CALIFORNIA (Sept. 17) – The Vulcans scored touchdowns in all three phases, including two on special teams, and allowed only 40 yards of total offense in a 61-0 victory over Millersville on Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 2-0 this season with both victories coming in league crossover play. Meanwhile, the Marauders fall to 1-2 this year after winning their season-opener.
The Vulcans recorded their first shutout since the 2012 season, while totaling eight sacks and forcing four turnovers in the victory. Junior linebacker
Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) collected a team-high six tackles (two solo) with 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks, while senior defensive back
Aaron Terry (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) posted five stops (two solo), 1.0 TFL and one interception. Senior defensive lineman
Jawan Turner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) registered 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and scored a touchdown on a 36-yard fumble recovery.
Millersville mounted its only sustainable drive of the game on the opening possession of the game before Terry halted the drive with an interception near the goal line and returned the turnover 69 yards to the 26-yard line of the Marauders. Cal U capitalized on the turnover with a 1-yard touchdown run by junior
Nick Grissom (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) with 7:28 left in the first quarter.
The Vulcans stretched the lead to 10-0 on a 26-yard field goal by junior kicker
Will Brazill (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) with 13:14 remaining in the first half. The teams then traded punts before Millersville advanced to near midfield when Turner registered a strip sack on a third-and-three and returned the fumble for a touchdown with 6:09 left in the second quarter. Cal U later added to its lead when junior quarterback
Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) connected with senior wide receiver
Garry Brown (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) for a 33-yard touchdown with only 48 seconds left before halftime.
In his second career start, Keir finished with 198 passing yards and two touchdowns – both to Brown – on 15-of-23 attempts with no interceptions.
Brown returned the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards for a touchdown, his second career score on special teams. On the ensuing kickoff, senior
Arnel Farmer, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) forced a fumble and junior
Todd Coles, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) recovered the loose ball and scored on a 25-yard fumble recovery. The Vulcans stretched the lead to 45-0 when Keir found Brown for a 2-yard touchdown with 10:04 left in the third quarter. Brazill later added another 26-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in the quarter to give Cal U a 48-0 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, sophomore linebacker
Dymond Thomas (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) intercepted a pass deep in Millersville territory. Sophomore running back
Jalen Bell (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) then scored on a 13-yard run on the initial play after the turnover and redshirt sophomore running back
Nate Goldsmith (Buffalo, N.Y./Cleveland Hill) scored the final touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run with 5:50 left in the game (PAT failed).
The Vulcans open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they travel to face Seton Hill at Offutt Stadium in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at 3 p.m.
Notes:
Brown led all players with 76 receiving yards on five catches with two touchdowns … Terry finished with 79 yards on five punt returns … The Vulcans posted 181 rushing yards and three touchdowns with four players rushing for at least 30 yards … Cal U has out-scored its opponents by a 140-3 margin this season behind a combined 54 points in third quarter … The Vulcans committed 14 penalties for 126 yards, while the Marauders were only flagged twice in the game … The average starting field position for Cal U was its own 48-yard line
