Cal U. trying to be Rock solid
Gary Dunn went through his first game as head coach of California University’s football team three weeks ago against Cheyney.
He’s also had his home opener two weeks ago against Millersville.
Now, he will have his first pressure-cooker game in the PSAC West Division when the Vulcans host Slippery Rock in a battle of undefeated and nationally ranked teams Saturday at Adamson Stadium in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The Vulcans (1-0, 3-0) had their lowest point output of the season last week, winning 59-17 over Seton Hill. The Rock (1-0, 4-0) knocked off Gannon, 34-13. Both teams are ranked in the NCAA Division II AFCA Top 25, Cal at No. 24 and Slippery Rock at No. 9. IUP, Cal’s home opponent Oct. 8, is ranked No. 8.
Mike Keir is settling in nicely as the Vulcans’ starting quarterback, tying a school record with six touchdown passes against Seton Hill. He will face a Slippery Rock defense that has been leaky, allowing an average of 23 points per game.
“We go week by week,” said Keir, repeating a common mantra with the players and coaching staff. “It’s very exciting. Guys are going to work each week and we just go from there.”
Senior Garry Brown has been electric to watch as a wide receiver and return man. Brown has 12 receptions in limited play because of the three blowout wins by Cal, but he has six touchdowns and averages 22.3 yards a catch. Brown has two kickoff returns, one for a TD, and a 43-yard punt return.
“It’s an exciting game for us, but we have to focus on us and not worry about who’s coming in or who we’re playing,” said Brown. “We’re playing against us, not against them. We have a new team, a new coaching staff, a different environment. I’m ready.”
Cal’s defense will have to handle tailback Shamar Greene, a fifth-year senior who has rushed for a school-record 4,201 career yards. Greene gouged the Vulcans for 92 yards and a touchdown as The Rock rolled up 609 total yards in a 56-21 win last year.
“Slippery Rock, IUP, Edinboro, all were rivals when I played (at Cal),” Dunn said. “Slippery Rock is the big game because it’s the next one. It’s the same now for every team. Every week’s a grind.”
Kickoff: 2 p.m., Saturday
A tough season got a little tougher last week for the Yellow Jackets, when it was learned quarterback Jake Dougherty was lost for the season with a broken collarbone sustained in a loss to Carnegie Mellon. Tyler Perlone, a 6-3 freshman from Venetia and graduate of Seton-La Salle, took over and completed 18 of 38 passes for 200 yards but was picked off four times in a 35-7 loss to Case Western.
“We’re going to just keep sawing away at that log,” said Waynesburg head coach Rick Shepas. “You play the cards you’re dealt. One thing though, our guys are playing hard.”
Dougherty was the spark plug to a Waynesburg offense that has struggled to run the football. The sophomore completed 55 of 104 attempts for 565 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
“We’ll look into an extra year for him,” Shepas said. “We’re not going to use this as an excuse.”
Waynesburg (0-2, 0-4) is last in the PAC in total offense (278.3), scoring offense (13.2) and rushing offense (70) per game. Grove City also is 0-2, 0-4.
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday
Washington & Jefferson is back in action following a bye week that followed a loss to Thomas More. The Presidents (0-1, 2-1) have no room for another loss if they want to reach the NCAA Division III playoffs.
They are looking to get the offense back on track after a poor performance at Thomas More. Quarterback Pete Coughlin is coming off a sub-par game – 15 of 32 for 170 yards a touchdown and two interceptions. The offensive line struggled in the running game, producing 34 yards on 26 tries.
Thiel (1-1, 2-2) is coming off a 35-27 loss to Geneva. Quarterback Ryan Radke is a dual threat, passing for 828 yards and eight touchdowns and rushing for 376 yards and four TDs. The Tomcats’ defense is allowing 427 yards and 35 points per game.