California, Pa. – The Edinboro football team dropped a 28-14 decision to host California (PA) Saturday afternoon inside Adamson Stadium.
The Vulcans received the opening kickoff and marched down the field going 75 yards in 11 plays taking over six minutes off the clock before Davis Black found D'Avay Johnson for a five-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 Cal.
The defenses settled in forcing four punts and a turnover on downs when Cal retook possession with 11:55 on the clock in the second quarter. Black hit Johnson for a 34-yard touchdown capping a 75-yard drive to extend the lead to 14-7. Cal would take that advantage into the half.
Edinboro adjusted at halftime and came out of the break swinging. With the ball at the Scot 19-yardline,
Caron Robinson broke loose for a 43-yard run setting up a first down at the Vulcan 38.
Isaac Bernard hit
Clayton Bezon for 15 more yards to the Cal 23. Bernard completions to
Teagan Brown and
Jaret Frantz set Edinboro up with first and goal from the nine. Bernard connected with Brown for the nine-yard touchdown trimming the lead to 14-7 with 12:15 on the clock in the third.
The Vulcans answered on the ensuing possession. After the kick return set Cal up at their own 32, Black hit Eric Willis III for 40 yards moving the ball to the Edinboro 28. Black capped the drive with a two-yard rush to push the lead back to 21-7 with 9:12 remaining in the third.
The teams traded punts with the Scots retaking possession at their own 16 with 4:48 left in the third quarter. As they have done all year, the Edinboro offense put together a long touchdown drive marching 84 yards on 15 plays capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by
Clay Cunningham at the 14:07 mark of the fourth quarter cutting the deficit to 21-14.
The Scots stopped Cal on the next drive and forced a punt, but the drive stalled at their own 41. On a fake punt attempt,
Reed Martin's pass was intercepted setting the Vulcans up at the Edinboro 33-yardline. Cal used three plays for cover the 33 yards capped by an Eric McKan III touchdown run with 7:52 left in the game pushing the lead to 28-14 and the Vulcans made that lead stand up for the rest of the game.
Bernard finished the game 29-of-49 for 334 yards and a touchdown. Brown was his top target catching 10 balls for 148 yards. Frantz added three catches for 56 yards. Robinson led the rushing attack with 64 yards on eight carries.
Wilfredo Diaz again led the Scot defense with 13 stops, five solo, as well as a pass breakup.
Zach Malpica played in the backfield making three of his seven tackles for loss including a sack.
Black led the Vulcan offense going 12-of-20 for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Willis caught six passes for 120 yards while Bobby Boyd Jr. led the rushing attack with 66 yards on 13 carries. Keith Charney led the defense with eight tackles and two forced fumbles.
The Scots close out the season on Saturday when they host Millersville at noon at Sox Harrison Stadium. It will be Senior Day for the Scots with festivities beginning at 11:40 a.m.
