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WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Sept. 12) – Trailing 10-0 late in the first quarter, freshman Rontez Miles (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) blocked and returned a punt for a touchdown to help propel the Vulcans to a 30-23 road victory over No. 21 West Chester on Saturday at John A. Farrell Stadium.

Playing its third-straight nationally-ranked opponent, the California University of Pennsylvania football team improves to 1-2 overall and enters next week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West-opener against Gannon. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams also stand at 1-2 after losing their last two contests.

After West Chester scored the first 10 points of the game, Cal U out-scored West Chester 30-13 over the final 48-plus minutes of the game. With their offense struggling, the Vulcans turned the momentum when Miles blocked a Golden Rams' punt and return the punt for a touchdown.

The teams entered halftime tied at 13-13, as the Cal U defense allowed West Chester only one touchdown and two field goals despite the Golden Rams mounting seven drives beyond midfield.

The Vulcans then claimed only their second lead of the season by scoring a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, 27-20. After West Chester trimmed the lead to 27-23 with a field goal early in the fourth, the Cal U defense forced a pair of turnovers on downs late in the game to seal the win.

Graduate student Josh Portis (Woodland Hills, Calif./William H. Taft/Maryland) tossed for a career-high 202 yards on 12-of-29 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception. The 6-4 signal caller completed six-of-nine passes for 104 yards and one score in third quarter.

Senior wide receiver AJ Jackson (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh/Sequoias) led the Vulcans with both six receptions and 71 yards. Jackson and sophomore Chedrick Cherry (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller/South Florida) each caught touchdown passes from Portis.

Defensively, the Vulcans applied constant pressure on All-PSAC East quarterback Joe Wright, registering four sacks and eight quarterback hurries. Junior linebacker Anthony Roberts (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg/Iowa Central) collected a game- and career-high 10 stops (all solo), while sophomore linebacker Brett Diamond (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) finished with nine stops (five solo). Roberts filled in for graduate student Dontey Brown (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport/Penn State) after he suffered an injury early in the game. Playing only the first quarter, Brown still registered seven tackles (all solo).

After the Golden Rams missed a field goal late in the first half and trailing 13-7, Portis directed the offense on a six-play, 79-yard touchdown drive capped by a 36-yard touchdown reception by Cherry to tie the game at 13-13 (PAT was blocked).

The two teams traded touchdowns on their first possessions of the second half before Cal U scored the final touchdown of the game when senior running back Freddie Bacco (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scampered nine-yards for his third score of the season with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Vulcans mounted a 14-play drive that was capped by a crucial 23-yard field goal by junior Kevin Hagerman (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) with 2:01 left in the game.

On the ensuing drive, the Golden Rams moved to near midfield in the final minute before the Vulcans pressure forced Wright into three-straight incompletions and a turnover on downs.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 19, when it hosts Gannon at Adamson Stadium for a 12 p.m. kickoff. The game will air live on FSN Pittsburgh and will also be available on-line via B2 Networks. In last year's first-ever meeting between the two schools, the Vulcans posted a 42-24 victory on the road.

Notes:
West Chester held a dominate 16-plus minute advantage in the time of possession (38:20-21:40) after running 27 more plays (81-54) … Bacco led the Vulcans with 51 rushing yards on 15 attempts … All four of the game's third-quarter possessions resulted in points (three touchdowns, one field goal) with three of the drives last 10-plus plays … The Vulcans were whistled for 10 penalties that accounted for 80 yards.