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October 6, 2007
California returned two interceptions for touchdowns and Joe Ruggiero threw a pair of scoring passes as part of a 28-point fourth quarter as the Vulcans pulled away from IUP for a 38-12 PSAC West victory at Miller Stadium. California, ranked 11th in the American Football Coaches Association poll, is 6-0 for the first time since 1958 and is 2-0 in the PSAC West. IUP, ranked 18th by the AFCA, lost its first game of the season and dropped to 4-1 and 1-1 in the division. California defeated IUP for only the second time in the past 23 meetings and the sixth in the last 45 matchups. The Vulcans led only 10-6 through three quarters but scored twice in the opening 1:45 of the final stanza to build a 24-6 advantage. Terrence Johnson intercepted an Andrew Krewatch pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Joe Ruggiero followed with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Moye on the first play after the turnover. On IUP's ensuing possession, Johnson made his second interception of the quarter and brought it back 47 yards to give California an 18-point lead. The Vulcans scored 24 of their 38 points off IUP turnovers. The Crimson Hawks got their final touchdown of the game when Krewatch hit Dan Pickens on a four-yard score with 3:14 left to make it 24-12. The onside kick was recovered by California, and the Vulcans tacked on two late touchdowns on a 31-yard pass from Ruggiero to Nate Forse and a 72-yard interception return by Dionte Henry. Ruggiero completed 11 of 18 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns. His 23-yard scoring connection with Forse with 3:40 left in the second quarter gave California a 10-6 lead it would never relinquish. Brandon Lombardy led a 144-yard California ground game with 88 yards on 26 carries. Ruggiero added 39 yards on eight attempts. Moye grabbed four receptions for 56 yards and Forse had three for 58 yards. After compiling 170 yards of total offense in the first half and scoring on field goals of 22 yards by Craig Burgess and 21 yards by Matt McNelis, the second giving IUP a 6-3 lead with 8:47 left in the second quarter, the Crimson Hawks were held to only 40 yards in the second half until their final scoring drive. IUP finished with 291 total yards to 284 for the Vulcans. Krewatch completed 21 of 50 passes for 253 yards, with his attempts total two shy of the equaling the school record set by Scott Woods against Clarion in 1992. Pickens led all receivers with eight catches for 66 yards. IUP ran for only 38 yards against a California defense that led the nation with an average of 28.0 rushing yards against through its first five games. In addition to the three interceptions, the Vulcans also sacked Krewatch three times, including one each by Briah Mohr, Gary Butler and Willie Walker. California entered the game leading the country in sacks with 26. Cosie Spigelemeyer led all tacklers with 10 for IUP. Anthony Guerra had the Crimson Hawks' lone sack. IUP plays host to Edinboro next Saturday in its Homecoming game beginning at 2 p.m. California is at Lock Haven for a 2 p.m. kickoff. |
