Sep 27, 2021 3 min read

California University of Pa.’s defense forced three turnovers and scored on a defensive PAT and safety as the Vulcans earned a 20-12 victory at Edinboro on Saturday afternoon in PSAC West football action.

The Vulcans (1-0, 4-0) have won 16 straight over the Fighting Scots (0-1, 0-3), including eight consecutive road games.

The Vulcans, who entered the weekend ranked second in NCAA Division II in total defense at 156.0 yards per game, surrendered only 104 yards of total offense on Saturday. Cal gave up 42 rushing yards on 33 carries and limited Edinboro to 7-of-24 passing for 62 yards.

Linebacker Noah Dillow led Cal with nine tackles and added one tackle for a loss and two pass break-ups. Linebacker Matt Tobey had eight tackles and one interception.

Noah Mitchell completed 26 of 40 passes for 263 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception for California. Tyson Hill had eight receptions for 67 yards and tight end Ian Edenfield (Laurel Highlands) made six catches for 66 yards. JaQuae Jackson added 53 receiving yards on six catches.

Cal took a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter when Edinboro snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt attempt for a safety. Naszhir Taylor returned the ensuing free kick 58 yards to setup Anthony Beitko’s 25-yard field goal to make it 5-0. Beitko added field goals of 48 and 35 yards later in the quarter to give the Vulcans an 11-0 halftime lead.

Mitchell’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Derek Lockhart on a third-and-18 play made it 18-0 with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

The Fighting Scots got on the board 3:51 later on Anfre Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run but Jermal Martin intercepted a two-point conversion pass attempt and returned it 98 yards to give Cal two points instead and a 20-6 lead.

Edinboro blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown with 3:04 left in the game to pull within one score but the Vulcans sealed the victory with Micah Tillman’s interception off a deflected pass in the final minute.

Cal U hosts Mercyhurst for Homecoming at Adamson Stadium this Saturday with a 3 p.m. kickoff.

CMU 39, Waynesburg 3 — The Yellow Jackets (1-2, 1-3) scored first but were shut down for the remainder of the game by the host Tartans in the PAC match-up.

Carnegie Mellon (2-2, 2-1) fell behind when Waynesburg cornerback JaVionne Smith came up with a strip-sack and linebacker Bret Hicks collected the fumble to give the offense the ball at the Tartan 24.

Waynesburg drove to the CMU 10, but the drive stalled and the Jackets were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Keegan Raabe.

CMU scored on the ensuing possession and never looked back as it rolled to the conference win.

Trenton Kerns led Waynesburg’s offense with seven receptions for 97 yards. Tyler Raines completed 12 of 25 passes for 149 yards with three interceptions. Justin Flack was the Jackets’ leading rushing with 35 yards on 13 carries. JaVionne Smith and Luke Menges paced the defense with eight tackles apiece.