SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (Oct. 21) – The California (PA) football team trailed by one point at halftime before allowing three touchdowns in the third quarter in a 42-21 loss at No. 7 Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon.
RECORDS/SERIES
• The Vulcans fall to 5-2 this season and drop into a tie for second place in the PSAC West standings with a 4-1 mark.
• The Rock remains undefeated this year at 8-0 overall behind a 5-0 record in league play.
• Slippery Rock has won the last six meetings against Cal, plus extends its home winning streak in the series to seven games.
GAME ACTION
• The Vulcans forced a turnover on the opening drive of the game by The Rock and took a 6-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback
Davis Black with 5:50 left in the first quarter.
• Slippery Rock quickly answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass at the 4:55-mark to take a 7-6 lead.
• Cal threatened to counter on the ensuing drive before Black was intercepted in the end zone on third-and-12.
• Senior
Noah Silva was credited with a blocked kick on a 25-yard field goal attempt by The Rock to keep the deficit at 7-6 with 9:49 left before halftime.
• The Vulcans reclaimed the lead on another one-yard touchdown run by Black at the 6:26-mark of the second quarter.
• Slippery Rock responded with a six-yard touchdown run three minutes later and took a 14-13 lead into halftime.
• The Rock stretched the lead to 21-13 on a one-yard touchdown run with 9:27 left in the third quarter.
• The ensuing two drives by Cal both ended in interceptions, including a 23-yard return for touchdown to give Slippery Rock a 28-13 lead at the 6:06-mark.
• The Rock added a 35-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 35-13 with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
• Slippery Rock posted a 63-yard rushing touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter to hold a 42-13 lead.
• The Vulcans later cut the deficit to 42-21 on a four-yard rushing touchdown by Black at the 5:43-mark.
STATS/NOTES
• Junior running back
Eric McKan III led the team with 99 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
• Black finished with three rushing touchdowns after entering play with only one rushing score this season.
• He is the first quarterback with multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Michael Keir in Week 6 of the 2016 season.
• Black finished with 102 passing yards on 7-of-22 attempts with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Sophomore defensive back
Rashan Murray led the team with six tackles and registered one fumble recovery.
• Slippery Rock finished with 532 yards of total offense, including 233 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 28, when it hosts Mercyhurst for Senior Day at Adamson Stadium with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
