INDIANA, Pa. (Oct. 7) – The No. 16 Vulcans trailed 12-10 at halftime and forced four turnovers on Saturday afternoon before suffering a 26-10 loss at No. 4 IUP in the ninth-annual Coal Bowl at George P. Miller Stadium.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football team falls to 4-2 this season with a 1-2 mark in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks improve to 6-0 overall and remain tied with Slippery Rock for first place in the divisional standings with a 3-0 record.

The Vulcans held the Crimson Hawks to a season-low 26 points after IUP entered the game ranked fifth in the country in scoring offense at 44.8 points per game. The four turnovers by the Crimson Hawks on Saturday also matched their season total through the opening five weeks of the season. Senior linebacker Corey Bopp (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) led all players and set a career high with 12 tackles (nine stops). Sophomore defensive back Lamont McPhatter II (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) finished with 10 stops (eight solo), 2.0 TFL, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, while senior linebacker DeVonte Suber (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) added nine tackles (six solo).

IUP jumped out to a 6-0 lead on the opening possession of the game when junior quarterback Lenny Williams, Jr. completed a 16-yard shuffle pass for a touchdown (PAT blocked). The Vulcans were forced to punt on the ensuing possession and senior Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) pinned the Crimson Hawks back at their own 14-yard line. On the second play of the drive, sophomore defensive back Aaron Brown (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) forced and recovered a fumble on a rush attempt by Williams at the IUP 24-yard line. However, the Vulcans were forced out of field-goal range before Keir again pinned the Crimson Hawks deep in their own territory with a punt to the 2-yard line. IUP then marched 97 yards on just five plays before the Vulcans stopped three-straight rushing attempts at the 1-yard line for no gain. However, IUP converted a fourth-down run for a touchdown before the PAT attempt was again blocked, 12-0.

The Vulcans crossed midfield early in the second quarter before Keir again pinned the Crimson Hawks at their own 2-yard line. IUP advanced out to its own 29-yard line before a snap went over the head of Williams. McPhatter recovered the loose ball and returned it to the 3-yard line of the Crimson Hawks. After a sack on the initial play of the drive, Keir connected with senior wide receiver Tom Greene (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) for an 11-yard touchdown with 10:15 left before halftime.

Greene registered his third-straight 100-yard game and fourth of the season. He finished with 109 receiving yards and one touchdown on a career-high 10 catches. Keir posted 232 passing yards on 22-of-48 attempts with one touchdown and one interception.

IUP was forced to punt on its next drive and Cal U took over possession at the 50-yard line following a 19-yard punt. However, the Vulcans turned the ball over on an interception at the IUP 33-yard line before the Crimson Hawks were held to a three-and-out. Cal U then mounted a methodical 15-play drive that was capped by a 26-yard field goal from senior kicker Will Brazill (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) with 11 seconds left in the second quarter. Keir connected with Greene four times for 66 yards during the drive.

The Crimson Hawks stretched the lead to 19-10 on their initial drive of the second half, as Williams completed a seven-yard touchdown pass on the run with 9:40 left in the third quarter. On the previous play, Cal U had IUP facing a 3rd-and-20 before Williams posted a 26-yard completion to the 2-yard line. The Crimson Hawks added to the lead on their next possession with a 37-yard touchdown pass by Williams at the 6:37-mark in the quarter. Cal U looked to answer on the ensuing drive when it crossed midfield on back-to-back carries by junior running back Jimmy Wheeler (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) that totaled 31 yards. However, the Vulcans turned the ball over on downs at the IUP 38-yard line with 3:14 left in the quarter. Cal U quickly regained possession when McPhatter forced a fumble on a pass completion and junior Dymond Thomas (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) recovered the turnover at the Cal U 33-yard line with 1:00 remaining in the third.

The Vulcans were forced to punt following the turnover before the Crimson Hawks worked nearly nine minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. During the drive, IUP converted a pair of third downs, plus a fourth-and-seven, before Williams was intercepted for just the third time this year by junior defensive back Brendan Edwards (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) with 5:17 left in the game. Cal U started the drive at its own 8-yard line and crossed midfield with a 33-yard completion from Keir to redshirt freshman wide receiver Tyson Hill (New Kensington, Pa./Valley). The Vulcans eventually advanced to the IUP 1-yard line before turning the ball over downs with 1:12 remaining.

Cal U returns to action when it hosts Clarion for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Adamson Stadium with kickoff set for 3 p.m.

Notes:
The home team has won the last six meetings in the history of the Coal Bowl with the Vulcans holding a 6-3 advantage in the rivalry series … IUP running back Samir Bullock was forced from the game in the first quarter due to injury after posting 263 rushing yards and six touchdowns last week … The Vulcans blocked multiple kicks in a game for the first time since the NCAA Playoffs last year, also against the Crimson Hawks … Wheeler finished with 59 rushing yards on 12 carries … Williams was named Coal Bowl MVP after posting 297 yards of total offense (268 passing) and three touchdowns … Keir set a career high with six punts and placed three inside the 20-yard line