Box Score (New/Sortable Format) EDINBORO, Pa. – Sixth-ranked California (Pa.) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 24-14 win over Edinboro on Saturday night to spoil the Fighting Scots' home opener. The game was the PSAC West opener for both teams, and kept the Vulcans perfect at 3-0. Edinboro suffered its second straight loss to open the season to a ranked opponent after losing at then 19th-ranked Bloomsburg last Saturday.
 
The loss marked the eighth straight to Cal, but the Fighting Scots made the sixth-ranked Division II team work for the win.  The Vulcans jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the opening drive of the game, coming out in a no-huddle offense and throwing on all but one down.  The Fighting Scot defense stiffened and held the Vulcans to a 22-yard field goal by Cody Nuzzo.

Two of the next three Cal possessions ended in interceptions, the first by Cory Hayes on a tipped ball and the second by James Jackson, one of two on the evening for the junior.  The defense came up with another stop on the next series, as Bobby Kmetz sacked Peter Lalich for a loss of 17 yards back to the EU 6. 

Edinboro took over after Ben Eisel returned the ensuing punt 12 yards to the Cal 41.  Cody Harris found Willie Lowe for back-to-back receptions of 16 and three yards, and a Cal personal foul helped move the ball to the Cal 12.  A pair of runs by D'Andrea Vaughn put the ball at the three, and Harris picked up the first down at the Cal 1.  On 2^nd-and-goal John Washington plunged in from a yard out to give Edinboro a 7-3 lead with 11:04 remaining in the second quarter.  It was the first career touchdown for the redshirt freshman.

Cal put together a 6-play, 63-yard drive late in the half to take a 10-7 lead.  The score came on a 32-yard pass from Lalich to Mike Williams with just 39 seconds remaining.  It appeared that Jackson was in position to intercept the pass at the goal line, but Williams was able to come down with the catch to give the Vulcans the advantage at the half.

After gaining just 100 yards in the first half, Edinboro moved into Cal territory on its first two possessions of the second half.  The first ended with Washington coming up a yard short on a 3^rd-and-2 play at the Cal 16.

The second drive saw Harris find Marcus Johnson for a 53-yard completion on the very first play, giving the Scots a first down at the Cal 37.  Three plays netted eight yards and Sean Seefeldt's 46-yard field goal attempt came up short.

Cal finally broke the ice with a 7-play, 60-yard drive to end the third quarter and begin the fourth.  Lalich completed three passes for 55 yards in the drive, the last one covering 27 yards to Nadir brown for six points.  That gave Cal a 17-7 lead with 13:24 remaining.

Edinboro answered immediately with its best march of the night, going 75 yards in seven plays.  It was all Harris, as the junior completed all six of his attempts for all 75 yards.  His 21-yard toss to Lowe gave the Scots a first down at the Cal 12, and on the next play he found freshman Duane McKelvin in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass.  McKelvin had just entered the game for his first action of the season in the series.  His first career six-pointer pulled Edinboro to within 17-14 with 10:34 remaining.

 Unfortunately, the Boro defense was unable to come up with a stop.  Jeff Knox, Jr. returned the kickoff 36 yards to the Cal 45.  On 2^nd-and-10, R.J. Thomas turned a short pass over the middle into a 54-yard gain as the 230 lb. running back bounced off a tackler at the start of the play before finally being run down by Veuntrae Robinson at the one. 

A Cal penalty moved the ball back to the six, but Lamont Smith swept around the left end untouched for the final score of the game with 9:23 to play. 

Cal finished the night with 487 total yards while Edinboro finished with 319, including 219 in the second half.  The Vulcans were able to show some balance with 321 yards through the air and 166 yards rushing.  The Scots managed just 49 yards rushing, due in part to six sacks, five of those coming in the final two series.

Harris completed 26 of 37 passes for 270 yards with a touchdown and an interception.  In the process he became just the sixth passer to throw for over 4,000 yards at Edinboro, now showing 4,251 yards. 

Marcus Johnson was his favorite target, as the junior wide receiver hauled in 8 passes for 116 yards.  Lowe added 4 catches for 43 yards and Shawn Walker had 4 receptions for 30 yards.  Vaughn led the ground game with 40 yards on eight carries, sitting out most of the second half with an injury.

Lalich completed 23 of 38 passes for 321 yards with 2 TDs and 3 INTs.  Williams caught 6 passes for 123 yards, with Thomas adding 5 grabs for 82 yards and Williamson 5 for 34.  Smith carried 17 times for 103 yards.

After finishing with 19 tackles in the opener at Bloomsburg, strong safety Kenny Pettis once again led the way with 14 tackles.                
Edinboro hits the highways next Saturday for its second PSAC West contest, playing at Lock Haven.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.