• Game Notes (.pdf)

CAL U (8-3) VS. FAYETTEVILLE STATE (8-3)
When: Saturday, Nov. 14
Where: Adamson Stadium (6,500)
TV: CUTV – tape delayed
Live Radio: WCAL (91.9-FM) I WJPA (95.3-FM)
Live Stats: Click here
Live On-Line Video: B2 Networks - Free

SERIES BREAKDOWN
All-Time Series: First all-time meeting
First Meeting: n/a
Last Meeting: n/a
Streak: n/a

CAL U NOTES

• Cal U will make its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Playoffs after winning eight of its last nine games. Fayetteville State captured the CIAA Championship and posted an 8-3 record to earn an at-large berth to the playoffs.

• This is the first all-time meeting between the Vulcans and Broncos. Cal U is making its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Playoffs, while Fayetteville State is appearing in the post-season for the first time since 2004.

• Despite scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, Cal U lost 42-35 at Shippensburg in the PSAC Championship. Quarterback #Josh Portis# threw for a career-high 305 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Raiders. Shippensburg scored 28-unanswered points en route to its PSAC title since 1981. Senior cornerback #Terrence Johnson# led the defense with a season-high nine tackles (seven solo).

• The winningest coach in school history, Kenny Phillips is in his 10th season with the Broncos. He has guided Fayetteville State to four appearances in the CIAA Championship game (3-1) and three berths to the NCAA Playoffs (2002, 2003, 2009). Phillips holds a 64-43 overall record at Fayetteville State after serving as assistant coach at six schools from 1984-00.

• Fayetteville State returns 53 lettermen and 17 starters from last year's team that finished 8-2 overall and 6-1 in league play. The Broncos feature one of top scoring offenses in the CIAA, averaging 30.2 points per game. Fayetteville State's offense is directed by junior quarterbacks Tyler Hosler and Benjamin Williams with the two signal-callers combining for 1,840 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Broncos boast three receivers with 20-plus receptions, led by senior Kendon Doe who is among the CIAA leaders with 39 receptions and 569 receiving yards. On the ground, the duo of senior Calvin Harris and junior Richard Medlin have combined for almost 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns. Defensively, Fayetteville State is one of the premier teams in the nation, ranking eighth in the country in total defense (260.6 yards per game). Senior linebacker Marcos Esquivel anchors the unit with 98 tackles (39 solo), 20.5 tackles for loss (TFL), 7.5 sacks and two interceptions. Fellow senior linebacker Joseph Brown ranks second on the team with 79 stops (28 solo), 11.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. The secondary is anchored by the play-making ability of senior defensive back Jeff Gowdy, who has 60 tackles (33 solo), six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore Austin Turner handles both the kicking and punting duties for the Broncos. Turner has made only 17-of-31 field goals this year, while also averaging 39.2 yards per punt.

• This marks the first all-time meeting between Cal U and Fayetteville State. The Vulcans and Broncos share no common opponent this season. The only tie between the PSAC and CIAA is that Slippery Rock beat Bowie State, 31-27, in the season-opener. Cal U handed The Rock a 44-7 defeat, while Fayetteville State beat Bowie State twice this season. The Vulcans have faced a current CIAA member only once in school history, defeating Bowie State in 1987.

• Graduate student punter #Derek Fiorenza#, junior defensive lineman #Gabe Hernandez# and junior offensive lineman #Dan Jordan# were selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Teams. Jordan has started all 11 games at left tackle and received first-team academic all-district laurels for a second-straight season. Hernandez earned second-team status after posting 21 tackles with 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in his second year with the program. Fiorenza is averaging 39.8 yards per punt and was selected to the all-district second-team.

• The Vulcans have won nine of their last 11 games in the month of November dating back to the 2005 season. Cal U won all four of its November games last season, including two wins in the NCAA Playoffs.

• Despite two early-season losses this year, the Vulcans have won 29 of their last 34 games at Adamson Stadium since the 2005 campaign. Cal U has posted four wins at home in the NCAA Playoffs over the last two years.

• Senior #Willie Walker# has established himself as one of the top defensive lineman in the nation. A four-year starter and four-time All-PSAC West selection, he ranks second in school history with 30.5 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 was named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year after posting 34 tackles (18 solo) with 8.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks.

• Cal U led all PSAC schools with a total of 17 representatives on the all-divisional teams (first and second). Senior defensive lineman #Willie Walker# was named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year and true freshman safety #Rontez Miles# was tabbed the PSAC West Freshman of the Year. A total of eight Vulcans earned first-team accolades: graduate student linebacker #Dontey Brown#, sophomore linebacker #Brett Diamond#, senior wide receiver #AJ Jackson#, senior cornerback #Terrence Johnson#, graduate student left tackle #Cha'Mar Jones#, junior left guard #Dan Jordan#, junior wide receiver #Terrance Moore# and Walker. In addition, nine players received second-team laurels: senior running back #Freddie Bacco#, junior running back #Windell Brown#, sophomore wide receiver #Chedrick Cherry#, sophomore defensive lineman #Marcus Cook#, graduate student punter #Derek Fiorenza#, senior defensive lineman #Brandon Gordon#, Miles, junior center #Nick Piccirillo# and graduate student quarterback #Josh Portis#.

• In his two seasons with the Vulcan program, senior wide receiver #AJ Jackson# has shown a knack for finding the end zone. Last week, he broke the school record for most touchdown receptions in a career. The Florida native now has 23 receiving touchdowns, breaking the previous mark set by Vic Shandor (1989-92). Jackson is also within reach of setting single-season records for receptions and receiving yards, both of which were set last year by Marcel Pestano.

• Since the start of the 2005 season, Cal U is 7-2 in its next game after a loss (including season-openers). Both the Vulcans and Broncos started the year 0-2 before finishing with eight wins over the final nine weeks of the season.

• This weekend's game will feature four players that previously played at Mesa Community College in Arizona, while Cal U offensive coordinator Mike T. Jacobs spent two years as the offensive coordinator/interim head coach with the Thunderbirds. Vulcan wide receiver #Terrance Moore# and defensive lineman #Gabe Hernandez# both played for Mesa, as did Bronco linebacker Marcos Esquivel and kicker/punter Austin Turner.

• Seniors #Terrence Johnson# and #Willie Walker# joined elite company on Wednesday when both were selected to the All-PSAC West First Team for a third-straight year. Johnson and Walker joined the likes of offensive lineman Tim McCutcheon, running back Wesley Cates, quarterback Sam Mannery, tight end Terry O'Shea, linebacker Bill Seidel and running back Gary Michaux as the only players in school history to receive All-PSAC West First Team honors in three-consecutive seasons.