Gary Dunn does not usually plan on Davis Black running the football often.
With their California team facing a critical third-and-goal play from Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s 3-yard line in overtime Saturday afternoon, though, Dunn said he was informed his offensive playbook had suddenly shrunk.
“Davis wanted the football,” said Dunn, now in his ninth season as the Vulcans coach, of his quarterback. “We don’t run him a ton, but we have three designed [quarterback] runs in our offense. He wanted any three of the designed runs to be called in that situation.”
Davis got his wish.
The quarterback rewarded his coaching staff by scampering into the Adamson Stadium end zone untouched for a 3-yard touchdown run to put the finishing touches on a 16-13 overtime victory against IUP in the 15th annual Coal Bowl and lock up California’s first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division title since 2016.
It was the Vulcans’ first overtime game since falling to Slippery Rock in 2017.
“I just trusted the five up front,” Black said. “They did a heck of a job. I walked in. We couldn’t have drew it up any better, but, yeah, I definitely did want the ball in that situation.
“I’m just glad my coaches trusted me.”
California’s coaching staff, though, almost never got that chance.
A controversial call by the officials on a blocked field goal in the game’s waning seconds gave California (7-1, 5-0) second life and another chance to knock off IUP (5-3, 2-3) and earn its seventh consecutive victory since its season-opening loss to then No. 23 Charleston, W.Va.
Trailing, 10-7, with just under 15 seconds left in regulation, Vulcans kicker Anthony Beitko, a McKeesport product, lined up for a potentially game-tying field-goal attempt, which was blocked by IUP.
The officials concluded, however, because the ball did not cross the line of scrimmage, California senior lineman Nashawn Jackson was able to recover the fumble and advance it past the first-down chains for a game-saving first down.
Beitko responded by then drilling a 39-yard field goal through the uprights with five seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 10-10 and send the game to overtime.
“I knew the rule, and I told my offensive coordinator get a play call ready to go because we only had, I think, 12 seconds at the time,” Dunn said. “I said, ‘Get a play ready to go.’ I was concerned that they were going to overturn it. When crazy things happen late in games sometimes you don’t know.
“I know the rule,” he added. “I knew it was our ball. I knew our kid made a head’s up play and got a first down, but that’s the Coal Bowl. Two years ago here we lost on a heartbreaker.”
In the immediate aftermath of the game, IUP coach Paul Tortorella said he wasn’t sure the officials made the correct call.
“I’d have to see the video to see where they got the ball and so forth,” he said. “I’ve never seen that before. Usually you block it, it goes obviously the other way a bunch or it goes over the line of scrimmage and you get away from it. It just kind of popped up in the middle into a big blob of the linemen.
“I don’t know, [the officials] said they fielded it behind the line and moved forward for a first down.”
Tortorella said he believed Jackson recovered the football on his team’s side of the line of scrimmage, which should have meant a dead ball and game-ending turnover on downs for California.
“It’s crushing,” Tortorella said. “We deserved to win the game.”
It was the third such loss for IUP, which fell to rival Slippery Rock, 33-32, when a last-second field-goal attempt by the Crimson Hawks fell short Oct. 5 before dropping a tough 27-23 decision to Edinboro the following week.
“We’re probably about two plays and an official’s call at Edinboro from being undefeated,” Tortorella said.
For much of Saturday’s game, both team’s defenses controlled the flow.
California scored the only points of the first half on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Black to wide receiver Eric Willis III with 13:24 left in the second quarter.
IUP first got on the scoreboard with a 35-yard field goal by Nick Andrasi in the third quarter before a lengthy drive in the fourth quarter put the Crimson Hawks ahead for the first time.
After stopping California on a fourth-and-goal play from inside its own 5-yard line, IUP drove 96 yards on 17 plays in 11:26 to take a 10-7 lead following a 2-yard touchdown run by running back JD Younger.
“We were running it, mixing it, throwing, great execution, grit, you name it,” Tortorella said. “We did a little bit of everything, but mainly we were running the ball effectively and wearing them down.”
The Crimson Hawks rushed for 129 yards, led by 65 on 17 carries from Younger, while quarterback Karst Hunter was held to just 100 yards and an interception by Vulcans defensive back Rashan Murray, who is an Obama Academy product.
Davis, meanwhile, threw for 142 yards and rushed for 39.
Willis caught five passes for 88 yards, while running backs Eric McKan III and Bobby Boyd Jr., a McKeesport graduate, paced the California rushing attack.
McKan rushed for 54 yards and Boyd added 46 for the Vulcans, who racked up 144 yards on the ground as a team.
Davis said California’s defense was the difference maker, which held down IUP a week after handing then No. 6 Slippery Rock its first loss of the season in a 28-7 decision at Adamson Stadium.
“I’m really happy with the guys today,” Davis said. “The defense played outstanding. The defense should have won the MVP today to be honest. They gave up 10 points in four quarters with multiple turnovers.”
California will have a bye week next weekend but returns to action with its PSAC West finale against Edinboro in two weeks.
Davis said he is poised to lead the Vulcans back to the NCAA Division II postseason.
“We’ve got bigger dreams than just the West and the PSAC championship,” he said. “Those are two huge things. I know they mean a lot to people around here, and it means a lot to me too, but I’m worried about the playoffs, and I want to see this team in the playoffs hopefully with a home game to be honest.”
Duquesne improves to 3-0 in Northeast Conference
Quarterback Darius Perrantes completed 25-of-34 passes for 412 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, while JaMario Clements rushed for 108 yards and a score, to lead Duquesne to a 48-34 victory against Stonehill Saturday afternoon in a Northeast Conference game at W.B. Stadium in Easton, Mass.
NEC first-place Duquesne (5-2, 3-0) rushed out to 31-6 halftime advantage against Stonehill (1-6, 0-3) before hanging on for the victory.
John Erby caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns for the Dukes, while Joey Isabella caught eight passes for 118 yards and score. Perrantes also connected with Jermaine Johnson and Shawn Solomon Jr. for 36 yards and a touchdown apiece.
Robert Morris shuts out Saint Francis to keep pace atop NEC
Robert Morris held Saint Francis to just 130 yards of total offensive en route to earning a 17-0 win in an NEC contest Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon.
Bethel Park product Anthony Chiccitt threw for 197 yards to pace Robert Morris (5-3, 3-0), which knocked off Saint Francis (2-6, 0-4) to keep pace with Duquesne atop the NEC standings.
Tyvon Edmonds Jr. carried the football 12 times for a game-high 69 yards and a touchdown for the Colonials, and Ethan Shine added a 1-yard touchdown run of his own.
Robert Morris kicker Jayson Jenkins, a Gateway product, also made a 43-yard field goal.
No. 15 Grove City rebounds with rout of Thiel
Quarterback Logan Pfeuffer threw for 211 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 15 Grove City to a 59-7 rout of Thiel at Robert E. Thorn Field in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference contest Saturday afternoon after having its school-record 16-game regular-season winning streak snapped a week earlier.
Standout wide receiver Scott Fraser, a Knoch product, caught seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wolverines (6-1) passing attack against the Tomcats (1-6), while Seth McGroerty caught an 82-yard scoring strike and Daniel Sullivan added a 26-yard touchdown reception.
Grove City linebacker Ben Bladel — a Moon product and NCAA Division III sack leader in 2023 — also caught a 5-yard touchdown pass. He also had two tackles and two sacks on defense.
Running back Nico Flati, a West Allegheny product, rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown and Ian Demeri, a Penn-Trafford graduate, rushed for 15 yards and a score.
No. 18 Carnegie Mellon dominates Saint Vincent
No. 18 Carnegie Mellon racked up 569 yards of total offense and limited Saint Vincent to just 67 yards Saturday afternoon en route to a 69-7 rout of the host Bearcats at Chuck Noll Field in Latrobe.
Quarterback Ben Mills led the Tartans (6-1) with 251 yards and three touchdowns through the air against Saint Vincent (1-7).
Carnegie Mellon running back Willem Bouma rushed for 67 yards and three touchdowns, while Giacomo Valente added 18 yards and a score on the ground.
Wide receivers Will Squibb and Dominic Voiland were also strong in the Tartans passing attack. Squibb caught five passes for 92 yards and a score, Voiland added three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Carter Sheets and Matt Evert also caught touchdown passes.
No. 21 Washington & Jefferson stays hot with blowout of Bethany
Thomas Jefferson product Jacob Pugh, NCAA Division III’s leading passer, completed 11-of-13 passes for 263 yards, four touchdowns and one interception to lead No. 21 Washington & Jefferson to a decisive 48-7 PAC victory against Bethany, W.Va., Saturday afternoon at Cameron Stadium in Washington.
Pugh was certainly in sync with wide receiver Jacob Macosko, a Peters Township graduate, who caught seven passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver John Peduzzi also caught two passes for 73 yards and a score for W&J (7-1) against Bethany (0-7) and Anthony Rosati also added a 10-yard scoring strike.
Running back Owen Petrisek, a Bentworth graduate, rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown, while Andrew Sharp also added 33 yards and a score.
Presidents defensive lineman Dawson Dietz, a Hampton graduate, also recorded nine tackles and three sacks and Franklin Regional product Justin Johns added two sacks.
Westminster hands Case Western its first loss
Freshman kicker Andrew Caranna made a 21-yard field goal with 7:02 left in the contest to account for Westminster’s only fourth-quarter points Saturday night, as the Titans held off Case Western Reserve, 17-14, at Harold Burry Stadium in New Wilmington.
Moon product Ty McGowan threw for 153 yards and an interception to lead Westminster (6-1) to the critical victory and hand Case Western (6-1) its first loss of the season.
Titans running back Ryan Gomes carried the ball 21 times for 88 yards and a touchdown to pace his team’s rushing attach, while Seneca Valley product Sean O’Shea tacked on 26 yards and a score.
Case Western quarterback Alex Fromber threw for 252 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His long scoring strike was an 11-yard pass to Ethan Dahlem, an Upper St. Clair graduate.
Dahlem finished with a team-high seven catches for 78 yards.
Waynesburg holds off Allegheny for third win in four games
Junior running back Zayne Cawley rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, and added six catches for 112 yards and another score, to help Waynesburg hold off a feisty Allegheny Saturday night for a 44-41 PAC victory at Fuhrer Field in Meadville.
Carmichaels graduate Tyler Richmond caught five passes for a game-high 143 yards, while Southmoreland product Isaac Trout and Sekye Miles added a touchdown each for Waynesburg (3-4) against Allegheny (1-7).
Yellow Jackets quarterback Samuel Barber threw for 355 yards, four touchdowns and an interception to outduel his Gators counterpart Trevor Brncic, a Franklin Regional product, who racked up 306 yards and three scores with two interceptions.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.