2024 coal bowl trophy
Jeff Helsel
13
IUP IUP 5-3 , 2-3
16
Winner California (PA) CAL 7-1 , 5-0
IUP IUP
5-3 , 2-3
13
Final
16
California (PA) CAL
7-1 , 5-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
IUP IUP 0 0 3 7 3 13
CAL California (PA) 0 7 0 3 6 16

Game Recap: Football | | Matthew Kifer, Director of Athletic Communication

Cal rallies to win over IUP in overtime

Black named Coal Bowl MVP following game-winning TD; Vulcans force OT with last-second FG

CALIFORNIA (Oct. 26) – The Vulcans tied the score with a field goal in the closing seconds of regulation before scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime on Saturday afternoon while posting a 16-13 win over rival IUP in the 15th edition of the Coal Bowl at Adamson Stadium.

NOTES
• California (7-1, 5-0) secured at least a share of the PSAC West title for the third time in four years.
• The Vulcans also clinched a berth in the PSAC Championship, which they will host on Nov. 16.
• Cal will be making its fourth appearance in the PSAC Championship since the game was reinstituted in 2008.
• Senior quarterback Davis Black was named Coal Bowl MVP after finishing with 142 passing yards and one touchdown on 13-of-20 attempts, plus rushed for the game-winning touchdown.
• Junior wide receiver Eric Willis III totaled 88 yards and one touchdown on five receptions.
• Senior Eric McKan III posted a team-leading 54 rushing yards on 14 attempts in the victory.
• Senior linebacker John Hutchinson was one of three players to collect seven tackles on Saturday, while adding 1.5 sacks.
• Sophomore linebacker Grant Hopple also tallied seven tackles with 1.0 TFL and one fumble recovery.
• Cal limited IUP to only 229 yards of total offense with 96 yards being on a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter.
• The Vulcans played their first overtime game since Week 3 of the 2022 season at Shepherd.
• The Coal Bowl previously went to overtime in 2010, also a victory by Cal at Adamson Stadium.

GAME RECAP
• Following a scoreless first quarter, the Vulcans took a 7-0 lead with 13:24 left before halftime on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Black to Willis.
• Cal forced and recovered a fumble near midfield on the ensuing drive before being held to a three-and-out.
• The Crimson Hawks were shutout in the first half after a 36-yard field goal missed wide left as time expired in the second quarter.
• Junior defensive back Rashan Murray intercepted IUP on the first offensive play of the third quarter.
• The Crimson Hawks later recovered a fumble on a punt return in the third quarter that led to a 35-yard field goal at the 9:00-mark, 7-3.
• Cal committed a turnover on downs at the IUP 4-yard line in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
• The Crimson Hawks then mounted a 17-play drive that was capped with a two-yard touchdown with 2:38 left to play, 10-7.
• Cal advanced to the 20-yard line before a 37-yard field goal was blocked with 12 seconds remaining.
• However, senior offensive lineman Nashawn Jackson recovered the ball and the Vulcans earned a first down with a four-yard advancement.
• Senior kicker Anthony Beitko then converted a game-tying 39-yard field goal with five seconds left in regulation to force overtime, 10-10.
• IUP managed just three yards in overtime before making a 39-yard field goal.
• Black converted a third-and-four with a 17-yard completion to sophomore D'Avay Johnson to place the Vulcans at the 2-yard line.
• Three plays later, Black rushed for the game-winning, three-yard touchdown.

NEXT
• Cal is idle next week before closing PSAC West play on Nov. 9 when it hosts Edinboro at 1 p.m.
• The Vulcans will now face the top seed from the PSAC East on Nov. 16 in the PSAC Championship rather than previously-scheduled Shippensburg.
 
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