-and-out on our first possession in the second half and the turnover. It just wasn’t our day.”
California went on a 15-play, 85-yard drive that culminated in Black’s two-yard touchdown run at 10:59 of the fourth quarter. Black caught the two-point conversion from Deontae Williams on a half-back reverse pass for a 28-7 lead. The drive took 8:48 off the clock.
“Our team captain, Dom Solomon, made a great play, and then we were able to put a drive together,” Dunn said. “I like our team. I think they’re a different team. Nothing rattles these guys.”
The Vulcans host Indiana University of Pennsylvania (5-2, 2-2) next week in the 15th Coal Bowl at noon.
“This is just one win,” Dunn said. “It’s not bigger than any other win we’ve had this season. It puts us in a position to keep playing good, meaningful football, is all it does. I just told the team, ‘We are going to celebrate this for 24 hours like we do every game, and then we are going to get back to work on Monday.'”