EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (Nov. 11) – In a pivotal contest with implications for the NCAA Playoffs, the Vulcans tied the score with six minutes remaining before suffering a 37-30 loss at East Stroudsburg in the final game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon.
RECORDS/SERIES
• The California (PA) football team finishes the regular season with a 7-3 overall record.
• ESU improves to 9-2 this year while posting its winningest season since the 2008 campaign.
• The Warriors registered their first win in the series with the Vulcans since 2006, as Cal previously won five-straight meetings.
• The Vulcans entered the weekend ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Super Region One rankings, while the Warriors were slotted seventh.
GAME ACTION
• The Vulcans took a 7-0 lead on their initial possession of the game when junior
Eric McKan III posted a four-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the first quarter.
• ESU countered with a touchdown on the ensuing possession to tie the score at the 3:59-mark of the quarter.
• Cal advanced inside the red zone midway through the second quarter before losing possession of a fumble on first down.
• The Vulcans took a 10-7 lead into halftime when junior
Anthony Beitko converted a 20-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to cap an 87-yard drive.
• The Warriors scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to take a 14-10 lead.
• ESU regained possession on an interception at midfield and took a 21-10 lead at the 4:41-mark on a four-yard touchdown run.
• Cal countered with a one-yard touchdown run by junior
Isaiah Cameron with 2:08 left in the third quarter.
• The Warriors took a 27-17 lead with 10:58 left to play on an 11-yard touchdown pass; however, sophomore
Rashan Murray blocked, recovered and returned the PAT attempt for two points.
• The Vulcans forced and recovered a fumble near midfield with 7:39 left to play and tied the score at 27-27 just over 90 seconds later on a 20-yard touchdown pass from junior
Davis Black to sophomore wide receiver
Eric Willis III.
• Junior linebacker
Josh Miller recorded a strip sack on the second play of the ESU drive and Cal recovered the ball at the 34-yard line of the Warriors.
• The Warriors responded with an interception after Cal converted a fourth-and-eight from the ESU 22-yard line.
• ESU reclaimed the lead on the first play of the drive with an 80-yard touchdown pass with 3:37 left in the fourth quarter.
• The Warriors made another interception with just under three minutes remaining and converted a 41-yard field goal to take a 37-27 lead with 34 seconds remaining.
• Cal countered with a 39-yard field goal by Beitko with 11 seconds left before the onside kick attempt was unsuccessful.
STATS
• Black finished with 364 passing yards on 31-of-46 attempts, both season highs, with one touchdown and three interceptions.
• Willis made a career-high nine receptions for 84 yards with one touchdown.
• Freshman wide receiver
D'Avay Johnson led the team with 136 receiving yards on eight catches.
• McKan posted 31 rushing yards and one touchdown on 17 attempts.
• Junior linebacker
John Hutchinson tied his career high of 11 tackles and added 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and one fumble recovery.
• Sophomore linebacker
Ibrahim Sanogo added 10 stops and 1.0 TFL, while Miller finished with six tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.
• The Vulcans converted 9-of-14 third downs, plus went two-of-two on fourth-down attempts.
• ESU scored 17 points, all in the second half, off four turnovers.
NEXT
• The NCAA Selection Show is set for tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m.
• The Vulcans have posted 19-straight winning seasons, the longest active streak in the PSAC, plus have won at least seven games 17 times in the last 18 years.
