CALIFORNIA (Sept. 1) – Senior quarterback Noah Mitchell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) set the all-time school record for passing touchdowns in the season-opener on Thursday night, as the No. 21 Vulcans rolled to a 35-15 victory against Fairmont State at Adamson Stadium in non-conference play.

With the win, the California (PA) football team opens the campaign with a 1-0 record and has won 15 of its last 18 season-openers. Meanwhile, the Fighting Falcons start the year with a 0-1 mark after being chosen sixth in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) poll.

Mitchell finished with 212 passing yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-25 attempts with no interceptions. He entered the season tied with Josh Portis for the school record in touchdown passes before breaking the mark late in the first quarter. Mitchell, who already holds the career record for completions, now holds the all-time mark with 72 touchdown passes and is just over 300 yards shy of the record for passing yards.

Junior JaQuae Jackson (Pittsburgh, Pa. Serra Catholic) set a career high with 10 receptions while recording the third 100-yard game of his career. He posted 113 receiving yards with two touchdowns, his fourth career game with multiple scores. Freshman Eric Willis III (Collingdale, Pa./Academy Park) finished with 93 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just three catches while making his college debut.

Sophomore running back Eric McKan III (Washington, D.C./Bullis (Md.) nearly equaled his season total from last year in rushing yards on Thursday, as he recorded 152 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown. He became the first player to eclipse the century mark on the ground since Week 11 of the 2019 campaign.

In the initial game under defensive coordinator Jawan Turner, the Vulcans held the Fighting Falcons to just 14 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Fairmont State was also limited to under 200 yards of total offense, as California registered five sacks in the victory.

Junior linebacker Noah Dillow (Alum Bank, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) paced the team with eight tackles and added a career-high 1.5 sacks. Fellow linebacker Matt Tobey (Chalfont, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) tallied seven stops (five solo) and set career marks with 3.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Sophomore linebacker Josh Miller (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) collected six tackles and 1.0 sack while making his first career start.

The Vulcans took a 7-0 lead after scoring on their opening possession of the game. Cal converted four third downs during the drive before Mitchell found Jackson on third-and-goal for a three-yard touchdown to break the school record.

Following a three-and-out by the defense, Cal extended the lead to 14-0 on the second play of the second quarter when Mitchell connected with Jackson for a 48-yard touchdown. The Vulcans lost possession of a fumble on a punt return midway through the quarter; however, Tobey registered a 12-yard sack on the initial play of the drive before a holding and sack by Dillow later forced the Fighting Falcons out of field-goal range. Cal then took a 21-0 lead when Mitchell found Willis for a 40-yard touchdown with 2:48 remaining in the first half. The Fighting Falcons cut the deficit to 21-6 (PAT failed) in the final seconds of the second quarter on a two-yard touchdown run that was setup by a 42-yard completion on a third-and-long.

Fairmont State converted a 34-yard field goal on its opening possession of the second half to work the deficit to 21-9 at the 8:41-mark. Mitchell was momentarily forced from the game on the ensuing possession which allowed sophomore Wyatt Hirt (Canonsburg, Pa./Linsly (W.Va.)) to find Willis for a 50-yard touchdown strike on his lone snap of the game, 28-9.

The Vulcans started their next drive at their own two-yard line late the third quarter before mounting a 13-play touchdown drive. Cal opened the drive with nine-consecutive runs, including a 44-yard scamper by McKan to mark the program's longest run since Week 3 of the 2019 campaign. McKan later capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 35-9 with 9:53 left to play. Fairmont State responded with a six-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal at the 5:24-mark.

California returns to action on Sept. 10 when it opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play by traveling to face defending-league champion Kutztown at 12 p.m.

Notes: Head coach Gary Dunn holds a 5-1 record in season-openers … The Vulcans finished with a nearly 10-minute advantage in time of possession … Cal converted 12-of-15 attempts on third down … Fairmont State missed both PAT kick attempts … The Vulcans have featured two players with multiple receiving touchdowns three times in the last five games dating back to last year … Fairmont State played at Adamson Stadium for the first time since the 2006 season-opener