Cal gets first-round bye in playoffs
The reward for a perfect regular season was handed out to California University’s football team Sunday afternoon.
The Vulcans, who polished off a 10th consecutive win with a 49-7 rout of Kutztown in the PSAC State Game Saturday, received a bye for the first week of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The Vulcans received the bye because of their No. 1 ranking in Region One and will play Nov. 26 at Adamson Stadium against the winner of the first-round game between Indiana and Fairmont State. Fairmont State has a 10-1 record and is champion of the Mountain East Conference. Indiana is 9-1 and was runner-up to Cal in the PSAC West Division. Kutztown, the champion of the PSAC East Division, did not make the playoffs with a 7-4 record.
“I said at the press conference when I was hired that we want to win now,” said Cal first-year head coach Gary Dunn. “To be undefeated and in the national championship is unbelievable. These guys have worked so hard. I’m real excited for our guys.”
The other teams in Cal’s region are LIU-Post, Winston-Salem State, Shepherd and Assumption. Northern Alabama, Northwest Missouri State and Grand Valley State each received a first-round bye.
“It didn’t matter if we got the bye because we’re going to show up and play no matter what,” said Cal quarterback Michael Keir. “I think the guys are pushing for the (bye week). I think it will be nice. We’ll still show up to work. But it allows us to get healthy. We get a chance to heal up a little.”
The Vulcans last made the NCAA playoffs in 2011, which capped a streak of five straight appearances in the postseason.
“We’re ready to play football,” said Cal inside linebacker Luke Hrapchak. “It don’t matter if we get the bye. We’re hungry. This is just one of our goals and we’re not finished yet. Now, it’s on to our next goal.”
The Division II championship game will be played Dec. 17 in Kansas City, Mo. Northwest Missouri State defeated Shepherd, 34-7, in last year’s national championship game.