Cal keeps rolling, routs Mercyhurst
ERIE – The final road game of the regular season could not have gone much better for undefeated California University.
Michael Keir threw three touchdown passes to Garry Brown, the Vulcans’ defense held Mercyhurst to minus-nine rushing yards and California scored 48 first-half points en route to a 55-14 victory over the Lakers Saturday afternoon at Tullio Field.
California, which is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, improved to 6-0 in the PSAC’s West Division and 8-0 overall. The Vulcans host Edinboro next weekend.
California led 17-0 after the first quarter and 48-7 at halftime over the Lakers (1-5, 2-7).
Mercyhurst closed to within 17-7 on a two-yard touchdown run by Richie Sanders early in the second quarter, but Cal scored three touchdowns in less than two minutes to build a 38-7 advantage.
Keir threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Brown to make it 24-7, and 50 seconds later Mercyhurst quarterback Doug Altavilla was sacked by Jawan Turner and fumbled.
Turner scooped up the loose ball and returned it eight yards for another Vulcans touchdown.
On Cal’s next possession, Keir ran 41 yards for a score.
Keir threw a 27-yard TD pass to Brown on the final play of the first half and the duo hooked up for a 36-yard score late in the third quarter to make the score 55-7.
Brown caught 12 passes for 265 yards. Keir was 18 of 30 for 343 yards.
Cal’s Will Brazill kicked two short field goals, and Nick Grissom and John Franklin each had a TD run.
The Vulcans’ final points came when E’Andre Smith blocked a Mercyhurst punt in the fourth quarter and Kyle Briggs returned it eight yards to the end zone.