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CALIFORNIA (Oct. 16) – Senior quarterback #Josh Portis# (Woodland Hills, Calif./William H. Taft/Maryland) tossed for three touchdowns and sophomore running back #Lamont Smith# (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) rushed for nearly 200 yards on Saturday evening to help lead the No. 4 Vulcans to a 28-3 Homecoming win against rival Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania football team remains undefeated and improves to 7-0 overall this season. The Vulcans maintain their lead in the league standings with a 4-0 divisional mark. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock falls to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference action, dropping into a four-way tie for third place.

Portis was efficient against The Rock, completing 10-of-13 passes for 150 yards and three scores. For the season, the 6-4 quarterback has completed nearly 64 percent of his attempts for 1,481 yards and 17 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Portis added a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Smith extended his 100-yard streak to six games against Slippery Rock, finishing with a season-high 194 yards on 31 attempts. In only seven games, the 5-10 sophomore has rushed for an impressive 964 yards on 176 attempts (5.5 yards per attempt) and 12 touchdowns.

On defense, the Vulcans yielded only 153 yards of total offense to Slippery Rock. After entering the weekend averaging over 160 yards on the ground, The Rock was limited to 68 yards on 19 carries and was forced to punt eight times at Adamson Stadium. The Cal U defense has now allowed only a combined total 23 points over the last four games.

Cal U took the momentum from the opening kickoff, forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive back #Brandon Echols# (Decatur, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic/Georgia Southern) deep in Rock territory. Using the short field, Portis connected with senior wide receiver #Terrance Moore# (Key West, Fla./Key West/Mesa C.C.) for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 12:57 left in the first quarter. After forcing Slippery Rock to punt on its next possession, the Vulcans expanded their lead to 14-0 with a 48-yard scoring strike from Portis to junior wide receiver #Derrick Jones# (Lynwood, Calif./Long Beach Poly/Oregon).

Early in the second quarter, Slippery Rock managed to engineer its only scoring drive of the game. Senior kicker CJ Bahr capped the 71-yard drive with a 33-yard field goal, 14-3. On the next Cal U possession, senior punter #Derek Fiorenza# (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan/Villanova) was able to retrieve a bad snap and get off a 16-yard punt from the line of scrimmage after the ball covered over 50 yards in the air.

After halftime, the Vulcans took a 21-3 lead on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Portis to junior wide receiver #Chedrick Cherry# (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) with 5:09 left in the third quarter. Cal U halted the next Rock near midfield on an interception by senior cornerback #Mike Brown# (Newark, N.J./St. Peter's Prep/Virginia), but were unable to convert the turnover into points when a 35-yard field-goal attempt missed wide left.

Cal U scored its final touchdown of the game when Portis rolled out for his second career rushing touchdown with 8:26 remaining in the game. The Rock actually forced the Vulcans to punt earlier in the drive, but were whistled for a roughing the kicker penalty that allowed the drive to continue.

Junior #Erik Harris# (Nex Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) and sophomore #Rontez Miles# (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) – both safeties –led the Vulcans with eight tackles (five solo) and both collected 1.0 tackle for loss (TFL). Junior #Shawn Anderson# (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) finished with five stops (two solo), while junior defensive lineman #Thomas Mulabah# (Sterling, Va./Parkview) added 1.5 TFL.

The Vulcans return the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 25, when they travel to Mercyhurst for their second trip to Erie, Pa., in three weeks. The Vulcans have won both meetings against the second-place Lakers since they joined the conference prior to the 2008 season. Fans can follow the game on-line through live stats, watch it live on America One (formerly B2 Networks) and listen live on WCAL (91.9 FM).

Notes:
Cal U committed no turnovers for the third time this season … The two teams were whistled for a combined 18 penalties that accounted for 203 yards … The Rock managed to cross midfield only twice (punt, field goal) and converted just 2-of-12 third-down attempts in the loss … Cal U won the time of possession battle for the sixth time this season, holding a 19-minute advantage (39:32-20:28).