Video credits: Photography, footage and production by Ethan Magoc
Music by Kevin McLeod
Boxscore
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Despite a 13-minute advantage in time of possession and outgaining 20th-ranked California on the ground, the Mercyhurst College football team could not overcome four costly turnovers in a 28-7 loss.
California improves to 8-2 overall, 6-0 in the PSAC West while the Lakers fall to 4-6 on the year, 3-4 in the Western Division.
In a tale of two halves, all but seven points were scored in the first half while the two teams combined for six second-half turnovers. California picked off three Laker passes inside its own 25-yardline to stifle the Lakers offense and halt any comeback attempts.
After the intermission, the Vulcans quickly scored their last touchdown of the game with 13 minutes left in the third quarter when quarterback Josh Portis hit Terrance Moore for his second receiving touchdown of the day, this time a 45-yard strike.
From there, the Lakers defense did an excellent job of shutting down Vulcans for the remainder of the game, forcing California to punt on its next possession before recording an interception and two fumble recoveries in the Vulcans’ last three series.
However, California stopped three Laker drives deep in Vulcan territory with an interception, including a takeaway at the 10-yardline on the Lakers opening series of the half.
In what looked to be a promising start, the Lakers wasted little time scoring when they took the game’s opening drive 80 yards on 12 plays.
Ben Jennings carried the ball for seven yards on the first play from scrimmage and
Joe Laffey hit
Josh Szeluga on the ensuing play for a gain of four and a Laker first down. Later in the drive as Mercyhurst faced a 3rd-and-14 from its own 38-yardline, Laffey kept the possession alive as he alertly scampered 17 yards down the middle of the field into California territory at the 45-yardline.
The trio would come through for the score as Jennings posted back-to-back carries for eight and 12 yards before Laffey hit
Garrett Kensy for a clutch 18-yard gain, moving the Lakers to the Vulcans 7-yardline. Laffey then connected with Szeluga for a touchdown and
Bobby Giambra’s extra point Mercyhurst a quick 7-0 lead.
The Laker defense then forced California to punt in its first possession but the Vulcans defense rose to the challenge in Mercyhurst’s second drive, recording a three-and-out series.
That set up a short field for California after Josh Gumbert returned
Andrew Schuler’s punt to the Mercyhurst 38-yardline. Six plays later, Vulcans quarterback Josh Portis hit AJ Jackson for a four-year yard reception that knotted the score near the end of the first quarter.
From there, the Mercyhurst offense could not keep momentum. Schuler punted on the Lakers next two drives and Laffey was intercepted on the next drive.
Meanwhile, the Cal offense started to slowly gain energy, adding a 58-yard touchdown strike from Portis to Moore before Shawn Johnson charged in from the 1-yardline to give the Vulcans a 21-7 halftime advantage.
Portis finished with 242 yards on 15-of-24 passing while Moore recorded five catches for a game-high 141 yards.
Counterpart Laffey threw for 66 yards, completing 9-of-23 passes for a touchdown and two interceptions. Reserve quarterback
Travis Rearick also saw action, completing 7-of-11 passes for 35 yards and two interceptions.
Tight end
Josh Szeluga recorded a shared-game high nine receptions while
Ben Jennings added his second 100-yard rushing game of the year, carrying the ball 22 times for 102 yards.
Defensively,
Julius McCormick and
Ian Wild paced the Lakers with seven tackles while
Bryan Boyce added five tackles and two fumble recoveries. Wild also added a forced fumble while
Ryan Taylor recorded his first career interception.
Next up for the Lakers is the regular season finale at West Chester on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.