Nov 29, 2009 By The 2 min read

California (Pa.) built a 36-7 halftime lead and used the rushing attack in the second half to preserve a 57-35 win over West Liberty State at Russek Field in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Leading 13-7 after one quarter, the Vulcans scored 23 points and held the ball for 10:38 in the second.

Two Josh Portis touchdown passes to A.J. Jackson and another to Blake Williamson along with a 31-yard Marc Domonkos field goal gave California its commanding lead. Jackson caught five passes for 67 yards. Williamson had four grabs for 47 yards.

Terrance Moore widened the lead with a 55-yard catch early in the third quarter and the Vulcans led 43-7. Moore led all receivers with five catches totaling 158 yards. Portis finished the day 18-for-32 for 318 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. Portis became the second 3,000-yard passer in school history and set the school’s single-season mark for touchdowns with 33.

West Liberty State (11-2) had scored 84 points in last week’s win over Edinboro, but didn’t break double digits on the scoreboard until Kevon Calhoun scored the first of his two scores with ten minutes remaining in the third quarter. Derrick Evans recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to make the score 43-21.

California (11-3) traded scores the rest of the game. Freddie Bacco scored on runs of seven and six yards. West Liberty State’s Zach Amero found Willie Walker for scoring passes of 57 and 40 yards to finish the scoring.

Bacco led all rushers with 173 yards on 17 carries. California won the NCAA regional title for the third consecutive year and faces 12-1 Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 5.