Vulcans claim first victory
Davis Black ran for three touchdowns and threw for another in a 38-28 win at West Chester.
Davis Black ran for three touchdowns and threw for another in a 38-28 win at West Chester.
The California (Pa.) football team picked up its first win of the season Saturday with a 38-28 victory at West Chester.
Senior quarterback Davis Black accounted for four touchdowns, including three rushing scores.
The Vulcans (1-1) scored on the opening possession of the game on Eric McKan III’s 1-yard touchdown run. McKeesport native Anthony Beitko added a 20-yard field goal to make it 10-0 early in the second quarter.
After the Golden Rams scored with 5:44 to go in the half on a Jayden Williams 4-yard run, the Vulcans ended the half with two scores in the final 1:06 of the half.
Black wrapped up a fourplay, 74-yard drive with a 1-yard run. When West Chester (0-2) got the ball back, Cooper Jordan’s pass deep down the field was intercepted by Alexie Sangster. He returned it 34 yards to the Golden Rams’ 41.
With eight seconds remaining in the half, Black connected with Eric Willis III on a 39-yard touchdown strike.
The Vulcans scored the only points in the third quarter as Black scored on a 3-yard run to make it 31-7.
The Golden Rams added a pair of touchdowns in the first nine minutes of the third quarter to cut the Vulcans’ lead to 31-21, but Black stole the momentum back for the Vulcans as he escaped for a 60-yard touchdown run with 5:20 remaining.
The Golden Rams added a touchdown with 51 seconds remaining for the game’s final score.
Black finished the game 15 of 24 for 248 yards and a touchdown. He added eight carries for 73 yards on the ground.
McKeesport’s Bobby Boyd Jr. ran for 95 yards on 16 carries before leaving the game with an injury. McKan had 69 yards on 12 carries.
Willis had three catches for 109 yards and a score.
The Vulcans finished with 511 yards of total offense, 263 on the ground.
Defensively, the Vulcans allowed only 76 yards rushing and 269 through the air, many late in the game. Clairton graduate Dom Solomon Jr. tied for the team high with eight tackles and a sack. John Hutchinson had eight tackles as Khalil Taylor and Armani Caraballo each added sacks.
Cooper completed 20 of 34 passes for 269 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Vulcans are back in action Saturday when they travel to Lock Haven for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
