CALIFORNIA (Nov. 26) – The top-seeded Vulcans overcame a 17-point first half deficit to advance to Super Region One Championship with a 44-23 victory over fifth-seeded IUP on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs at Adamson Stadium.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 11-0 overall behind a 7-0 home mark. The Vulcans, which were ranked No. 6 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll of the regular season, will host third-seeded Shepherd for the Super Region One Championship on Dec. 3. The Rams, which lost in the NCAA National Championship last year, advanced to the regional final with a 40-21 victory at second-seeded and previously undefeated LIU Post on Saturday.

Junior quarterback Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) broke the single-season school record for touchdown passes in the win. He finished with 274 passing yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-28 attempts with no interceptions. Keir now holds the school record with 39 touchdown passes this year, breaking the previous mark of 36 touchdowns set by Josh Portis in 2009.

Senior Garry Brown (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) finished with 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches. He now holds the outright single-season school record with 20 touchdown receptions, as he entered play tied with the mark set by A.J. Jackson in 2009. Brown also now ranks second in single-season school history with 81 receptions and sits third with 1,348 receiving yards.

The Crimson Hawks scored on their opening three drives of the game and took a 17-0 lead on the initial play of the second quarter. Cal U turned the ball over on downs on its opening possession before going three-and-out late in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Vulcans cut the deficit to 17-7 with an eight-yard touchdown reception by Brown after Keir and Brown connected for a 41-yard gain on the previous play. IUP moved past midfield on the ensuing drive before a fumble resulted in moving back to Crimson Hawks territory and a 3rd-and-20. Following an incomplete pass, the Vulcans seized momentum in the contest on a blocked punt by sophomore Dymond Thomas (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) following an errant snap. Both teams struggled to recover the loose ball and Cal U was eventually being awarded possession at the 12-yard line. On the next play, sophomore Jalen Bell (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) posted a rushing touchdown to trim the deficit to 17-14 with 5:56 left before halftime. Following a punt by the Crimson Hawks, the Vulcans executed a successful two-minute drill with Keir finding junior wide receiver Luke Smorey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) for a four-yard score with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter. During the drive, Keir connected with junior Tom Greene (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) for a 28-yard gain while facing 3rd-and-15 from midfield.

Cal U stretched its lead to 28-17 by scoring on the opening drive of the third quarter. Keir found Smorey for an 18-yard gain on fourth-and-one from the IUP 25-yard line before connecting with senior tight end Paul Butler (Reynoldsville, Pa./DuBois) two plays later for a 1-yard touchdown with 9:08 left in the third quarter. The teams then traded field position before the Crimson Hawks were pinned inside their own 10-yard line following an unsportsmanlike conduct that resulted in a player ejection. Cal U then mounted an 11-play drive after converting a pair of third downs that setup a four-yard rushing touchdown by senior Ryan McCauley (Seven Fields, Pa./Seneca Valley) with 14:54 left in the fourth quarter.

IUP nearly countered with a scoring drive, as it advanced to the Cal U 1-yard line before a negative rush and sack forced the Crimson Hawks back to the 17-yard line. IUP then chose to attempt a 34-yard field goal that was blocked by senior Jawan Turner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). The Vulcans worked almost three minutes off the clock on their next possession before the Crimson Hawks took advantage of a short punt. IUP scored its first touchdown since early in the second quarter on a 14-yard completion with 6:08 left to play (PAT blocked).

The Crimson Hawks attempted three-consecutive, on-side kick attempts with the first two resulting IUP recoveries that were called back due to penalties. Brown recovered the third attempt at the IUP 21-yard line. Cal U faced a fourth-and-four from the 15-yard line before sealing the game on a touchdown pass from Keir to Brown following a timeout.

Cal U allowed just over 100 yards of total offense in the second half after IUP totaled 143 rushing yards in the first half. Junior linebacker Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) registered a game-high 11 tackles (five solo) with 1.0 sack, while freshman Aaron Brown (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) posted seven stops (three solo) and three pass break-ups. Four additional players finished with six tackles in the victory.

The Vulcans return to action in the NCAA Playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 3, when they face Mountain East Champion (MEC) Champion Shepherd at Adamson Stadium. Cal U and Shepherd previously met in the NCAA Playoffs in 2007 with the Vulcans posting a 58-38 victory to claim the first regional championship in program history.

Notes:
Cal U scored touchdowns on all six of trips inside the red zone … The Vulcans were held to 90 rushing yards on 35 attempts with junior Nick Grissom (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) leading the team with 65 yards on 21 carries … Neither team committed a turnover in the game despite the teams combining for 59 turnovers forced this season … The Vulcans finished with over a four-minute advantage in time of possession after controlling the clock for over 12 minutes, 30 seconds in the third quarter … Brown led all players with 225 all-purpose yards, marking his fourth 200-yard game of the season … IUP finished the year with a 10-2 overall record – both losses coming on the road to Cal U