Aug 20, 2025 4 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

The PennWest California University football team enjoyed an outstanding season in 2024.

Last year, the Vulcans returned to the PSAC Championship for the first time since 2016. Cal finished undefeated in the conference’s West Division play for the only the fifth time in school history to secure sole possession of first place in the standings. The Vulcans earned a pair of victories in the 2024 NCAA Division II playoffs by a combined four points to advance to the Super Region One championship for the fifth time in school history.

While the Vulcans lost to Slippery Rock – a team they soundly defeated during the regular season – in the playoffs, nothing could dim the accomplishments and superlatives of last season.

“I think it just taught us how to work and how to play 60 minutes,” said Vulcans coach Gary Dunn.

“I was extremely proud of the guys last year. There were several close ballgames that we pulled out. There were some games that we had trailed in and I think it just taught our young guys that it’s a 60-minute ballgame. I was really pleased with the way the guys prepared each week last year. That’s something that we must continue to do this year.

“Every week in the PSAC you must show up and play,” he added. “We’ve been fortunate to handle our business, but you know each week anybody can beat anybody. You know it’s going to be a grind and we play some tough road games this year. So, we must show up every week and work. That’ll give us a better chance to compete on Saturdays.”

California opens the 2025 campaign with three-consecutive home games after finishing last season with seven-straight home games, including the NCAA playoffs. The Vulcans will play 10 games in a row at Adamson Stadium before playing their first road game in 350 days on Sept. 27 at Slippery Rock, which was picked as the preseason favorite in the PSAC West. Cal was picked to finish third in the West.

The Vulcans’ returning starters include junior running back Bobby Boyd, Jr., junior receiver D’Vay Johnson, junior offensive lineman Jacob King and sophomore offensive lineman Grady Rounds offensively.

Boyd, Jr. received All-PSAC West first-team honors in his first season as a starter. He nearly became the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019, as he finished with 938 rushing yards on nearly 200 attempts. Boyd has surpassed 1,500 rushing yards in his career while averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.

One hole in the offense is at quarterback, where Davis Black started the past two years. Black passed for 2,948 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago. The Vulcans have only one quarterback on the roster who has attempted a pass while at Cal.

Returning starters on defense are junior defensive back Keith Charney, senior linebacker Grant Hopple and junior defensive backs Khalil Taylor and Amory Thompson. Charney was PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2023.

“We have talented kids in our program, and I think we’ve built our program through high school guys and development players, which is how you have to build a program now,” Dunn said. “We’re not real interested in going to take 15 or 20 transfers every year. We recruit high school guys and develop those guys who have been in our program for a year, two years, three years and now it’s their turn to step up and be the guy. I’m extremely excited about our guys. We’re young and sometimes that’s a good thing. Sometimes when you’re young and hungry, your guys have something to prove.”

Dunn was voted the 2024 PSAC West Coach of the Year to become the program’s first recipient of the award since 2007. He ranks second in school history in wins with a 66-24 overall record with a 48-11 mark in PSAC West play. Dunn is only the fourth coach to lead the Vulcans for at least a decade, and the first since John Luckhardt (2002-11), who is the program’s all-time winningest coach with 88 victories.

“I’m super excited about the guys we have back,” Dunn said. “The leadership we have on defense is good. I thought maybe last year we were a young defense to start the season. We got a lot of reps and a lot of experience. That’s probably going to be our strength. I think we’re going to be strong up the middle. I think our experience on defense is going to pay dividends this year.”

California opens its season Thursday, Sept. 4 against Charleston (W.Va.).