INDIANA, Pa. (Oct. 7) – The California (PA) football team mounted four scoring drives in the first half on Saturday afternoon, including a touchdown on special teams, while earning a 30-20 victory over rival IUP in the 14th edition of the Coal Bowl.
RECORDS/SERIES
• The Vulcans improve to 4-1 this season and remain tied for first place in the divisional standings with a 3-0 mark in league action.
• The Crimson Hawks have lost back-to-back games to fall to 3-3 overall with a 1-2 record in PSAC West play.
• Cal and IUP have alternated wins in the annual Coal Bowl every year since the 2013 campaign.
• The Vulcans hold a 9-5 advantage in the history of the Coal Bowl.
GAME ACTION
• Cal scored on the game's opening possession when junior running back
Eric McKan III posted an 18-yard rushing touchdown.
• The Crimson Hawks blocked a punt midway through the first quarter and recovered the ball inside the red zone to set-up a game-tying touchdown at the 7:15-mark.
• Cal countered with a 22-yard field goal by junior kicker
Anthony Beitko with 4:50 left in the quarter, 10-7.
• IUP returned the ensuing kickoff over 80 yards and took a 13-10 lead less than 20 seconds later on an eight-yard touchdown pass.
• The Vulcans tied the score with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Beitko.
• Both teams threatened to score early in the second quarter with drives being halted on downs and an interception in the end zone.
• Cal eventually took a 20-13 lead when freshman
Khalil Taylor blocked a punt and returned the ball for a touchdown with 5:23 remaining before halftime.
• Redshirt freshman defensive back
Keith Charney registered an interception on the first IUP pass of the third quarter that led to a touchdown by the Vulcans at the 11:12-mark.
• Beitko converted a 30-yard field goal with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter to give the Vulcans a 30-13 lead.
• Junior linebacker
John Hutchinson halted the next IUP drive with an interception before the Crimson Hawks later scored on a five-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 remaining.
STATS/NOTES
• McKan was named the Coal Bowl MVP after finishing with 101 rushing yards and one touchdown on 21 attempts, his third career 100-yard game.
• Junior quarterback
Davis Black posted 261 passing yards on 12-of-28 attempts with one interception.
• Sophomore wide receiver
Eric Willis III led the team with five receptions for 40 yards, while junior tight end
Jack Colecchi posted 86 receiving yards on two catches.
• Junior defensive back
Jacob Seigle led the team and tied his career high with nine tackles (four solo), plus added 0.5 TFL and one pass break-up.
• Sophomore linebacker
Ibrahim Sanogo added eight stops (five solo), 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sack, while Hutchinson finished with eight tackles (four solo), 0.5 TFL and one interception.
• Beitko converted three field goals for the fifth time in his career and now ranks third all-time in school history with 33 field goals.
• The Vulcans finished with nearly a plus-200 yard advantage, as the Crimson Hawks were limited to 209 yards of total offense in the contest.
• Cal also registered over a 12-minute advantage in time of possession, controlling the clock for nearly 20 minutes in the second half.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 14, when it hosts Seton Hill at Adamson Stadium for Homecoming with kickoff at 3:30 p.m.
