Nov 15, 2017 3 min read

Maybe no team caused more havoc to the NCAA Division II postseason than California University.

On the last week of the regular season, the Vulcans jumped three spots to No. 6 in Super Region One.

And maybe no team was left scrambling more than Assumption, which suddenly found itself looking for information on this Southwestern Pennsylvania team.

The two teams meet Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff in Worcester, Mass.

“I’m originally from Pennsylvania so I had an idea this might happen,” said 40-year-old Bob Chensey, the Greyhounds’ fifth-year head coach. “But my coaches didn’t.”

Chesney is a graduate of Dickinson College and has friends and relatives in the Greensburg and Baldwin areas.

Assumption is making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason after winning the program’s second Northeast 10 title. The Greyhounds are 9-1 overall but coming off a 35-31 loss to Bentley. They are 1-2 in their previous two postseason trips, with the lone victory coming at home against Bowie State in 2015.

The loss to Bentley was partly because of the Greyhounds missing a handful of starters, including quarterback Marc Monks.

“Bentley did a really good job,” said Chesney. “They ran a fake punt and they ran a fake field goal. It was their last game of the season and they really unloaded everything they had on us. … We had five to seven guys who couldn’t go so we had to determine how to manage that. Put them out there and you risk injury. So we were up against it a little bit.”

Monks went down in Game 8 and senior Brendan Tobey stepped in. Monks was averaging 196 yards per game, threw for 15 touchdowns and was intercepted only four times in 189 attempts.

Tobey has thrown for 715 yards and five touchdowns. But he’s been prone to interceptions, four in 87 attempts.

“We’re hoping (Monks) can be back for this game,” said Chesney, who said it will be a game time decision. “Tobey is 9-2 as a starter. He understands the offense, gets the ball out fast and makes really good reads. When you haven’t played for so many games, then have to come in and pick up where (Monks) left off isn’t easy to do. But he managed it very well.”

Senior Dylan Oxsen and sophomore Khaleed Exum-Strong have combined for 1,314 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Ashton Grant and junior Deonte Harris have combined for 96 receptions, 1,319 yards and 12 TDs.

The Greyhounds’ defense has accumulated 38 quarterback sacks, led by 11 from defensive end Ray Sarkodieh. Safety Andrew Benson has seven interceptions and senior linebacker Charles Williams III has forced three fumbles.

“We have to be smart about bringing pressure,” said Chesney. “If you blitz and don’t get home, they can hurt you in one-on-one situations.”

Notes

The winner of this game plays either Shepherd or Findlay. … The Hounds have the nation’s sixth highest scoring offense at 45.7 points per game. … Cal averages33.5 points per game and allows 25.2.