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HILLSDALE, Mich. (Sept. 7) – Sophomore quarterback Cody Schroeder (Avon, Ohio/Avon) threw three second-half touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 50 seconds left, as the Vulcans posted a 22-19 season-opening victory over Hillsdale (Mich.) at Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium on Saturday night.

The California University of Pennsylvania football team has now won three of its last four season-openers and head coach Mike Kellar improves to 4-0 all-time as a head coach in season-openers. Meanwhile, Hillsdale opens the year with a loss after finishing in a four-way tie for first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North last season.

Schroeder finished the game with three touchdowns and a career-high 270 passing yards on 26-of-37 attempts. After the Vulcans were held scoreless in the first half, he completed 20-of-27 attempts for 208 yards over the final two quarters. Schroeder, who was making his fifth career start, connected with eight different receivers in the victory.

Cal U trailed 13-0 at halftime after being limited to just 69 yards of total offense in the first half. On the first drive for the Vulcans in the second half, senior wide receiver Trey Johnson (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) capped a 10-play drive with a diving, one-handed touchdown reception with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter. The score was set-up by 28-yard, play-action pass from Schroeder to redshirt freshman tight end Desimon Green (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) on a fourth-and-one from the Hillsdale 41-yard line.

The two teams traded field position for the remainder of the third quarter before Hillsdale moved inside the red zone early in the fourth. The Chargers then advanced to the four-yard line before missing a 21-yard field goal due to a low snap. On the ensuing drive, Cal U marched 80 yards in five-plus minutes to take its first lead of the game on a seven-yard score from Schroeder to Green with 6:52 left to play. Schroeder completed eight-of-nine passes on the drive for 77 yards, including a nine-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Kowan Scott (Easton, Pa./Wilson) on third-and-seven from the Hillsdale 34-yard line.

On the next drive, the Chargers answered with a 1-yard touchdown run following a 39-yard completion, 19-14. Hillsdale was then unsuccessful on a pair of two-point conversion attempts, as Cal U was penalized for pass interference on the first attempt. Schroeder threw an interception on the second play of the next drive to give the Chargers possession at their 38-yard line with 4:23 remaining. Hillsdale committed a pair of penalties and lost 10 yards on the drive before a 52-yard punt gave Cal U possession at its 20-yard line with 3:09 left to play.

The Vulcans marched 80 yards on nine plays with Schroder finding senior Mike Williams (Hershey, Pa./Milton Hershey) for the go-ahead, five-yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining. Near midfield at the start of the drive, junior running back Jeff Knox, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./DeMatha Catholic (Md.)) picked up a third-and-one and Schroeder scrambled for 14 yards on the next play. In the final minute, Hillsdale completed three-straight passes before Cal U forced the Chargers to attempt a failed 48-yard field goal (wide left) as time expired.

Defensively, senior Dewey McDonald (Ranson, W.Va./Jefferson) tied his career high with 15 tackles (nine solo) in his Cal U debut. Fellow defensive backs CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) and sophomore Rodney Gillin (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) each added seven stops, while linebackers Branko Busick (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) and Brian Justice (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) both registered 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sack.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14, when it hosts Kutztown at Adamson Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. In last year's victory, the Vulcans twice scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final five minutes of the game.

Notes:
The Vulcans were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since the 2011 season-opener (St. Cloud State) … The game was the first for Cal U with Mike Lopez as defensive coordinator … The Vulcans blocked a pair of field goals (33, 50) in the first half … Johnson led the team with eight receptions for 73 yards … Knox finished with 18 carries for 37 yards while making his second career start at running back … Hillsdale converted just 2-of-6 field goals in the loss … The Chargers out-gained the Vulcans by a 450-307 margin and didn't commit a turnover