Cal’s rally blocks Indiana’s chances for win
California’s Arnel Farmer Jr. (7) and DeVonte Suber take down IUP’s Chris Temple during Saturday’s game at Adamson Stadium in California.
California’s Jalen Bell (23) celebrates with Erick Taylor after scoring a touchdown against IUP Saturday.
California’s Nick Grissom lines up Ronald Womack of IUP during Saturday’s game.
CALIFORNIA – The play had all the makings of a Keystone Kops routine.
The football was on the turf just seconds after being blocked off the foot of Indiana punter Jordan Spangler by Cal’s Dymond Thomas. One after another player tried to pick it up, only to have it slip away until the play was finally blown dead.
Whether they knew it or not, the hopes for Indiana’s football players also were about to die.
California used the momentum from that second quarter blocked punt to string together four straight touchdowns to help wipe away an early 17-point deficit and emerge with a thrilling 44-23 victory over IUP in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Adamson Stadium on a raw Saturday afternoon.
Sixth-ranked Cal, now 11-0 under first-year head coach Gary Dunn, will host No. 3 Shepherd Saturday in a quarterfinal-round game. It was the second straight win over Indiana (10-2) this season for Cal, and the first playoff victory in Dunn’s head coaching career. Cal earned a first-round bye last week, thanks to its No. 1 ranking in the region.
The blocked punt came right after Cal scored its first touchdown on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Michael Keir to wide receiver Garry Brown, who finished with 11 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Cal gained possession after the blocked punt at the IUP 12 and Jalen Bell scored on the next play to make it 17-14.
“We dug ourselves a hole early and I knew our guys would come (back),” said Dunn. “I wasn’t worried. I could tell (before the game) our guys were excited and they were tense. Momentum switched there when we got the blocked punt. … We play well in sports. When we get it going, we’re a pretty good football team.”
Bell’s touchdown, his fourth rushing score of the season, was part of a 35-0 run by the Vulcans that turned the 17-0 deficit into a 35-17 lead.
“I thought we had a chance to get off to a good start with Cal having the off week,” said Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. “They chipped away. The high snap on the punt was a big, big play. They got momentum and never lost it.”
Indiana exploded for 17 points in the game’s first 15:07 on the legs of running back Chris Temple, who had 52 yards rushing in the first quarter, and two deep strikes from the arm of Mike Pietropola. A 6-0, 200-pound sophomore, Pietropola was taking the place of Harlon Hill candidate Lenny Williams, who was injured three weeks ago against Mercyhurst. Pietropola looked like anything but a backup, hitting wide receiver Chris Wuenster with a 40-yard bomb to make it 7-0 just 3:20 into the game. The two connected on a 42-yard completion the next series to set up a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Stewart to make it 10-0.
The Crimson Hawks made it 17-0 on a 31-yard run by Sammie Bullock on their next possession, quieting many of 1,126 fans.
“Our team is very confident and we play off momentum,” said Brown. “I had confidence we would come back.”
Brown broke the school’s single-season touchdown reception record, snagging an 8-yard TD for his 19th score that made it 17-7. His 20th came in the fourth quarter from 15 yards that made it 42-23.
In between, Bell scored on the 4-yard run, wide receiver Luke Smorey snagged an 8t-yard TD pass from Keir that gave Cal a 21-17 lead at halftime, Paul Butler grabbed a 1-yard TD pass from Keir in the third quarter to make it 28-17, and Ryan McCauley went over from the 4 with 14:54 to go to make it 35-17.
Keir finished with 23 completions on 28 attempts for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Most important, he did not throw an interception.
“It was the rhythm of (the game),” said Keir. “You have to give credit to our wide receivers and line. They really picked it up. Our wide receivers were open all day.”
IUP finally broke its scoring drought when Wuenster and Pietropola connected from 14 yards out with 6:08 to play.
Any chance of an Indiana comeback dissolved in a bizarre set of onsides kicks, three straight, that ended up with IUP being penalized three times and Cal recovering the final attempt.
“Give Cal a lot of credit,” said Cignetti. “They came back and took it to us.”
The game had no turnovers. … Total yardage was close, 364-344, in favor of Cal. … IUP had 11 penalties for only 67 yards, Cal 7 for 56. … Cal inside linebacker Luke Hrapchak had a game-high 11 tackles. … Wuenster had four receptions for 102 yards and two TDs. … Temple left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury.