Game Notes
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - For the first time in 21 years, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference will settle its champion on the field as No. 17 West Chester University faces off against No. 7 California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium on the campus of Cal University at 3:10 p.m. West Chester reached the championship game by virtue of its PSAC Eastern Division title while Cal won the Western Division.
The game will be televised live on FSN Pittsburgh those in the West Chester area with a satellite dish or Direct TV. Barnaby's on High Street in the borough will also be carrying the game at its establishment.
West Chester earned its 20th PSAC East crown with a 24-21 win over then-No. 4 Bloomsburg on the road one week ago that completed a perfect 7-0 campaign within divisional play. Cal also was a perfect 7-0 out West and clinched its title with a 17-6 victory on the road against Mercyhurst.
Now in its 75th season of crowning conference champions in football, the PSAC re-instated the “State Game” as it was referred to from 1960 until it was discontinued in 1987. West Chester appeared in the final two state games, dropping back-to-back decisions to Indiana (Pa.) in 1986 and 1987. Today will be the Golden Rams’ 14th appearance in 29-year history of the championship game. West Chester is 6-7 in its previous 13 showings.
The Rams have won at least a share of 12 conference titles and 11 outright crowns in its history. Since the loop went to divisional champions beginning in 1988, West Chester has added another seven titles to its credit. The 2008 campaign marked the Golden Rams’ second straight Eastern Division championship.
Cal is coming in off its third straight Western Division title. The Vulcans also have defeated the Rams in each of the last two meetings between the schools. Cal downed West Chester, 30-14, at Farrell Stadium last Nov. 3 and toppled the Golden Rams, 44-32, in the season opener this fall. West Chester leads the overall series, 4-2.
Cal brings an eight-game winning streak into the PSAC title game while West Chester has authored a seven-game win streak of its own heading into Saturday. The two preseason favorites have proven the prognosticators right and will decide the PSAC champion.
