Box Score Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – California (Pa.) DB Rontez Miles blocked a punt and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Josh Portis threw for a career-high 202 yards and two TDs to lead Cal to a 30-23 victory over No. 21 West Chester Saturday afternoon at John A. Farrell Stadium.
West Chester (1-2) stormed out to a 10-0 lead with 5:43 left in the opening frame with the offense moving the ball efficiently down the field on Cal’s (1-2) defense. However, momentum in the game shifted on Miles’ punt block that he brought back for a score and the Golden Rams never recovered.
West Chester’s offense had its chances. Twice, the Golden Rams had to settle for a field goal on drives that included a 1st-and-goal. Sophomore place-kicker Chris Hill nailed three of four field goal attempts on the day, hitting from 32 yards in the first quarter and twice from 19 yards – once in the second and again in the fourth. He hit the right upright from 38 yards late in the second quarter.
The Vulcans mustered just 88 yards of total offense in the first half with 79 of that coming on the team’s final drive of the half that culminated in a 36-yard TD strike from Portis to Chedrick Cherry. A muffed snap on the extra point resulted in a block, and Cal went into the locker room tied at 13-all, despite being outplayed thoroughly.
Junior RB D’Andre Webb ran for a game-high 66 yards and scored twice on just 11 carries. He gave the Rams a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive when he scampered 32 yards right up the middle for a TD.
The visitors took their first lead of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter when the Vulcans traveled 47 yards on six plays in just under three minutes to take a 20-13 advantage.
West Chester answered with a 12-play, 68-yard drive capped by Webb’s second touchdown of the day on a 2-yard run off left tackle.
Unfortunately for the purple & gold faithful taking in the Golden Rams’ home opener, Cal went 68 yards on 10 plays as Freddie Bacco (15 carries, 51 yards) scored from 9 yards out to give Cal the lead for good.
West Chester marched 79 yards on 14 plays in a little over seven minutes, but had to settle for a field goal when Brian McDermott was dropped for a loss on 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line on his only carry of the game.
Cal got a 23-yard field goal with two minutes left in the contest that pushed its lead to 30-23. West Chester’s final attempt to even the score ended on a fourth-down incomplete pass at its own 44-yard line with 39 seconds remaining on the clock.
Senior QB Joe Wright finished 24 of 44 for 234 yards and threw one interception. Classmate Steve Miller caught six passes for 71 yards.
West Chester outgained Cal, 390-283 for the game, and held possession of the ball for 22 of the 30 minutes in the first half, but were tied at 13-13 at the break.
T.J. Cascio led West Chester with eight tackles. Mike Dell had seven stops. Cal’s Anthony Roberts led all tacklers with 10. Dontey Brown finished third on the team with seven tackles, despite playing just the first two WCU series’.
The Golden Rams hit the road once again next Saturday when they open up PSAC East play at Millersville for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
