CALIFORNIA (Oct. 30) – The Vulcans scored 28-unanswered points in the first quarter, including two touchdowns by junior wide receiver Derek Lockhart (Liberty, Pa./South Allegheny), on Saturday evening and claimed a 42-14 victory against Seton Hill on Senior Day at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 8-0 overall with a 5-0 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans have now secured at least a share of the PSAC West title with one week remaining in league play. Meanwhile, the Griffins drop to 4-5 this season behind a 2-4 record in PSAC West play.

Junior quarterback Noah Mitchell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) set a career high with five touchdown passes and finished with 320 passing yards on 27-of-43 attempts with no interceptions. He completed passes to seven different players in the victory while posting his fourth-straight game of at least 300 passing yards. Mitchell now ranks third in school history with 66 passing touchdowns, which is just three shy of tying the all-time school record held by Josh Portis (2009-10).

Lockhart finished with 135 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches against Seton Hill. Over the last three games, he has totaled 24 receptions for 380 yards with six touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver JaQuae Jackson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) totaled 121 receiving yards on seven catches with a pair of touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Tyson Hill (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) added six receptions in the victory.

Cal U limited Seton Hill to under 150 passing yards on Saturday and forced three turnovers in the victory, all in the first quarter that resulted in touchdowns. Sophomore linebacker Noah Dillow (Alum Bank, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) collected a team-high 12 tackles (five solo) with 1.5 TFL, while classmate Matt Tobey (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) finished with nine stops, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up. Junior defensive lineman Gerald Brown (Duquesne, Pa./West Mifflin) added eight tackles in the win and junior defensive back Jermal Martin, Jr. (South Philadelphia, Pa./Academy Park) tallied seven tackles (four solo) and his third interception of the season.

The Vulcans took a 7-0 lead on their opening possession of the game when Mitchell found Lockhart for a two-yard score with 9:17 left in the first quarter. Cal U then recovered a fumble inside the red zone on the ensuing kickoff and capitalized on the turnover with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Jackson. The Vulcans scored their third touchdown in less than two minutes when Martin recorded a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown, 21-0. Cal U again recovered a fumble deep in Seton Hill territory and stretched the lead to 28-0 with 5:11 left in the quarter when Mitchell connected with Lockhart for a 15-yard score.

Midway through the second quarter, Cal U was set to punt at its own 40-yard line before an errant snap allowed Seton Hill to assume possession at the 2-yard line. The Griffins were pushed back due to a penalty before scoring on 16-yard touchdown pass. Cal U later countered with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Jackson with 1:22 remaining before halftime, 35-7.

Cal U scored on the opening drive of the third quarter with Mitchell connecting with Lockhart for a 13-yard score at the 9:36-mark. The Griffins then mounted an 18-play drive over nine minutes before the drive ended with a blocked field goal after they previously had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, Seton Hill intercepted a pass inside its 10-yard line and put together a 20-play drive over nearly six minutes that was capped with a three-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Nov. 6, when they travel to face nationally-ranked Slippery Rock with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The winner of the contest will represent the Western Division in the PSAC Championship on Nov. 13 with the game being hosted by the representative from the Eastern Division.

Notes:
Hill moved into second place all-time in school history with both 167 receptions and 2,661 receiving yards, trailing only Garry Brown in each category … Martin has registered an interception in three-consecutive games and has scored three touchdowns this year (two interception, one punt return) … Seton Hill senior Logan Wiland became the first running back to eclipse 100 yards against the Vulcans since Week 9 of the 2018 season, as he finished with 166 yards on 33 carries … The Vulcans finished with negative rushing yards for the first time in recent program history (since 2002) due to the errant snap on a punt … Cal U recognized its seniors prior to the start of the game and held a moment of silence for the late Jamain Stephens, who was slated to play his senior year in 2021



10/30/21