INSIDE
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSIT Y K-9 Unit Presentation
PAGE 4
This Week in Photos
PAGES 6 & 7
Politics
PAGE 8
Football Picks
PAGE 11
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
VOL. 33, NO. 5
Vulcans defeat IUP in Coal Bowl
photo by: Matthew Kaminski Saturday, September 22, sophomore kicker Cody Nuzzo scores the game-winning 30 yard field goal with only 3.5 seconds to spare in the Coal Bowl.
By Jose Negron for the Cal Times
I guess it would be easy for me to say that the game this past Saturday between the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks and the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans was the best Cal U football game I have ever witnessed. It’d be easy because, well, it was the first one I had ever witnessed. It was a hard fought game between two rival Division II schools that did not disappoint. The No. 6 Vulcans defeated No. 14 IUP 26-24 in the fourth annual Coal Bowl on Saturday, September 22 at Adamson Stadium. It wasn’t an easy victory for the Vulcans. They started the scoring five minutes into the game after a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Peter Lalich to Junior wide receiver Mike Williams gave Cal a 7-0 lead. The Crimson Hawks scored ten points in the first half, while the Vulcans added ten more points on another TD pass from Lalich to junior running back RJ Thomas and a field goal from sophomore kicker Cody
Nuzzo to take a 17-10 lead into halftime. “At the half I felt we were playing well,” said Vulcans Head Coach Mike Kellar. “We were moving the ball and our defense was doing well. I knew it would take all four quarters. We tried to make a couple adjustments and go out and play even better in the second half.” The Crimson Hawks battled back to tie the game at 17 early into the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown run from senior running back Harvie Tuck. IUP then took a 24-17 lead on an eight-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Mike Box to junior wide receiver Pat Brewer. With IUP up 24-17 and trying to close out the game, the Crimson Hawks attempted a 30-yard field goal to put the score out of reach. The attempt missed, giving the Vulcans another chance to tie the game. It didn’t take very long for the Vulcans to get back into the game. The very next play was an 80-yard pass from Peter Lalich to junior wide receiver Nadir Brown for a Cal U score. Nuzzo missed the extra point after the
touchdown, which would have tied the game. However, Nuzzo would have a chance to redeem himself. The Vulcans, down 24-23 with 52 seconds left in the game, sat up for an onside kick. The kick from Nuzzo sailed about six yards down the field, was touched by an IUP player and was recovered by Vulcans senior defensive back Rontez Miles. The Vulcans sat up their final drive of the game at the IUP 44-yard line, then quickly completed three passes to get deeper into Crimson Hawk territory. The Vulcans reached IUP’s 13-yard line and a familiar face once again took the field. Nuzzo came back into the game and connected on a 30-yard field goal that put the Vulcans on top 26-24 for good. A game that started out fast for the Vulcans ended with thrilling events that led to a big victory over their rivals. “IUP is a good football team. Give them credit for making the plays,” said Kellar. “Fortunately for us we made the plays at the end and came away with a win. It was one of the most exciting finishes I have ever seen.”
Junior Trey Johnson was named Lippencott family MVP of the 2012 Coal Bowl, finishing with a career high 120 receiving yards on six receptions. Wiliams and Brown also played a role as major targets for Lalich, finishing with 143 and 128 receiving yards respectively. The No. 6 Vulcans improved their record to 4-0 (2-0) on the season, while the No. 14 Crimson Hawks dropped to 3-1 (1-1). The Vulcans return to PSAC action tomorrow against the West Chester Golden Rams.
COAL BOWL FACTS
- The yearly meeting between the two schools was given a name in 2009 - Since then, each school is 2-2
- The winning school receives the Coal Miner’s Pail Trophy, sponsored by the PA Coal Association.
TURN TO PAGE SEVEN FOR MORE PICTURES FROM CAL U’S WIN OVER IUP IN THE COAL BOWL
F O R N E W S , S CO R E S , A N D V IDEO ON DEMAND, VISIT THE C AL TIMES NEW S SITE ON-LINE - WWW.C ALTIMES.ORG