SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Sept. 30) – The No. 5 Vulcans scored 17-straight points in the first quarter and rallied to score another 17-unanswered points in the fourth quarter before suffering a 47-44 overtime loss at No. 18 Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday night.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football teams falls to 4-1 overall with a 1-1 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans are now tied for fourth in the PSAC West standings and sit one game back of a three-way tie for first place. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock remains undefeated at 5-0 this year behind a 2-0 record in league play.

Senior quarterback Michael Keir (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) finished with 326 passing yards on 18-of-36 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. He has now eclipsed 300 passing yards in a game twice this year and six times in his career. Keir completed five-of-nine attempts for 109 yards while leading three scoring drives in the fourth quarter against Slippery Rock.

The Rock held a 30-27 lead entering the fourth quarter and stretched the lead to 37-27 with 12:55 left in regulation. On the first offensive play of the ensuing drive, Keir was intercepted deep in Cal U territory. The Vulcans pushed The Rock out of field goal range with a sack by junior defensive lineman Malik Akins (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) and a delay of game penalty. After being pinned deep in its own territory, Cal U advanced into the red zone on just three plays behind a 51-yard completion from Keir to senior wide receiver Tom Greene (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). Junior running back Jimmy Wheeler (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 9:16 remaining in the quarter.

Slippery Rock was forced to start its next drive deep in its own territory following an illegal block on the kickoff return. The Vulcans again forced The Rock to punt after just three plays and regained possession with just over seven minutes left in regulation. Keir found senior wide receiver Luke Smorey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) for a 24-yard completion on the opening play of the drive before junior Jalen Bell (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) later rushed for a 19-yard gain. Cal U eventually faced a third-and-one before Wheeler sprinted for a 14-yard touchdown run with 5:10 remaining to reclaim the lead at 41-37 with 5:10 remaining.

On the ensuing kickoff, The Rock lost possession of a fumble that was recovered by redshirt freshman Malik Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional Academy) at the Slippery Rock 19-yard line. Cal U was able to advance to the five-yard line before senior kicker Will Brazill (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) made a 21-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 44-37 with 2:14 left in the quarter. Slippery Rock countered with a quick touchdown drive to tie the score on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left, 44-44.

Cal U was initially on offense during the overtime period and was facing a third-and-seven before Keir was sacked for a loss of nine yards. Brazill then missed a 48-yard field goal, wide left, which kept the game tied at 44-44. The Rock was able to gain six yards on its overtime possession before its kicker made the game-winning, 36-yard field goal.

Smorey and Greene both eclipsed 100 receiving yards in the contest, as Smorey totaled 103 yards on seven receptions and Greene posted six catches for 132 yards.

Senior linebacker Luke Hrapchak (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) led all players with 12 tackles (11 solo) and added one forced fumble, 1.0 TFL and one pass break-up. Senior defensive lineman Justin Baker (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) and Akins both finished with seven stops and combined for 1.5 sacks.

Cal U scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game, as Keir found redshirt freshman wide receiver Tyson Hill (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) for a 49-yard touchdown on third-and-11 with 10:34 left in the first quarter. The Vulcans added to their lead less than a minute later with sophomore defensive back Lamont McPhatter II (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) posting a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. Slippery Rock then advanced deep into Cal U territory before senior linebacker Cameron Tarver (Columbus, Ohio/Central Crossing) registered a sack on third down to force The Rock to attempt a 52-yard field goal, which was short. The Vulcans picked up a pair of third downs on their next drive before Brazill converted a 34-yard field goal with 3:42 left in the quarter, 17-0.

Midway through the second quarter, The Rock cut the deficit to 17-7 behind a 14-play drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run. The teams traded field position for the remainder of the quarter before Slippery Rock made a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, 17-10. On the drive, the Vulcans intercepted Slippery Rock on a third down inside the 10-yard line before the turnover was negated due to a holding penalty.

Following halftime, Cal U was held to a three-and-out before Slippery Rock tied the score at 17-17 on a five-yard touchdown pass with 9:02 left in the third quarter. Smorey returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards before Keir found Greene for a 50-yard gain on the first play of the drive. Bell then gave Cal U a 24-17 lead with a two-yard run at the 8:20-mark in the quarter.  The Rock countered with another touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-23 before Akins blocked the PAT attempt with 6:36 remaining in the third quarter.

On the first offensive play of the next drive, the Vulcans lost a fumble that was recovered by The Rock at the 13-yard line. Slippery Rock then took its first lead of the game at 29-24 on a five-yard touchdown run. The Rock then converted a two-point conversion before a holding penalty negated the play. Slippery Rock made the PAT kick attempt to take a 30-24 lead. Cal U countered with a 38-yard field goal by Brazill with 1:39 left in the quarter after the drive featured a 22-yard rush by Wheeler on third-and-two.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 7, when it travels to face No. 4 IUP in the ninth-annual Coal Bowl at 2 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on WatchESPN.

Notes:
Wheeler finished with 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries … Smorey posted 225 all-purpose yards in the contest, as he also totaled 122 yards on kickoff returns … The Vulcans were playing their first overtime game since suffering a 24-21 loss to Bloomsburg in 2014 … Brazill made three field goals for the second-straight game … Cal U has lost the last four road meetings in the series with Slippery Rock … McPhatter made an interception for the fourth-straight game and became the first player to return an interception for a touchdown since last year versus Slippery Rock … Cal U holds a 6-3 record against nationally-ranked teams since the 2014 season