California (PA) offense big in 44-0 win against Elizabeth City State

Vikings Held Scoreless For the First Time Since 2005; Ends Season at 8-4 Overall

CALIFORNIA, PA-California University of Pennsylvania used a big second quarter in route to a 44-0 shutout win over Elizabeth City State University Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.

The loss represents the first time ECSU has been held scoreless since September 24, 2005 when they dropped a 7-0 decision to Saint Augustine’s College at the Down East Viking Football Classic.

With the victory the Vulcans (10-2 overall) advance to a second round matchup next weekend with Winston-Salem State University at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.

For the Vikings their season ends at 8-4 overall and at their third trip to the NCAA playoffs in school history.

After an uneventful first quarter in which the Vulcans held a 7-0 lead, they exploded for 23 points in the second quarter, essentially putting the game away at halftime.  Cal’s offense didn’t miss a beat in the first half rolling up 339 yards, 242 of which came in the air. Lamont Smith, who converted a turnover on ECSU’s first drive into a 36 yard TD run for the game’s opening score, got his second rushing touchdown of the game from 5 yards out with 8 minutes left in the first half.

Quarterback Peter Lalich threw two passing scores in the first half, both to Thomas Mayo and a bad snap on an ECSU punt attempt sailed through the back of the end zone for a Vulcan team safety.

Mayo and Smith each got into the end zone for their third scores of the afternoon in the third and fourth quarters respectively for the final point spread.

The Vikings surrendered a season high 497 yards of offense while setting a new offensive low for the year with only 197 yards from scrimmage. Their best field position on the afternoon came in the opening quarter (third drive) after a 12 play 60-yard drive ended at the Vulcan 16 yard line. However Rickey Jarman’s 33-yard attempt was blocked. ECSU would get no closer than the Vulcan 36 yard line the rest of the way.