CALIFORNIA (Sept. 19) – The California University of Pennsylvania football team erupted for 27 points in the second quarter on Saturday afternoon and withstood a 16- point comeback in the second half to earn a 34-26 victory over Shippensburg at Adamson Stadium.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 2-1 overall after taking a split in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders drop to 2-1 this season with all three games against PSAC West opponents.

Sophomore running back John Franklin III (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) led all players with 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts, all career highs. He helped the Vulcans take a 34-10 lead at halftime after rushing for 94 yards on 19 carries, including two scores, in the first half. In his third career start, Franklin eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time while also becoming the first player with at least 25 rushing attempts in a game since 2011.

Cal U jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game when Franklin capped a 12-play drive on a two-yard touchdown run with 10:56 left in the first quarter. The Vulcans forced a three-and-out and advanced inside the red zone on their next possession which resulted in a missed goal. Shippensburg then marched 80 yards on 17 plays to tie the score at 7-7 on a two-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Vulcans scored touchdowns on each of their four possessions that started in the second quarter after the Red Raiders opened the quarter with a 35-yard field goal. On the first Cal U touchdown drive of the quarter, Franklin scored on a six-yard run after senior quarterback James Harris (Woodstock, Ga./Etowah) connected with senior wide receiver Kowan Scott (Easton, Pa./Wilson) for a 51-yard gain. The Vulcans stretched the lead to 20-10 (PAT failed) when Harris found senior wide receiver Devin Lomax (Columbus, Ohi/Pickerington North) for an 8-yard touchdown with 5:51 left in the first half. Harris later connected with sophomore wide receiver Luke Smorey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) for a 32-yard touchdown with 1:26 remaining in the second quarter to take a 27-10 lead.

Cal U then limited Shippensburg to a pair of first downs on the ensuing drive and forced a punt from near midfield. Junior Aaron Terry (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) fielded the punt at the Vulcans 3-yard line in the closing seconds before posting a 97-yard punt return for touchdown, the first of his career, with no time remaining on the clock.

Midway through the third quarter, the Vulcans forced a turnover on downs inside the red zone when senior Harrison Reid (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) and redshirt freshman Dymond Thomas (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) combined to register a sack on fourth-and-two. Cal U was held to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive before senior Sheldon Mayer posted an 82-yard punt return for touchdown to trim the deficit to 34-16 with 6:38 left in the third quarter. Mayer later caught a three-yard touchdown pass with 1:25 remaining in the quarter to cut the deficit to 34-23.

The Red Raiders mounted a 19-play touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter to make it a single-possession game at 34-26 with 6:40 left in the game. Cal U was limited to just one yard on the next drive before pinning Shippensburg at its 3-yard line following a 65-yard punt by Smorey, the first of his career. The Red Raiders crossed midfield and advanced to the 30-yard line before Terry sealed the victory with an interception along the sideline, the lone turnover of the game.

Sophomore linebacker Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) led the team and set a career high with 16 tackles (11 solo). Junior defensive back Arnel Farmer, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and sophomore linebacker DeVonte Suber (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) both added eight stops, while 10 players registered at least 0.5 TFL in the victory. Senior Errol Brewster (Harlem, N.Y./Springbrook (Md.)) and redshirt sophomore Cameron Tarver (Columbus, Ohio/Central Crossing) each tallied 2.0 sacks, as the Vulcans set a season high with 7.0 sacks.

Cal U opens PSAC West play on Saturday, Sept. 26, when it travels to face Edinboro at 12 p.m.

Notes:
Harris finished with 202 passing yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-32 attempts with no interceptions … Scott led the team with 91 receiving yards on five catches … The Vulcans committed 12 penalties, including five personal foul, for 131 yards … Shippensburg totaled 31 first downs and held a nearly nine-minute advantage in time of possession in the contest … Cal U was limited to 91 yards of total offense on 26 plays with just three first downs (none in fourth quarter) during the second half