Cal’s defense dominates as Vulcans win at Mercyhurst
ERIE – It was the longest football game in California University history – two days.
After three lightning delays in the first half Saturday, California’s PSAC West game at Mercyhurst was suspended until Sunday at Tullio Field. After it resumed, California’s defense dominated and the Vulcans scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to finish off a 23-0 victory that took two days to complete.
The game was stopped with 2:39 remaining in the first half Saturday and California leading 6-0.
Shortly after played resumed Sunday afternoon, Cal’s Brian Alsobrooks booted his third field goal of the game, a 36-yarder, on the final play of the first half, giving Cal a 9-0 advantage.
It remained 9-0 until early in the fourth quarter when Cal’s Nelson Brown capped a 43-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. The Vulcans finished the scoring when Tyson Hill caught a four-yard TD pass from Noah Mitchell with 3:28 remaining. Both touchdowns were set up by California interceptions, the first by Asheed Page-Jones and the second by Aaron Brown.
Mercyhurst committed five turnovers, including four interceptions. Chad Garnett intercepted a Doug Altavilla pass in the end zone to thwart one Lakers drive and Jermal Martin had the other Cal interception. The Lakers were held to 84 passing yards.
Mitchell completed 17 of 37 passes for 171 yards. Brown led the Cal ground game with 101 yards on 25 carries.
The win sets up a showdown Saturday at Adamson Stadium against Slippery Rock. California (5-1, 6-3) is in second place in the West Division behind Slippery Rock (5-0, 7-1). Mercyhurst’s record slipped to 1-5 in the conference and 2-7 overall.