• Game Notes (.pdf)

CAL U (8-2) VS. SHIPPENSBURG (8-2)
When: Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Seth Grove Stadium (7,700)
TV: Pennsylvania Sports Fever
Live Radio: WCAL (91.9-FM) I WJPA (95.3-FM) I WSYC (88.7-FM)
Live Stats: Click here
Live On-Line Video: B2 Networks - PPV

SERIES BREAKDOWN
All-Time Series: Shippensburg leads 41-28-1
First Meeting: 1926 - Shippensburg won 9-7
Last Meeting: 2007 @ California - Cal U won 30-9
Streak: Cal U +3

CAL U NOTES

• Cal U will make its second-straight appearance in the PSAC Championship this weekend after posting a 7-0 mark in PSAC West play. Shippensburg won its last four games and eight of its last nine en route to its first PSAC East title.

• This weekend marks the first meeting between the Vulcans and Red Raiders since Shippensburg moved to the PSAC East prior to the 2008 season. Cal U has won the last three meetings after Shippensburg won 14-straight games (1991-2004).

• Behind four interceptions by the defense and three touchdown passes by quarterback #Josh Portis#, Cal U clinched its third-straight outright (fifth overall) PSAC West title with a 28-7 victory against Mercyhurst. Portis finished the game with 242 passing yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-24 attempts. Linebacker #Dontey Brown# anchored the defensive effort with a career-high 18 tackles (eight solo).

• One of the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division II, Rocky Rees is in his 20th season as the head coach at Shippensburg. He is the all-time winningest coach in Red Raider football history with a 117-103-1 record and is the first coach in school history to win 100 games. One of the most tenured coaches in the PSAC, Rees had guided Shippensburg to a pair of 10-win seasons (1991, 2004) which both resulted in appearances in the NCAA Playoffs.

• Shippensburg returns 24 lettermen and 12 starters from last year's team that finished 4-7 overall in its first year in the PSAC East. The Red Raiders feature one of the top offenses in the 16-team league, averaging 33.0 points and 378.1 yards of total offense per game. Quarterback Chad DiFebbo is among the conference leaders in passing yards (1,987), total offense (2,016), passing efficiency (138.2) in his second year as a starter. Senior wide receiver Mike Harris is DiFebbo's primary target and one of the top playmakers in the PSAC. Harris leads the league with 950 receiving yards and is third in both receptions (56) and receiving touchdowns (nine). The Shippensburg defense leads the PSAC in pass defense efficiency and third-down conversions, allowing opponents to complete only 49 percent of their passes and convert 24 percent of their third downs. Linebacker Andy Casale (53 tackles), Riley Bowen (51 stops), Vinnie Ranauto (51 tackles) are the Red Raiders' top three tacklers and have combined for 23.0 tackles for loss (TFL) and 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Red Raiders are explosive and consistent on special teams. Return specialist Kevin Marshall is fourth in the PSAC in kick return average (27.7) while senior kicker/punter Kyler Ford is among the league's best with a 41.3 yard average on punts and has made 10-of-14 field goals.

• For only the second time since the 1987 season, the PSAC will recognize an outright conference champion. The PSAC formerly played the “State Game” in football from 1960-1987 before the league determined to place more emphasis on access into the NCAA Playoffs. Cal U has played in the PSAC Championship game in 1968, 1984 and 2008. The Vulcans won last year's title game 47-36 against West Chester at Adamson Stadium. Shippensburg is making its third PSAC Championship appearance and first since it defeated Millersville, 35-17, in 1981.

• The Vulcans have won 49 of their last 57 games (.860) overall, dating back to the start of the 2005 season. Cal U has posted a 33-4 record (.892) in regular-season games since the 2006 campaign.

• Cal U was the pre-season favorite to win the PSAC West title in the PSAC preseason coaches' poll after returning 18 starters from last year's NCAA Semifinal team. Meanwhile, Shippensburg was selected to finish fifth in the PSAC East after finishing 4-7 overall and 3-4 in league last season.

• With its undefeated record in divisional play, Cal U earned at least a share of the PSAC West title for a fifth-straight year. Only IUP has previously accomplished the 'five-peat' by winning league crowns from 1990-94 and 2000-04.

• Senior #Willie Walker# has established himself as one of the top defensive lineman in the nation throughout his career. A four-year starter and three-time All-PSAC West selection, he now ranks second in school history with 29.5 career tackles for loss (TFL). Walker is closing in on the school record of 31.0 TFL set by Jim Lukacs (1999-2001). This season, the Aliquippa native has 33 tackles (17 solo) with 7.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks despite battling several injuries.

• After scoring only a combined 27 points in the first two games, Cal U now leads the PSAC with 34.3 points per game. The Vulcans also rank fourth in league in total offense with 392.7 yards per game. Impressively, Cal U is third in the league in rushing offense at 174.9 yards per game despite no player averaging over 70 rushing yards per game.

• The Vulcans rank second in the PSAC and 18th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 94.8 yards per game. Cal U has allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season and limited Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard - the league's leading rusher - to 50 yards. Shippensburg enters this weekend's contest as one of the best rushing teams in the league, averaging 174.9 yards on the ground.

• The Vulcans are in the AFCA Top 25 poll for the fifth time this season (three straight). More importantly, Cal U moved to No. 2 in the latest NCAA “Super Regional One” poll after ranking seventh in the initial regional poll. The top two teams in the region will receive a bye in the NCAA Playoffs. The Vulcans also are No. 1 in the latest ECAC Lambert Meadowlands Division II poll.

• Since the start of PSAC West play, junior wide receiver #Terrance Moore# has proven to be a key playmaker for the Vulcan offense. During that span, the transfer from Mesa Community College (Ariz.) has scored nine touchdowns on 27 receptions for 531 yards (19.7 yards/reception).

• This weekend's game against Shippensburg marks the fourth game for Cal U against a Top 25 team in 2009. The Vulcans hold a 3-1 mark against nationally-ranked teams this season. Shippensburg has also played several ranked opponents, including wins over Edinboro and Bloomsburg.

• The Vulcans have won nine of their last 10 games in the month of November dating back to the 2005 season. Cal U won all four of its November games last season, including a 47-36 win over West Chester in the PSAC Championship. The only loss for the Vulcans in November since 2005 was a 21-17 thriller against rival IUP.

• The duo of quarterback #Josh Portis# and wide receiver #AJ Jackson# have posted some of the best single-season numbers in school history. Portis enters this weekend third in Cal U history with 24 touchdown passes. The record has been set each of the last two years. Jackson is within reach of becoming only the third player to have 1,000 receiving yards in a single-season.