• Box Score
• Game Notes (.pdf)

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Oct. 5) – In a game which featured back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns, the Vulcans suffered a 38-31 loss at No. 17 West Chester on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football team falls to 3-2 overall with back-to-back losses against nationally-ranked opponents. The Vulcans have played top-25 opponents on the road in consecutive weeks for the first time since the 2009 NCAA Playoffs. Meanwhile, West Chester remains one of three undefeated teams in the PSAC at 5-0 this season.

Sophomore quarterback James Harris (Woodstock, Ga./Etowah) passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns while making his first career start. He completed 16-of-31 attempts to six different receivers with no interceptions. Harris entered the game with only 16 career pass attempts, all this season.

Sophomore wide receiver Kowan Scott (Easton, Pa./Wilson) set a career high and led all players with 118 yards on four catches against the Golden Rams. Seniors Mike Williams (Hershey, Pa./Milton Hershey) and Trey Johnson (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) both scored a touchdown and finished with three receptions.

West Chester scored on the game's opening possession, moving 70 yards before quarterback Sean McCartney rushed four yards for a touchdown. The Vulcans crossed midfield on the next drive before the Golden Rams recovered a fumble following a poor snap on special teams at the Cal U 30-yard line. West Chester attempted a 42-yard field goal following the turnover; however, the attempt was blocked by senior Jalen Fields (Dalton, Ga./Dalton).

Early in the second quarter, the Golden Rams increased the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Rondell White, who entered the game as the NCAA Division II leader in all-purpose yards. Cal U countered with a 33-yard field goal by junior Cody Nuzzo (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) on the ensuing drive after a 56-yard completion from Harris to Scott. The Vulcans later trimmed the deficit with an 11-play touchdown drive, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Harris with 39 seconds left before halftime.

The teams traded field position early in the second half before West Chester stretched the lead to 21-10 on a 37-yard touchdown pass from McCartney with 6:26 left in the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, junior Terrell Roberson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) raced 100 yards for his second career kickoff return for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-17 with 6:12 remaining in the quarter. However, West Chester followed with a 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown by sophomore Brandon Monk on the next kickoff.

The Golden Rams mounted another long scoring drive in the beginning of the fourth, using 12 plays to set-up a 23-yard field goal with 9:49 left to play. Cal U countered with a quick four-play scoring drive, highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Williams with 8:38 remaining. West Chester used nearly seven minutes on its next drive before White scored his second touchdown of the game with 1:39 left in the game. Harris again moved the Vulcans down the field for a quick touchdown, connecting with Johnson for a seven-yard score with only 35 seconds remaining. However, West Chester sealed the victory as the onside kick attempt went out-of-bounds.

Senior defensive back Dewey McDonald (Ranson, W.Va./Jefferson) led the team with 10 tackles (six solo) and added 1.0 TFL on Saturday. The senior duo of BJ Stevens (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and Noah Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills), along with freshman Anthony McPoyle (Dover, Del./Dover), each finished with six stops.

Cal U returns to PSAC West play on Saturday, Oct. 12, when it hosts Clarion for Homecoming at Adamson Stadium 3:30 p.m.

Notes:
Roberson tied the school record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown set by Marc Huddleston against Slippery Rock on Oct. 14, 2006 … White finished with a season-low 161 all-purpose yards (145 rushing, 36 receiving), which was over 90 yards less than his season average … The Vulcans have started multiple quarterbacks in back-to-back years after using only one starter each year from 2007-11 … West Chester finished with nearly an 11-minute advantage in time of possession after rushing for 237 yards … The Vulcans have blocked four kicks this season