Harris’ passing sparks Cal to win
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CALIFORNIA – James Harris passed for three touchdowns, including a 95-yarder to Kowan Scott, and Gary Brown returned a punt for a score as California University closed its season with a 45-31 victory over Lock Haven in a PSAC crossover game.
Cal (8-3) built a 31-7 lead late in the second quarter before Lock Haven (2-9) mounted a comeback and pulled to within 31-24 after three quarters. Cal, however, secured the victory with two short touchdown runs by Terrell Roberson early in the fourth quarter.
Brown got the Vulcans off to a good start by returning a Lock Haven punt for a touchdown less than three minutes into the game. Harris made it 14-0 when he connected for his first of two scoring passes to Scott, this one from five yards, midway through the first quarter.
Cody Nuzzo made it 17-0 with a 23-yard field goal, but Lock Haven scored on the final play of the first quarter, a 14-yard TD pass from Caleb Walton to Beau Swales.
Harris, who completed 20 of 30 passes for 311 yards, threw a four-yard scoring pass to Derrick Fiore early in the second quarter, then hooked up with Scott on the 95-yard touchdown that gave Cal a 31-7 advantage with more than five minutes left in the first half.
Scott and Brown each had 100-yard receiving games. Scott caught five passes for 136 yards, and Brown hauled in seven passes in 106 yards. Brown set Cal’s single-game receiving yardage record last week at Mercyhurst.
Lock Haven’s comeback started when the Bald Eagles scored on a 15-yard pass from Walton to Malyk Harris with only 36 seconds left in the first half. A 35-yard field goal early in the third quarter pulled the Bald Eagles to within 31-17, then the Lock Haven defense came up with a momentum-changer as George Christas returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-24.
California, however, used a two-yard run by Roberson early in the fourth quarter to make the score 38-24, then drove 74 yards for a touchdown on its next possession as Roberson scored on a one-yard plunge.
Walton, who completed 24 of 45 passes with one interception, threw a 68-yard touchdown to Farrell Boyd with 9:34 left, but the Cal defense held the Bald Eagles scoreless the rest of the way. Lock Haven managed only 92 rushing yards.