WORCESTER, Mass. (Nov. 18) – The Vulcans held a 17-3 lead in the first half and later trailed by two points late in the fourth quarter before suffering a 40-31 loss at No. 15 Assumption (Mass.) on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football team finished the season with a 9-3 overall record with all three losses coming to nationally-ranked teams. The Vulcans were awarded the sixth seed in the NCAA Playoffs after closing the regular season on a five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, third-seeded Assumption improves to 10-1 this season and advances to face seventh-seeded Findlay (Ohio), which stunned two-time, defending-regional champion Shepherd, in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.

The Vulcans took a 24-20 lead on the initial play of the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) scored on a five-yard touchdown run. Assumption then countered with a touchdown with 9:32 left to play to reclaim the lead at 27-24. On the ensuing drive, Keir was sacked on first down before being intercepted in Cal U territory on the next play. The Greyhound capitalized on the turnover just four plays later with a touchdown to stretch the lead to 33-24 with 7:28 remaining.

Cal U responded with a 10-play scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by junior Jimmy Wheeler (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) with 3:32 left to play to trim the deficit to 33-31. The Greyhounds started the next drive with a 25-yard run to move to near midfield before the Vulcans forced a punt four plays later. Assumption managed to down the punt at the Cal U 1-yard line with 1:30 remaining in the contest. The Greyhounds were called for offside on the opening play of the decisive drive and the Vulcans moved to their own 32-yard line on the next play after being aided with a personal foul. However, Assumption sealed the win two plays later when sophomore Shawn Springs, Jr. recorded a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, 40-31.

Keir posted his fifth 300-yard game of the season, totaling 300 passing yards on 25-of-40 attempts with one touchdown and five interceptions. He finished the year with the third-most passing yards in single-season school history (3,332) and closed his career ranked fourth all-time in passing yards (6,657).

The teams traded field goals in the first quarter before the Vulcans took a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by junior Jalen Bell (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South). Assumption was then forced to a three-and-out before Cal U stretched the lead to 17-3 with 7:38 left before halftime when Keir found junior wide receiver Craig Thompson (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton) for an 18-yard touchdown. The Vulcans forced a turnover on downs by the Greyhounds at the Cal U 20-yard line on the next possession and were looking to increase their lead in the final minute of the second quarter. However, Keir was intercepted on a tipped ball inside the Assumption 10-yard line and the Greyhounds returned the turnover over 70 yards. Assumption cut the deficit to 17-10 on a 20-yard touchdown pass with only 20 seconds left before the break.

Keir was intercepted on the opening play of the third quarter and the Greyhounds converted the turnover into points with a 33-yard field goal, 17-13. Keir was again intercepted on a tipped pass during the next drive deep in Cal U territory and Assumption capitalized by taking the lead on a touchdown run with 11:05 left in the quarter. The Vulcans looked to answer on the next drive when it advanced inside the red zone before missing a field goal with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter.

Senior linebacker Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) led the team with a season-high 14 tackles (nine solo) and also registered 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack and one pass break-up. He finished the season with a team-leading 118 stops, marking the most tackles in a year since the 2003 campaign. Classmates Acantay Patton (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) and Cameron Tarver (Columbus, Ohio/Central Crossing) both added five tackles in the contest.

The Vulcans finished with a sizeable 422-270 advantage in total offense and posted over a 14-minute edge in time of possession, controlling the ball for over 10 minutes in both the second and third quarters. Assumption amassed over 50 yards on just one drive in the contest and totaled only 13 first downs.

Notes:
Cal U finished with five interceptions in a game for the first time since the 2013 season … Keir entered the game with just six interceptions on 413 pass attempts for the year … Senior wide receiver Luke Smorey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) made seven catches for 89 yards to finish the year with 78 receptions, which ranks fifth in single-season school history … Smorey also closed his career ranked among the top 10 all-time in program history in both receptions and receiving yards … The Vulcans did not attempt a punt for the first since November 2015 … Cal U converted 10 of 14 on third down … Assumption scored 30 of its 40 points off turnovers