CALIFORNIA (Oct. 22) – The No. 8 Vulcans scored touchdowns on four-straight drives, including two which were setup by turnovers, in the middle of the game on Saturday afternoon to claim a 35-14 victory over Gannon on Homecoming at Adamson Stadium.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 7-0 overall behind a 5-0 mark in divisional play. The Vulcans continue to hold a 1.0-game lead in the PSAC West standings over both IUP and Edinboro with two weeks left of divisional action. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights fall to 4-4 this year and hold a 1-4 record against PSAC West opponents.

Senior wide receiver Garry Brown (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) set the all-time school record for receptions on Saturday, breaking the previous mark held for 30-plus years by Perry Kemp (1980-83). Brown led all players with 95 receiving yards and one touchdown on a season-high nine catches. The Ohio native now holds all-time school records with 172 receptions, 2,988 receiving yards and 32 receiving touchdowns.

The Vulcans forced and recovered a pair of fumbles on Saturday, while limiting the Golden Knights to less than 150 passing yards. Cal U held Gannon to only 14 points after the Golden Knights entered the weekend having scored over 30 points in four games this year. Junior linebacker Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) led the team and finished with a season-high 11 tackles (seven solo). Senior defensive lineman Jawan Turner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) tied his career high with nine stops (four solo) and recorded 1.0 TFL, one forced fumble and one pass break-up. Fellow senior Jordan Lardani (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks in the victory, becoming the first player since Turner in 2014 to accomplish the feat.

The game was scoreless until midway through the second quarter after Cal U was intercepted on back-to-back drives, including once at its own 24-yard line. The Golden Knights managed only one yard on its next three plays before a 41-yard field goal missed wide left with 13:31 left in the second quarter. On the next Gannon possession, the Golden Knights moved near the red zone before turning the ball over on downs.

The teams then exchanged turnovers with Turner forcing a fumble on a short completion and junior linebacker Cameron Tarver (Columbus, Ohio/Central Crossing) recovered the loose ball at the Gannon 22-yard line. The Vulcans broke the scoreless tie when junior Nick Grissom (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) posted a 12-yard rushing touchdown with 6:24 left before halftime. The Golden Knights countered with an 11-play scoring drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown run after converting a pair of third-and-longs. On the ensuing drive, Cal U started at its 40-yard line following a short kickoff and a 20-yard return by Brown. Junior quarterback Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) opened the drive with a pair of completions to Brown before a personal foul later moved the Vulcans to the Gannon 16-yard line. Keir then ran for a four-yard scramble before being temporarily forced from the game due to injury. Just two plays later, junior quarterback Marcus Prather (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) connected with classmate Luke Smorey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) for a 12-yard touchdown while only 12 seconds remained in the second quarter.

On the second play of the third quarter, junior defensive lineman Justin Baker (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) forced a fumble inside the Gannon 20-yard line that was recovered by senior defensive back Jordan Bowman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin). The Vulcans capitalized on the turnover with Keir finding Brown for a 15-yard touchdown. Gannon responded on the ensuing drive with a 59-yard touchdown run by Marcus Jones with 11:55 left in the third quarter. Cal U then mounted a nearly five-minute scoring drive with Keir finding junior wide receiver Tom Greene (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) for a three-yard touchdown after previously connecting with Greene on the drive for a 15-yard gain on a third-and-nine.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Vulcans stretched the lead to 35-14 on a two-yard touchdown run by junior John Franklin III (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) after the drive started in Gannon territory following a 28-yard punt return by senior Aaron Terry (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake). The Golden Knights moved into the red zone on the ensuing drive before the Vulcans forced a turnover on downs. Cal U maintained possession for the final five-plus minutes of the game after coverting a pair of third downs, including a 41-yard completion from Keir to Greene on a third-and-17 deep in Cal U territory.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29, when they travel to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 12 p.m.

Notes:
Keir finished with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-30 attempts with four interceptions … The Vulcans were limited to a season-low 82 rushing yards with Grissom leading the team with 68 yards … Cal U scored touchdowns on all five of its red-zone trips … The 59-yard run by Jones marked the longest play allowed by the Vulcans this year … Cal U has won all eight meetings against Gannon since the Golden Knights joined the PSAC in 2008 … The Vulcans converted 9-of-15 third-down chances … Gannon outgained Cal U by a 325-306 margin