Vulcans right the Ship, hold off wild rally
California’s Luke Smorey jumps over Shippensburg’s Allen Holman on his way to a second-quarter touchdown Saturday at Adamson Stadium.
Just before halftime, California’s Aaron Terry returns a punt for a 97-yard touchdwon, with help from a block from Harrison Reid.
California’s James Harris throws a touchdown to Devin Lomax in the second quarter Saturday.
California’s Errol Brewster reacts after sacking Shippensburg quarterback Ryan Zapoticky during the second quarter of Saturday’s game. Zapoticky was sacked seven times.
CALIFORNIA – After allowing a late touchdown last week in a disappointing 20-13 loss to Bloomsburg, the California University of Pennsylvania football team wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be in a position of giving up a halftime lead again.
One way to do that is to be up by a larger margin at the break.
The Vulcans did just that, using a balanced attack and a big play just before halftime to take a 34-10 lead into the locker room. But they needed that large margin, as their problems of scoring in the second half persisted.
That first half margin was just enough, as California hung on for a 34-26 victory against Shippensburg in a PSAC crossover game Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.
“It’s the craziest thing,” said Vulcans coach Mike Kellar of his team’s second-half struggles. “In the first half, we go out and try to take it, but in the second, we try to just hold on to what we took.”
California has been outscored 40-7 in the third and fourth quarters this season.
An outcome that seemed so certain at halftime wasn’t decided until the final seconds. The Red Raiders (2-1) battled back to within eight and drove to the California 30 with under 90 seconds to play before Aaron Terry’s interception ended the drive. Still, the Red Raiders had two timeouts left, and California (2-1) was again unable to get a first down to kill the clock.
But when Shippensburg got the ball back, there was time for only one more play, which ended well short of the end zone, securing California’s victory.
“A.T. saved us twice,” Kellar said.
Kellar was referring Terry’s other big play in the game, a 97-yard punt return on the last play of the first half that pushed the Vulcans’ lead to 34-10. The Red Raiders allowed just 64 punt-return yards last season.
“I didn’t think it would open up like that,” said Terry. “Once I broke past the first three guys, I knew I was gone.”
John Franklin III carried much of the load offensively for California, gaining 114 yards on 27 carries in his first game as the feature back. He entered the game with 130 yards on 26 attempts, splitting time with Nate Goldsmith.
Goldsmith is out of the lineup, so Franklin became the focus of the offensive game plan in the early going, rushing 19 times in the first half alone.
A little luck helped the Vulcans on the game’s opening play. An apparent completion and fumble by Luke Smorey that Shippensburg recovered was ruled an incomplete pass after a long discussion by the officials, after the Shippensburg offense and California defense had already taken the field.
California took advantage of the second life, marching down the field to take a 7-0 lead on the first of Franklin’s two touchdown runs. The teams then exchanged runs, with Shippensburg getting the next 10 points and California scoring the next 27.
In addition to a second Franklin rushing touchdown, James Harris tossed a pair of second-quarter scores. He completed 14 of 32 passes for 202 yards.
Life then became rough for Shippensburg quarterback Ryan Zapoticky, who faced a swarm of Vulcan defenders every time he’d look to throw downfield. He was sacked seven times and forced to scramble on several other occasions.
The Vulcans had just three first downs in the second half to 21 for the Red Raiders.
“We got chances to knock this team down,” said Kellar. “I’m going to start practicing for 45 minutes, go in for 10, then practice for 45 more.”
Leading receiver Garry Brown also missed the game for California. He is out with an ankle sprain.