Aug 12, 2013 3 min read

SLIPPERY ROCK – The repercussions from last year’s stumble over the final portion of the season were felt again Monday by California University’s football team.

The Vulcans, who missed the playoffs for the first time in five years, were picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West Coaches Preseason Poll at the conference media day at Slippery Rock University.

It’s the lowest ranking for California in six years.

The Vulcans lost by two points, 28-26, to Slippery Rock, then were rocked by Mercyhurst in the regular-season finale, 40-7. The latter loss cost Cal a berth in the NCAA Division II postseason.

The Vulcans did win a PSAC crossover game against Millersville to finish the year at 8-3, 5-2 in the conference.

Indiana, which fell to the Vulcans, 26-24, in Week 4, received seven of a possible eight first-place votes to gain the top spot. The other first-place vote went to Mercyhurst, which finished second. Slippery Rock was third, followed by Cal.

Shippensburg was the pick in the East with six of eight first-place votes. Bloomsburg was second and West Chester third.

“Preseason polls don’t mean anything to me,” said Jack Abercrombie, a 6-2, 290-pound center for the Vulcans. “It’s not how people think you are going to play, but how you do play that matters.”

Injuries hurt Cal last season. Starting quarterback Peter Lalich missed most of the second half with a staph infection in his leg, including the games against Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst, leaving the job to then freshman Cody Schroeder.

Schroeder completed 78 of 152 passes (52 percent) for 808 yards and five touchdowns in his four starts and two reserve opportunities. He also was intercepted six times. Schroeder started four of the final five games of the season, going 2-2.

“Preseason polls mean nothing,” said Cal head coach Mike Kellar. “We probably had seven, eight years where we were preseason No. 1 and that didn’t guarantee us anything. If they picked us last, it wouldn’t guarantee us anything.”

Indiana won the PSAC title last season, the first one since 1987, and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Crimson Hawks advanced to the regional final, where Winston-Salem State defeated them, 27-17. It was the 15th time in school history IUP made the playoffs, a conference record.

“IUP, it was a tossup game that we came out on top,” said Kellar. “Any time they have the team returning that they have returning, and the transfers that they got, you know they’re going to get picked high.

“Slipper Rock has nine starters returning, and Mercyhurst is a good football team as well with who they have returning.”

So how did Kellar vote?

“I voted the way it was,” he said with a smile. “I figured two of those teams beat us and one was league champ, so I voted for them.”

Cal handed Indiana its only loss of the regular season. The Crimson Hawks won the PSAC football and basketball titles last season, the first time since 1984-85 (California) that has happened. … Cal opens the season Sat., Sept. 7 at Hillsdale with a 7 p.m. kickoff. … If the Vulcans are not in the State Game, their cross-over matchup will be against Millersville.

Coaches Poll

West Division

1. Indiana (7)

2. Mercyhurst (1)

3. West Chester

4. Kutztown

5. Gannon

6. Edinboro

7. Clarion

8. Seton Hill

East Division

1. Shippensburg (6)

2. Bloomsburg (1)

3. West Chester (1)

4. Kutztown

5. East Stroudsburg

6. Lock haven

7. Millersville

8. Cheyney