• Box Score
• Game Notes (.pdf)

ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 1) – The No. 7 California University of Pennsylvania football team earned sole possession of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West title and a berth in next week's PSAC Championship game with a 17-6 victory over Mercyhurst College at Tullio Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Vulcans finish divisional play with a perfect 7-0 mark and will host No. 19 West Chester University next weekend at Adamson Stadium in the PSAC Championship game. The PSAC revived the “State Game” this season after crowning divisional championships since the 1988 season. The league previously played the conference championship game from 1960-87-with Cal U last playing in the “State Game” in 1984, claiming a 21-14 victory over Bloomsburg University.

Cal U jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead before the defense sealed the victory with a pair of second-half interceptions, including a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone by junior outside linebacker Matt McClellan (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport).

The Vulcans took an early 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by freshman kicker Kevin Hagerman (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) with 8:03 left in the first quarter. Mercyhurst looked to answer back on its ensuing possession driving the ball to the Cal 2-yard line before freshman linebacker Brett Diamond (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) intercepted a Garrett Kensy pass in the end zone.

The Cal U offense then engineered a methodical 12-play, 96-yard drive capped with a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Daine Williams (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls/Howard). After the defense forced a three-and-out, Cal U expanded its lead to 17-0 with a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin McCabe (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland/Virginia) to junior receiver AJ Jackson (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh) with 7:25 left before halftime.

McCabe completed 12-of-22 attempts for 145 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, while Jackson had a game-high 80 receiving yards on four catches.

In the opening minutes of the of the third quarter, Cal U appeared ready to cruise to victory when junior cornerback Terrence Johnson (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) returned an interception 36 yards. However, Johnson fumbled the ball and the loose ball was recovered by Mercyhurst at its own 2-yard line.

The Lakers moved the ball 98 yards on 16 plays to cut the deficit to 17-6 when Kensy scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to cap a nine-plus minute drive. Mercyhurst mounted lengthy 10-plus drives on its next two possessions, but the Vulcans' defense stiffened in pivotal spots – forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down from the Cal U 33-yard line and the McClellan interception in the end zone.

Mercyhurst kept the high-powered Vulcan offense off the field for most of the game, especially during the second half when the Lakers ran 44 plays for a time of possession of 22:06 in the final two quarters. Cal U was limited to a season-low 239 yards of total offense, including just 96 rushing yards. Williams led the Cal U ground game with 50 yards on 16 attempts and one touchdown.

Senior safety Juan Butler (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) led the Vulcan defense and tied his career high with 11 tackles (seven solo), while Diamond, Terrence Johnson and Brandon Livsey (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) all added a season-high eight stops.

Cal U hosts West Chester on Saturday, Nov. 8, in the PSAC Championship game. Kickoff for the game is set for 3 p.m. and will be aired on FSN Pittsburgh. The Vulcans claimed a 44-32 victory over the Golden Rams in the first week of the season.

Notes:
Graduate student punter Derek Fiorenza (Dowingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan/Villanova) averaged an amazing 64.2 yards per punt (four attempts) with two punts inside the red zone, including a 61-yard punt that was downed at the Lakers' 6-yard line…The Vulcans were one-for-seven on third-down attempts…The two teams were called for a combined 17 penalties (Cal U 8-55; Mercyhurst 9-69).