CALIFORNIA (Oct. 24) – The Vulcans rolled to 35 points in the first half on Saturday evening before capturing a 49-0 victory against rival IUP in the 17th Coal Bowl on Homecoming at Adamson Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
NOTES
• California (5-3, 3-2) won its third-straight game and recorded its first shutout since Week 5 of the 2021 season.
• The Vulcans improve to 11-6 in the history of the Coal Bowl with Saturday marking the first-ever shutout since the Coal Bowl was established in 2009.
• Cal last recorded a shutout against IUP during the 1958 campaign when it finished with an 8-0 record under Ted Nemeth.
• Sophomore wide receiver
Kenny Lewis IV was named the Coal Bowl MVP after finishing with a career-high 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.
• The Vulcans limited the Crimson Hawks to just 89 yards of total offense on 53 plays.
• IUP finished with negative-14 rushing yards on 23 attempts, committed three turnovers, had two punts blocked and did not reach the red zone.
• Senior linebacker
Wilfredo Diaz led the team with seven tackles (four solo) and added an interception.
• Junior
Tajuan Bandy and sophomore
Shyne Roberts each finished with five tackles and combined for 3.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks.
• Seven different players recorded 1.0 sack against the Crimson Hawks, who utilized three different quarterbacks.
• Senior quarterback
Eric Gibson, Jr. posted 333 passing yards and four touchdowns on 21-of-30 attempts without an interception.
• Sophomore wide receiver
Lloyd Penn added 48 yards on six receptions.
• Junior
Bobbie Boyd, Jr. led the team with 54 rushing yards on 10 carries and added a 32-yard touchdown reception.
• Three different players rushed for a touchdown in the victory and senior
Jay Pearson scoring both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
• The Vulcans limited the Crimson Hawks to just 3-of-15 on third-down conversions.
• Cal scored 49 points for the second time this season.
RECAP
• Lewis caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Gibson on the game's opening possession with 13:20 left in the first quarter.
• The Vulcans blocked back-to-back punts by the Crimson Hawks in the first quarter with Pearson scoring on an eight-yard run following the first block.
• Early in the second quarter, Cal took a 21-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore
Da'sjon Craggette.
• The Vulcans then forced and recovered a fumble near midfield before Gibson connected with Lewis on the first play of the ensuing drive for a 52-yard touchdown with 6:55 left before halftime.
• Cal stretched the lead on its next possession with a 32-yard touchdown reception by Boyd on fourth-and-two with 1:57 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Vulcans halted the Crimson Hawks' most sustained drive of the game when sophomore
Nevan Hopkins made an interception at the Cal eight-yard line on the final play of the first half.
• Cal scored on a 24-yard touchdown catch by Pearson on its opening drive of the third quarter.
• The Vulcans later mounted a methodical 19-play drive spanning nearly 10 minutes across the third and fourth quarters with freshman
Kole Doppelheuer capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 31, when it travels to face Lock Haven in PSAC West play at 6 p.m.
• The Bald Eagles returned to the Western Division after previously playing in the Eastern Division since 2013.
• Lock Haven (4-4, 3-2) has lost back-to-back games after previously posting a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a 35-20 win at then-No. 10 IUP on Oct. 10.
• The victory marked the program's first win over the Crimson Hawks since 1981.
