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CALIFORNIA (Sept. 29) – The No. 6 Vulcans rallied to tie the game after facing a 14-point halftime deficit on Saturday afternoon before suffering a 37-34 loss to West Chester in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover play at Adamson Stadium.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania football team falls to 4-1 overall this season. The Vulcans remain tied with Mercyhurst for first place in the divisional standings with a 2-0 mark. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams improve to 4-1 this year with their only loss coming at FCS-power Delaware.
Senior quarterback
Peter Lalich (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) surpassed the 300-yard mark for the fourth-consecutive game, posting 342 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 29-of-47 attempts and threw two interceptions in the loss. Through five games, Lalich ranks second in the PSAC with 1,775 passing yards while completing 61.9 percent (133-of-215) of his passes with 14 touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver
Trey Johnson (Rochester, Pa./Rochester) posted his second-straight 100-yard game, totaling 120 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 11 catches. In his first year as a wide receiver, he ranks second on the team and eighth in the PSAC with 24 receptions.
The Golden Rams took an early lead when they returned a fumble on the game's opening drive for a touchdown. On its first drive of the game, West Chester increased the lead to 14-0 with a seven-yard touchdown pass. Earlier in the drive, the Vulcans intercepted a pass in the end zone before a holding penalty negated the interception and gave West Chester a first-and-goal.
Benefiting from excellent field position, Cal U cut into the deficit midway throw the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore
Jeff Knox, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./DeMatha Catholic (Md.)). Following a Golden Rams touchdown on the ensuing possession, the Vulcans trimmed the deficit to 21-13 on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Lalich to redshirt freshman wide receiver
Kowan Scott (Easton, Pa./Wilson) with 1:57 left in the first half. West Chester quickly countered with a 51-yard touchdown pass to take a 27-13 lead with 1:16 remaining before halftime.
Following the break, senior defensive back
Rontez Miles (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) made an interception on the Golden Rams' first possession of the second half. Cal U capitalized on the turnover with 10-play touchdown drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Knox. On the next West Chester drive, junior defensive lineman
BJ Stevens (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) recovered a fumble that led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Lalich to Johnson that tied the game at 27-27 with 8:13 left in the third.
The Golden Rams reclaimed the lead with a 43-yard field goal midway through the fourth before adding a one-yard touchdown on their next drive to take a 37-27 lead with 3:22 remaining. Cal U countered with a five-play scoring drive, highlighted by a 15-yard pass from Lalich to Johnson with 2:16 left in the game. After a failed onside-kick attempt, the Vulcans forced the Golden Rams into a three-and-out before Lalich was intercepted with 1:18 remaining.
Defensively, junior
CJ Townes (Joppatowne, Md./Joppatowne) led the team with a career-high 13 tackles (six solo) and 1.0 TFL. Miles added 12 stops (five solo) and two interceptions, marking the first multi-interception game of his career, while senior linebacker
Brett Diamond (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca) made 11 tackles (four solo).
Cal U returns to PSAC West play on Saturday, Oct. 6, when it travels to face Clarion at 2 p.m.
Notes:
The Vulcans suffered their first loss in PSAC Crossover play since 2009 … Miles was the first player to record two interceptions in a game since
Tommie Campbell in the 2010 NCAA Playoffs … Cal U was whistled for only two penalties in the loss, its fewest since 2009 … West Chester junior Rondell White totaled 280 all-purpose yards, including 200 rushing yards – his second 200-yard game of the season
