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UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. (Sept. 4) – Despite trailing 21-3 in the second quarter, the No. 5 California University of Pennsylvania football team rallied to post a season-opening 42-41 road victory against No. 11 Saginaw Valley following a missed PAT attempt in the first overtime by the Cardinals at Wicks Memorial Stadium.

The Vulcans (1-0) scored the final 10 points in regulation, including a game-tying two-point conversion reception by junior Chedrick Cherry (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter. In its first overtime game since 2003, Cal U scored a touchdown on the opening possession when senior quarterback Josh Portis (Woodland Hills, Calif./William H. Taft/Maryland) connected with classmate Terrance Moore (Key West, Fla./Key West/Mesa C.C.) for a five-yard score and kicker Marc Domonkos (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort/Lock Haven) followed with a critical PAT attempt.

On its first offensive possession in overtime, Saginaw Valley scored a rushing touchdown before Cal U called a timeout before the PAT attempt. Following the timeout, Cardinal junior kicker Austin Borchard missed the potential game-tying PAT attempt, resulting in the Vulcans' victory.

For the game, Portis passed for 203 yards and completed 20-of-34 attempts to with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also added 41 rushing yards on 15 carries in the victory.

With Saginaw Valley leading 21-3, Cal U mounted a six-play scoring drive that was capped with a five-yard touchdown pass from Portis to senior running back Cody Wilson (Hermine, Pa./Yough/Citadel) to enter halftime trailing 21-10.

In the third quarter, the Vulcans halted back-to-back Cardinal drives with interceptions by redshirt freshman Darnell Harding (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and redshirt junior Patrick Swearinger (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone). Cal U took advantage of both turnovers as sophomore running back Lamont Smith (Penn Hills, Pa./Central Catholic/Phoenix) and Cherry found the end zone on the ground. With Cherry's 17-yard double reverse, the Vulcans took their first lead of the game, 24-21 with 3:44 remaining.

The Cardinals quickly reclaimed the lead as senior quarterback Charles Dowdell scampered 54 yards for a score, 28-24. Dowdell finished the game with 363 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns (two rushing), including a game-high 102 rushing yards.

On the next Saginaw Valley possession, Dowdell found Nick Gallina for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Cardinals a 35-24 lead with 11:37 left in the fourth. Through the air, Dowdell completed 22-of-36 passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Vulcans made it a one-possession game, 35-27, when Domonkos made a 29-yard field goal with 8:30 remaining. On the ensuing possession, junior defensive back Shawn Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) made an interception near midfield. After a 15-yard rush by Smith, Portis found Cherry for a 22-yard score and then a game-tying two-point conversion with 6:24 left, 35-35.

Saginaw Valley then mounted a nine-play drive to move the ball close the red zone before running back Ronnie Lark fumbled on a second-and 10. Senior defensive tackle Sam Fikaris (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) recovered the fumble to set up Cal U for a potential go-ahead drive in the closing minutes of regulation.

The Vulcans crossed midfield on the ensuing possession before being facing a fourth-and-five and less than a minute in regulation. The snap went above the head of punter Derek Fiorenza (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shahahan/Villanova), who retreated back into Cal U territory to retrieve the loose ball and was able get the punt away before the Cardinals could get to him.

The Vulcans started overtime with back-to-back runs by Smith before Portis completed a third-down pass to Cherry at the 5-yard line. After a rush for no gain, Portis found Moore for the go-ahead touchdown and Domonkos followed with the PAT.

Junior defensive back Erik Harris (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) and junior linebacker Brett Diamond (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) each led the team with eight tackles. Diamond tallied 1.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and 1.0 sack, while junior defensive back Shawn Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) set a career-high with seven stops (four solo), 1.0 TFL, one interception and two pass break-ups.

Cal U continues its road trip on Saturday, Sept. 11, when it travels to face C.W. Post in Brookville, N.Y., just outside the borough of Queens. It marks the first all-time meeting between the two programs. The Pioneers are in their third year competing as associate members of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

Notes:
Wilson was the Vulcans' leading receiver with seven receptions for 66 yards after making only one catch for six yards last year … Portis passed for three touchdowns for the ninth time in his career … Saginaw Valley held a 96-yard advantage in total offense (428-332), but Cal U held a four-plus minute advantage in time of possession (32:01-27:59) … The Vulcans last played in an overtime game on Oct. 4, 2003 against Slippery Rock … Cal U has posted 10 fourth-quarter comeback victories under head coach John Luckhardt since 2002