Vulcans hang on to defeat Fighting Scots

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September 16, 2012

Vulcans hang on to defeat Fighting Scots

By Lisa Byers Meadville Tribune The Meadville Tribune Sun Sep 16, 2012, 07:00 AM EDT

EDINBORO — Cody Harris had very little time to digest what had just happened at Sox Harrison Stadium.

But it didn’t take him long to come up with an answer when asked what was most frustrating about Edinboro’s 24-14 loss to California (Pa.) on Saturday night in its home and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West opener.

“Missed opportunities,” the junior quarterback said. “It was the little things. There are couple things here or there that if they go our way it’s a different ballgame.”

That, unfortunately, for the Scots was the story of the game last night.

Edinboro played the Vulcans, ranked No. 6 in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, about as good as anyone could play them in the first half, particularly on defense, which came up with big play after big play to keep the Scots in a tight game.

California (Pa.) did strike first and early, using good field position set up by a penalty against Edinboro on the opening kickoff to start a seven-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Cody Nuzzo.

The Vulcans looked to add to that lead on their second possession and received some help from the Scots when they were whistled for a personal foul on a punt, which gave Cal a first down and 10 at their own 33-yard line. The Vulcans, behind the legs of running back Lamont Smith, drove into Edinboro territory, but the treat was ended on an interception by Cory Hayes.

Cal’s next possession ended with an interception by James Jackson in its end zone, allowing the Scots to finish the first quarter down just 3-0.

That’s when things got interesting.

After a sack of Peter Lalich that accounted for a 17-yard loss and a California punt, Edinboro’s offense went to work. Harris completed a pair of passes to Willie Lowe and D’Andrea Vaughn covered seven yards on two carries to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by John Washington. Sean Seefeldt connected on the extra-point kick to give the Scots a 7-3 lead with 11:04 to play in the second quarter.

Cal did eventually take the lead on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Lalich to Mike Williams with 39 seconds to play in the first half, but was never able to pull away until late in the fourth quarter.

In fact, Edinboro did have an opportunity to tie it with field goal attempt with 10:23 to play in the third quarter. But the Fighting Scots opted to go for it on fourth down and two yards to go and came up short.

“We made that decision a couple days ago,” Edinboro head coach Scott Browning said, “that we were going to go for it. And I wasn’t going to balk. That’s what we said we were going to do.”

Still, Edinboro managed to stay within three until early in the fourth quarter when Cal took a 17-7 lead on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Lalich to Nadir Brown. The Scots did respond on its ensuing possession with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Harris was a perfect 6-for-6 passing during the drive that was capped by a 12-yard TD pass from Harris to Duane McKelvin for his first career touchdown in his very first series.

Edinboro just couldn’t get any closer.

Cal followed the Scots’ scoring drive with a three-play, 55-yard drive of its own to put the game away at 24-14.

“I’m happy with the way our football team played today,” Browning said. “You never accept defeat, but we got better as a team. And we played the No. 6 team in the country and we took it to the end. Our kids fought. They played hard. That’s all you can ask.”

The loss was the Scots’ eighth straight loss to the Vulcans. Edinboro fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC.

The last time the Scots opened a season with two straight losses was in 2000. They haven’t opened a season with three losses since 1955.

Smith ran for 108 yards on 17 carries for Cal. Lalich was 23 of 38 for 321 yards. He threw three interceptions — two to Jackson.

Harris finished 26 of 37 for 270 yards and an interception, which came during the Scots’ last series. Marcus Johnson caught eight passes for 116 yards.

Cal was penalized 14 times for 103 yards.

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Vulcans hang on to defeat Fighting Scots

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