Nov 22, 2009 By The 2 min read

No. 22 California (Pa.) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and withstood a late Shippensburg rally to win 26-21 and advance to the NCAA Division II Super Regional One Finals. Despite being outgained in total offense 489-352, the Vulcans (10-3) held off hosting No. 17 Shippensburg with some strong special teams and key turnovers.

Trey Allen recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in the first quarter to make the score 14-0 in favor of California. The Vulcans had already capitalized on a short field after Rontez Miles picked off Chad Difebbo and drove 28 yards for the opening score.

Shippensburg (9-3) cut the lead to seven in the second quarter when Mike Frenette scored on a 74-yard run. Frinette led all rushers with 93 yards. But California scored the next two touchdowns to take a commanding 26-7 lead on Freddie Bacco’s 23-yard score. Bacco led the team with 83 yards on the ground.

DiFebbo connected with Mark Rossi for a touchdown and the 2-point conversion as time expired in the third to cut the lead to 26-15.

But on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, California was forced to punt and Shippensburg drove 59 yards to cut the lead to 26-21 with seven minutes remaining.

With Shippensburg pinned deep in its own territory, Brett Diamond intercepted a pass and California had the ball in the red zone. But three plays later, a Vulcan fumble gave the ball back to the Red Raiders on the 10-yard line with 2:31 to play.

DiFebbo marched the Red Raiders down to the Vulcans’ 34 yard-line until a grounding penalty set up fourth-and-17. The 56-yard drive ended when the pass to Chase DiFebbo was incomplete. Chad DiFebbo finished with 226 yards on 16-of-40 passing and two interceptions.

California travels to No. 9 West Liberty Saturday for a noon start at Russek Field. The Hilltoppers advanced by defeating Edinboro 84-63. California holds an 11-8 record over West Liberty, but the teams have not met since 1993.