CALIFORNIA (Sept. 13) – The No. 10 Vulcans forced a pair of early turnovers and later scored on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon to earn a 26-24 win against West Chester at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play.
NOTES
• Junior running back
Bobbie Boyd, Jr. and senior transfer quarterback
Roman Purcell combined to rush for over 150 yards on 35 carries.
• Boyd led the team with 79 yards on 17 attempts and one touchdown, while Purcell finished with 78 yards on 18 carries.
• Junior wide receiver
D'Avay Johnson registered a team-high four catches for 35 yards in the win.
• Sophomore linebacker
Malachi Thomas paced the defense with nine tackles (three solo) behind 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks.
• Junior defensive back
Alexie Sangster, Jr. posted five stops (four solo) and one interception, while junior
Khalil Taylor and junior linebacker
Grant Hopple both added eight tackles.
• Sophomore kicker
Harry Radcliffe converted three-of-three field goals in the win with a long of 37 yards.
• Junior
Andrew Gonzalez averaged 43.8 yards on six punts with a long of 60 yards and placed four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• The last four victories by the Vulcans, dating back to last year, have been by a combined 10 points.
RECAP
• The Vulcans (2-0) capitalized on a fumble recovery on a punt return in the early minutes of the game when Boyd scored on a 1-yard touchdown run at the 10:27-mark.
• West Chester muffed the ensuing kickoff and started the drive at its 2-yard line before Cal recovered a fumbled snap and added a 37-yard field goal by Radcliffe with 6:18 left in the first quarter.
• Cal and West Chester traded field goals early in the second quarter with Radcliffe converting a 28-yard attempt at the 8:31-mark.
• The Golden Rams cut the deficit to 13-10 with 1:18 left before halftime on a three-yard touchdown run after the drive was aided with a 41-yard completion on third down.
• West Chester claimed the lead for the first time midway through the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass after quarterback Cooper Jordan scrambled for a 58-yard gain on third down earlier in the drive.
• The Golden Rams had an errant snap on a punt attempt on their next drive that led to a block punt by freshman
Tavin Willis and the ball went out of the end zone for a safety with 4:06 remaining in the quarter.
• Cal reclaimed the lead on the next attempt with a seven-yard touchdown run by Purcell with 11:35 left in the fourth quarter (two-point conversion successful).
• The Vulcans held the Golden Rams to a three-and-out before mounting a 13-play scoring drive that lasted over eight minutes with Radcliffe closing the drive with a 35-yard field goal at the 2:22-mark.
• West Chester needed just 35 seconds to respond with a touchdown, 26-24.
• Cal recovered the onside kick and later sealed the game with an interception by Sangster with 10 seconds left to play.
NEXT
• The Vulcans continue their homestand on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they host Lock Haven at Adamson Stadium, starting at 12 p.m.
• Next week marks the 10th-consecutive home game for Cal dating back to last season.
