• Box Score
• Game Notes (.pdf)

CLARION, Pa. (Oct. 4) – The No. 9 Vulcans scored a combined 49 points in the final three quarters in a 52-20 victory against Clarion University at Memorial Stadium on Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

The win moves the California University of Pennsylvania football team to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in divisional play. It also marks a personal milestone for seventh-year head coach John Luckhardt, who became just the third coach in school history to total 50 career wins. Luckhardt joins Ted Nemeth (1950-61, 55) and Jeff Petrucci (1981-92, 54) as the only coaches to post 50-plus victories in their coaching careers at Cal U.

A total of seven different players scored touchdowns for the Vulcans, including senior running back Brandon Lombardy (Moureland Hills, Ohio/Chagrin Falls/Purdue). The touchdown by Lombardy moves him into second place in school history and into a tie for 10th place all-time in PSAC history with 42 career rushing touchdowns.

The two teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter before the Vulcans opened the second quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin McCabe (Gibsonia, Pa. /Pine-Richland/Virginia) to senior tight end Cory Garver (Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill/Delaware State) with 14:55 left before halftime. After the defense forced a three-and-out, McCabe connected with sophomore tight end Chase DeCarlo (Beaufort, S.C./Beaufort/Georgia Southern) for a 14-yard score with 10:39 left in the second quarter.

McCabe finished the game with 164 passing yards on 12-of-17 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Vulcans took a 17-3 lead into halftime after amassing 240 yards of total offense on 30 plays (8.0 yards per play) before the Golden Eagles (1-5, 0-3 PSAC West) opened the second half with a field goal.

On the first Cal U possession of the second half, Lombardy scampered for a 35-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 24-6. The senior running back finished the game with 106 rushing yards on just seven carries (15.1 yards per attempt), while also adding 80 yards on two kickoff returns.

The Vulcan defense forced another three-and-out against the Golden Eagles before the Cal U offense capitalized on good field position with a five-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Daine Williams (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls/Howard), who finished the game with 75 yards on 13 attempts.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, senior free safety Juan Butler (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) intercepted an Eric Coxon pass near midfield. The Vulcans turned the turnover into points when sophomore running back Windell Brown (Duquesne, Pa./Duquesne) scored on a 12-yard run.

The Golden Eagles responded with a touchdown on the ensuing position before junior Freddie Bacco (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) posted a 30-yard touchdown scamper down the sideline to increase the Vulcans' lead to 45-13 with 10:40 left in the game.

After a botched snap on the next Cal U possession, the Vulcan defense responded with an interception by freshman defensive lineman Steve Santia (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) , who returned the turnover 67 yards to the Clarion 13-yard line.

The Vulcans then scored on a fourth-and-three play when freshman quarterback Zack Grossi (Tampa, Fla./Thomas Jefferson) found freshman wide receiver Tim Picard (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) in the end zone.

In the second half, the Vulcans allowed only 26 rushing yards against the Golden Golden Eagles after registering three sacks in the final two quarters.

Senior linebacker Jake Howell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) led the defensive charge for Cal U with seven tackles (three solo), while Butler finished with six stops (three solo). Seven different Vulcans registered at a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, including 1.5 by junior defensive lineman Mark Malloy (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills/Kent State) who finished with three tackles (one solo), 1.0 sack and a pass break-up.

The Vulcans continue divisional play on Saturday, Oct 11, when the host Lock Haven University for Homecoming 2008 at Adamson Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. against the Bald Eagles.

Notes:
Cal U posted 250-plus rushing yards for the third time this season, totaling 278 yards on 39 attempts (7.1 yards per carry)…The Vulcans have combined for 39.0 tackles for loss (TFL) in their last five games, including 6.0 against the Golden Eagles…Cal U converted six-of-seven trips inside the red zone into points.