Football Falls To No. 4 California (Pa.), 40-13, In Home Opener
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 11, 2010) – C.W. Post registered two touchdowns in the first quarter but it could not contain California University's offense in a 40-13 loss in the Pioneers' home opener Saturday afternoon on Hickox Field.
California (Pa.) improves its overall record to 2-0 while C.W. Post drops to 1-1. The Pioneers will host Mercyhurst College next Saturday at 1 p.m.
C.W. Post came out strong in the first quarter, scoring the first touchdown of the game at 11:37 when sophomore wide receiver Grayson Laurino (Manhasset, N.Y.) caught a four-yard pass from senior quarterback Erik Anderwkavich (Queens, N.Y.).
The Vulcans evened the score minutes later in the next series when senior quarterback Josh Portis (Woodland Hills, Calif.) connected to sophomore tight end Blake Williamson (Houston, Pa.) for a two-yard shovel pass in the end zone at 8:42.
C.W. Post kept up the game's momentum and added another score in the very next drive when sophomore running back Thomas Beverly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) bulldozed his way into the end zone from the Vulcans' 2-yard line. The Pioneers, however, could not add onto the score on the point-after after a muffed snap forced holder R.J. Kuhn (Sayville, N.Y.) to pick the ball up and attempt a conversion. Kuhn was pushed out of bounds just short of the end zone.
The lead did not stick for the Pioneers as the Vulcans as Portis completed a 36-yard pass to junior receiver Derrick Jones (Lynwood, Calif.) with 2:57 left to play in the first quarter to put the visitors ahead, 14-13.
C.W. Post gained position on its own 42 after senior defensive back Juma McKenley (Bronx, N.Y.) rushed the return back for 27 yards. But drive ended on 1st-and-10 on the Vulcans' 46 when Anderwkavich's pass attempt was picked off by junior defensive back Shawn Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
In the second quarter, the Vulcans recorded a safety after tackling Laurino in the endzone. They scored on their next two drives, first with an 18-yard touchdown rush from sophomore defensive back Lamont Smith (Penn Hills, Calif.) at 8:12 followed by a two yard rush from Portis at 3:29.
The Pioneers made a strong charge down the field with under only seconds on the clock and attempted to get within field goal range as Anderwkavich fired a 21-yard completed pass to sophomore wide receiver Sean Persch (Gap, Pa.) at the Cal U. 17-yard line. But time expired on the clock before the kicking team got on the field.
California (Pa.) led 26-13 at the half.
The Pioneers struggled on offense in the third quarter as they fumbled on two straight drives. The Vulcans capitalized on the first fumble when they recovered it on the CWP 47 and eventually scored on a 1-yard run from Lamont at 7:01.
Trailing 40-13 in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers gained possession at 12:45 and quickly started moving the ball down the field. Anderwkavich aired out a 60-yard pass to redshirt freshman receiver Kyle Hardy (Matawan, N.J.) who caught the pass in the end zone, but the play was called back on a holding penalty against the Pioneers.
Cal U. finished the game with 408 offensive yards, including 285 rushing. C.W. Post measured 248 yards with Anderwkavich accounting for 135 on completions.
Beverly completed the game with 74 rushing yards on 17 carries and one TD. Senior receiver Darnel Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and redshirt freshman Joe Botti (Holtsville, N.Y.) each had 30 reception yards.
On defense, sophomore linebacker Ty Booth (Kingsland, Ga.) led the game with 11 tackles (5u,6a) and junior inside linebacker Billy O'Connor (Sayville, N.Y.) added 10 (5u, 5a) for the Pioneers.
For the Vulcans, Smith registered 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Portis added 138 passing yards with two touchdowns.
Junior defensive back Erik Harris (New Oxford, Pa.) led the tackle unit with eight stops (6u, 2a).