• Box Score
• Game Notes (.pdf)

CALIFORNIA (Sept. 21) – The Vulcans forced five turnovers on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon while posting a 20-7 victory against Edinboro at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in divisional play. The Vulcans have now won nine-consecutive meetings against the Fighting Scots and have won their opening game in PSAC West play for nine-straight years. Meanwhile, Edinboro falls to 1-2 this season with a 0-1 mark in conference action.

A high snap on a punt during the game's opening drive resulted in a safety for the Fighting Scots. On its second possession, Cal U claimed a 3-2 lead on a 25-yard field by junior Cody Nuzzo (Bradford, Pa./Bradford) with 10:18 left in the first quarter. The eight-play scoring drive started with a 53-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Cody Schroeder (Avon, Ohio/Avon) to senior wide receiver Trey Johnson (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) down the sideline. Schroeder finished the game with 188 passing yards on 14-of-34 attempts with no interceptions.

The two teams were then held scoreless until midway through the second quarter when senior defensive back Dewey McDonald (Ranson, W.Va./Jefferson) returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown with 8:47 left in the first half. The Vulcans looked to add to their lead later in the quarter when senior defensive lineman Noah Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) recovered a fumble at the Edinboro 11-yard line following a sack by classmate BJ Stevens (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway). However, Cal U lost a fumble on the first play of the next drive and later missed a 39-yard field goal before taking a 10-2 lead into halftime.

The Fighting Scots made a 29-yard field goal on the opening possession of the third quarter to trim the deficit to 10-5 with 10:10 left to play. Freshman Aaron Terry (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) recorded his second interception of the game on the next Edinboro drive and returned the turnover to the Fighting Scots' 28-yard line. Using the short field, Nuzzo converted a 33-yard field goal to give the Vulcans a 13-5 lead with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter.

Cal U mounted its longest drive (in terms of plays) of the season later in the third quarter, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Derrick Fiore (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) with 11:42 remaining in the fourth. Midway through the quarter, another errant snap on special teams resulted in a safety for the Fighting Scots, 20-7. The two teams traded possessions on turnovers late in the game with junior defensive Tyrone Taylor (Harbor City, Calif./Narbonne) making an interception with 3:09 left to play.

Stevens led the team with a career-high 11 tackles (five solo) while also totaling 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries. Senior defensive back CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) and sophomore linebacker Branko Busick (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) each added eight stops, while McDonald collected five stops and posted his second career interception return for touchdown.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Sept. 28, when they travel to face defending-PSAC Champion IUP in the fifth-annual Coal Bowl at 1 p.m. Cal U has won the last six, and seven of the last eight, meetings against rival IUP.

Notes:
Cal U rushed for a season-high 130 yards on 50 attempts despite totaling minus-43 yards on two safeties … Edinboro used a pair of freshmen quarterbacks on Saturday, as returning All-PSAC West quarterback Cody Harris did not play … The Vulcans held a three-minute advantage in time of possession after holding the ball for over 11 minutes in the fourth quarter … Cal U was unsuccessful on four fourth-down attempts