• Box Score
• Game Notes (.pdf)

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Nov. 2) – In a pivotal game in terms of the NCAA Super Region One rankings and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings, the Vulcans suffered a 35-17 loss to No. 24 Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football team drops to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Vulcans entered the weekend slotted eighth in the initial NCAA Super Region One rankings and are now in a three-way tie for second place in the divisional standings. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 8-1 this season behind a 5-1 mark in PSAC West action. Slippery Rock was tabbed fifth in the first edition of the regional rankings.

The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead on their first drive of the game with a season-long 44-yard field goal by junior Cody Nuzzo (Bradford, Pa./Bradford). On the second play of the drive, Cal U posted its longest play of the game with a 53-yard wide receiver pass from senior Nadir Brown (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) to classmate Mike Williams (Hershey, Pa./Milton Hershey). The Vulcans halted the ensuing Rock drive with an interception by freshman defensive back Jordan Bowman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) near midfield before losing possession on downs inside the red zone.

The two teams then traded field position before Slippery Rock scored 21 points in the final eight-plus minutes of the second quarter. Senior quarterback Nigel Barksdale posted a 16-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter before throwing a three-yard score with 2:49 left before halftime. The Rock added another score in the final minute to take a 21-3 lead into the break. Field position was significant throughout the second quarter, as Slippery Rock's average starting field position was its 42-yard line while Cal U started from its 15-yard line.

On the opening possession of the second half, Cal U mounted a 13-play scoring drive that was capped with a 14-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Cody Schroeder (Avon, Ohio/Avon). Schroeder entered the game during the drive following an injury and finished with 176 passing yards while completing 11-of-26 attempts. The Rock looked to answer on the next drive before junior Tyrone Taylor (Harbor City, Calif./Narbonne) blocked a 20-yard field goal, the sixth blocked kick of the year for the Vulcans. Slippery Rock later added a touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Barksdale with 45 seconds left in the third quarter to take a 28-10 lead.

Cal U looked to trim the deficit early in the fourth with a 37-yard field goal by Nuzzo; however, a penalty against the Vulcans moved the ball back five yards and the second attempt missed wide left. Following a pair of punts, The Rock sealed the victory with a 14-yard touchdown pass by Barksdale with 6:39 remaining in the game. Cal U added a late touchdown with Schroeder finding senior wide receiver Trey Johnson (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) for a 44-yard score with 2:08 left to play.

Senior defensive back Dewey McDonald (Ranson, W.Va./Jefferson) led the team with 13 tackles (five solo) and was one of seven players with at least 0.5 TFL. Classmate CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) posted nine stops (seven solo) and freshman defensive back Jordan Bowman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) added eight stops in his third career start.

The Vulcans close out PSAC West play on Saturday, Nov. 9, when they host Mercyhurst on Senior Day with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

Notes:
Williams posted his third 100-yard game of the season, and eighth of his career, finishing with a season-high 134 yards on six receptions … Barksdale finished with 399 yards of total offense, including a game-high 125 rushing yards, and accounted for three touchdowns (one rushing) … The Vulcans allowed a season-high 531 yards of total offense, which was over 225 yards higher than their season average … The two teams combined to run a total of 179 plays, including, 98 pass attempts