• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Oct. 22) – After tying the game with 27.6 seconds left in regulation, the Vulcans claimed a 32-26 overtime victory over Mercyhurst on Saturday evening at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 6-2 overall with a 4-1 mark in league play. The Vulcans have now won 16-consecutive home games in divisional action at Adamson Stadium and improves to 4-0 in recent overtime games (since 2002). Meanwhile, Mercyhurst drops to 3-5 this season with a 1-4 mark in PSAC play after losing four-straight games.

Trailing 26-20 with 3:24 remaining in regulation, redshirt junior quarterback Peter Lalich (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) led a 63-yard, game-tying drive that was capped with a six-yard touchdown pass to junior Blake Williamson (Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston) with 27.6 seconds left (PAT missed). Lalich completed five passes on the 10-play drive and converted a third-and-one on the ground in the red zone.

During the first possession in overtime, Mercyhurst moved the ball to the Vulcans' 10-yard line after converting a third-and-seven from the 22-yard line. On the next play, sophomore linebacker Brian Justice (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) made his first career interception in the end zone to prevent the Lakers from taking the lead.

Facing a third-and-six from the Lakers' 21-yard line, Lalich found redshirt junior Mario Washington (Boiling Springs, N.C./Crest) for a 17-yard gain before freshman Jeff Knox, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./DeMatha Catholic (Md.)) scored the game-winning, four-yard touchdown on first-and-goal.

Lalich finished the game with 284 passing yards on 25-of-35 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception. He has now thrown for 2,222 yards and 15 touchdowns this season while completing 62.1 percent (182-of-293) of his passes.

The Lakers led 10-0 early in the second quarter before junior defensive back Rontez Miles (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) returned an interception 66 yards into Mercyhurst territory. Cal U then cut the deficit to 10-7 when Lalich connected with senior wide receiver Thomas Mayo (Reston, Va./South Lakes) for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:23 left before halftime.

Pinned deep in their own territory on their next drive, the Vulcans attempted to run out the clock in the second quarter before the Lakers forced and recovered a fumble at the 2-yard line with three seconds left. Mercyhurst then made a 19-yard field goal to take a 13-7 lead as time expired in the first half.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Cal U scored a pair of touchdowns to claim a 20-13 lead. The Vulcans capped a 68-yard drive with a Knox 1-yard score on their first possession of the third quarter. After Cal U forced a three-and-out, Washington blocked the Lakers' punt and sophomore Ja'wan Bryant (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) returned the loose ball for a touchdown with 8:47 left in the quarter. Mercyhurst responded on the ensuing drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 20-20 with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter.

After the Vulcans turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth, Mercyhurst took a 26-20 lead with 5:24 left in the game after a one-yard score capped a 12-play, 73-yard drive. Cal U countered in the closing seconds with the game-tying touchdown pass from Lalich to Williamson.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Spencer Lynn (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) recorded a season-high 13 tackles (six solo), while the trio of juniors Greg Cochrane (Chandler, Ariz./Chandler), Miles and Justice each collected 11 stops in the win. Cochrane also made 1.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and 1.5 sacks in his second career start. Senior defensive lineman Thomas Mulabah (Sterling, Va./Parkview) added nine tackles (five solo) with 2.0 TFL and 0.5 sack against Mercyhurst.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29, when it travels to face rival IUP in the third-annual Coal Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium.

Notes:
The teams failed to convert a combined three PAT kick attempts (two misses, one block) … Mercyhurst held 12-plus minute advantage in time of possession (36:04-23:56) … The Vulcans have registered nine interceptions over the last three games … Mayo posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 116 yards on nine receptions