CALIFORNIA (Oct. 24) – The Vulcans scored 21 points in the first quarter and registered six interceptions on Saturday afternoon in a 42-28 Homecoming victory over previously undefeated and No. 25 Clarion at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 5-3 overall and is tied for second in the divisional standings with a 3-2 mark. The Vulcans have now won 11-straight games on Homecoming, including two victories in three years over the Golden Eagles. Meanwhile, Clarion falls to 7-1 this season behind a 4-1 record in league play.

The Vulcans forced six turnovers for the first time in over a decade, as six different players registered an interception in the victory. Clarion entered the game having only thrown five interceptions on 245 pass attempts and boasted a plus-11 turnover margin.

On the opening possession of the game, the Golden Eagles advanced to midfield before junior Aaron Terry (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) posted his team-leading fourth interception and setup the Vulcans in the red zone with a 47-yard return. Cal U capitalized on the turnover when senior quarterback James Harris (Woodstock, Ga./Etowah) connected with junior wide receiver Garry Brown (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) for a 17-yard touchdown with 12:41 left in the first quarter.

Harris finished the game with 189 passing yards on 14-of-25 attempts with a pair of interceptions and touchdowns – both to Brown, who totaled 77 receiving yards on six receptions.

Following a Clarion touchdown, Cal U responded with a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back John Franklin III (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) with 7:46 remaining in the quarter, which followed a 53-yard completion from Harris to senior wide receiver Kowan Scott (Easton, Pa./Wilson). The Golden Eagles were forced to a three-and-out on their next drive following back-to-back sacks by sophomore defensive lineman Justin Baker (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) and were forced to punt from their own end zone. Cal U stretched the lead to 21-7 with a 1-yard score by Franklin with 2:46 left in the quarter.

Franklin rushed for a team-high 101 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. He is the only player in the PSAC to rush for at least one score in each game this season and has eclipsed the century mark three times this year.

The teams traded field position early in the second quarter before Clarion cut the deficit to 21-14 with a nine-touchdown pass by junior Connor Simmons, who led the PSAC in completion percentage entering the weekend. The Vulcans countered with a 76-yard scoring drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Jimmy Wheeler (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) with 6:00 remaining before halftime. The teams then traded interceptions in Cal U territory before Clarion was stopped at the Vulcans 5-yard line on the final play of the first half.

The Vulcans halted the Golden Eagles just outside the red zone early in the second half with an interception by junior defensive back Vondel Bell (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park). Cal U advanced to the Clarion 20-yard line before turning the ball over on downs and the Golden Eagles advanced to midfield following a 26-yard run on third down. Two plays later, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Cameron Tarver (Columbus, Ohio/Central Crossing) made at interception and posted a 50-yard touchdown return to stretch the lead to 35-14 with 3:47 left in the third quarter. On the ensuing possession, Simmons was intercepted by sophomore defensive lineman Tyler Haddock (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) in Cal U territory and Haddock returned the ball 26 yards to the Clarion 29-yard line. The Vulcans capitalized on the turnover when Harris and Brown connected for a 21-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 42-14 with 24 seconds remaining in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Clarion scored a pair of touchdowns in less than three minutes to trim the deficit to 42-28 with 10:31 left to play. The Vulcans then worked over eight minutes off the clock with a 15-play drive before turning the ball over on downs at the Clarion 5-yard line with 1:55 remaining. The Golden Eagles advanced to the 20-yard line before junior defensive back Jordan Bowman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) made an interception at the 1-yard line with just 1:02 left to play.

Bell and sophomore linebacker Corey Bopp (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) each led the team with seven tackles, while freshman defensive back Quintin Smith (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) finished with six stops.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 31, when it travels to face Gannon in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 12 p.m.

Notes:
The Vulcans have won four-straight games at home against Top-25 opponents … The teams were penalized a combined 24 times for a staggering 250 yards, including seven personal fouls and two unsportsmanlike conducts … The Golden Eagles finished with 495 yards of total offense on 75 plays with Simmons passing for 367 yards on 24-of-51 attempts … Cal U held a six-minute advantage in time of possession after controlling the ball for over 20 minutes in the second half … The Vulcans nearly featured multiple 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since 2012, as Franklin rushed for 101 yards and Wheeler posted 93 yards on the ground