Box Score (New/Sortable Format) CALIFORNIA, Pa. (Sept. 21, 2013) – With a heavy rain falling for much of the game and an offense missing four starters committing five turnovers for the second straight week, Edinboro dropped its PSAC West opener at California(Pa.), 20-7.  The loss leaves the Fighting Scots at 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC West.  The Vulcans improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the league.  It marked the ninth straight win for Cal in the series.
 
Edinboro played without starting quarterback Cody Harris, wide receiver Darren Massey, tailback D'Andrea Vaughn and left guard Kyle Lanich.  The youthful quarterback combination of redshirt freshman Jon Girvin and true freshman Matt Bodamer proved little match for the veteran Vulcan defense, combining for four interceptions.
 
However, a much-maligned defense turned in a strong effort against the Vulcans, limiting Cal to 318 total yards.  With the exception of one long drive late in the third quarter that extended into the fourth, Cal was unable to sustain many drives against the Scots.
 
Edinboro would manage just 202 yards in offense without Harris at the controls.  It marked just the second game he has missed in four years.  The senior is out indefinitely with an injury suffered in last week's game vs. Bloomsburg.
 
Edinboro grabbed a quick 2-0 lead courtesy of a bad snap on a Cal punt on the first series of the game.  The Vulcans would respond with an eight-play, 60-yard drive after holding the Scots on downs, but the Boro defense stiffened and held Cal to a 25-yard field goal by Cody Nuzzo.
 
The Fighting Scots were hampered by poor field position throughout the first half, as they started five drives at their 20 or inside that yard line, with the best field position to start at the 34.
 
With rain pouring down, neither team did much offensively until Cal's Dewey McDonald intercepted a Bodamer pass at the 50 and weaved his way for a 50-yard touchdown return.  The score came with 8:47 left in the second quarter and gave the Vulcans a 10-2 lead.  Bodamer, a record-setting quarterback in high school, had taken over for Girvin at the start of the second quarter.  It was his first collegiate pass attempt.
 
That's the way the half would end, as Cal had one more golden opportunity to score following a Girvin fumble.  The Vulcans took over at the Boro 11, but Kyle Matula forced a fumble on a Jeff Knox run, with former Vulcan Mike Shansky recovering in the end zone for a touchback.
 
After a tough first half in which he completed just 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards, Girvin came out in the second half and sparked the Boro offense.  The Scots took the second half kickoff and drove down to the Cal 12.  Jeremy Donaldson, who rushed for a career-high 89 yards on 22 carries, carried six times in the drive for 29 yards.  In addition, Girvin found Marcus Johnson for gains of 14 and 15 yards.
 
The drive would stall at the 12, and freshman T.J. Hardy came in and booted his first career field goal, covering 29 yards, to cap the 13-play, 63-yard march. It was Hardy's first career three-pointer and was aided by an outstanding job by holder Kellen O'Neill, who placed a high snap.
 
Cal would gain one first down on its next possession before being forced to punt. The Scots would give it right back when Girvin's pass was intercepted by Aaron Terry and returned 28 yards to the Boro 16. Cal almost returned the favor on the next play, but James Jackson dropped a potential interception in the end zone.  The Vulcans would have to settle for Nuzzo's second field goal, this one from 33 yards. That gave Cal a 13-5 lead with 6:39 left in the third period.
 
Edinboro would move the ball past midfield before Brad West came in to punt. The Vulcans took over at their own 15.  They would pick up the tempo on the next drive, and for the first time they started to physically control the line of scrimmage. 
 
The ensuing 17-play, 85-yard drive was capped by Derrick Fiore's one-yard touchdown run.  With 11:42 to play, Cal now led 20-5.
 
A three-and-out gave the ball back to the Vulcans, but West's punt gained a fortuitous roll and ended up going 58 yards. The Vulcans were also assessed a holding penalty and started on their own eight. Unable to gain a first down, Edinboro would pick up its second safety of the day when punter Andrew Cerett was unable to handle the snap and he was tackled in the end zone by Jackson.  That made it 20-7 with 5:28 left.
 
A nice return by Ben Eisel of the free kick, covering 27 yards, plus a Cal personal foul, gave the Scots the ball at the Cal 41.  They were unable to gain a first down and would not threaten again.
 
Girvin, a highly-regarded redshirt freshman with a big arm, made his first career appearance. He completed 13 of 34 passes for 120 yards.  He threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.  Johnson caught 7 passes for 96 yards.  In the process he moved into ninth place in career receptions with 120, and ninth in career receiving yards with 1,832.       
 
The Boro defense limited Schroeder to just 14 completions in 34 attempts.  The Vulcans would run for 130 yards, but on 50 carries for an average of 2.6 yards per carry.  Knox gained 92 yards on 21 rushes and Fiore had 68 yards on 22 carries.
 
Rob Harden paced Edinboro's defensive effort with nine tackles.  Delano Fabor, Jimmy Grove, Alex Gluvna  and Shansky added seven tackles apiece.
 
Edinboro will look to get back on the winning track while returning to Sox Harrison Stadium next Saturday, September 28, hosting Seton Hill.  It will mark the first meeting with the newest member of the PSAC. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.