California, Pa. – The Edinboro football team dropped their PSAC West opener 49-7 to host California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.
The Vulcans scored first on the opening possession of the game on a 49-yard run by Eric McKan. They extended the lead to 14-0 when Noah Mitchell connected with Malik Langley for a 12-yard score at the 9:33 mark of the first.
Edinboro answered on its next drive.
Thaddeus Standfield set the Scots up with great field position returning the kickoff 39-yards to the Edinboro 43. After a Cal penalty and two
Mike Flowers rushes, Standfield hauled in a 43-yard pass from
Isaac Bernard to land the Scots at the Vulcan 3-yard line.
Keon Anderson rushed twice before throwing a jump pass to
Aaron Hopkins for the touchdown from two yards out to cut the lead to 14-7.
The Scots were successful with an onside kick that
Reed Martin pooched and
Anthony Mendicino recovered. Bernard completed back-to-back passes to push the ball to the Cal 44, but on first and 10 Noah Dillow stepped in front of a pass and returned it 72-yards for a touchdown pushing the Cal lead to 21-7 with 3:58 to play in the opening frame.
Cal scored twice more in the second quarter, on a 12-yard pass from Mitchell to Cam Tarrant and a four-yard rush by McKan to take a 35-7 lead into the half.
The Vulcans threatened on their first drive of the third quarter moving the ball to the Edinboro 26, but
Allen Stritzinger recorded his second interception in as many weeks to give the Scots the ball.
After forcing an Edinboro punt, Cal covered 58-yards in five plays capped by McKan's third touchdown run of the game to push the lead to 42-7.
The Scots put together a drive late in the third quarter and beginning of the fourth covering 40-yards in 11 plays, but turned the ball over on downs at the Cal 11-yard line. The Vulcans would add one more score a Davonte Williams 14-yard rush with 8:39 to play to set the final.
Malcolm Johnson led the Fighting Scot defense with 11 tackles, five solo, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
Micah Thomas and
Clay Cunningham each finished with 10 stops while Mendicino added eight.
Bernard finished the game with 154 yards through the air. Standfield was Edinboro's leading receiver with 71 yards on six catches. Hopkins finished with three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
For the Vulcans, Williams had 162 yards on the ground and a touchdown while McKan added 117 and three scores. Mitchell finished with 137 yards passing, two touchdowns and one interception. Matt Tobey led the defense with nine tackles.
The Scots are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Mercyhurst. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
