Indiana at California
In what easily may be the game of the week in the PSAC, the No. 6 Vulcans welcome the No. 14 Crimson Hawks to Adamson Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
Indiana enters the game after a 42-0 shellacking of Lock Haven. The Crimson Hawks (3-0) have outscored their opponents 131-6 this season.
The Crimson Hawks offense is powered by its run game. The team is second in rushing yards per game with 325.
Senior Harvie Tuck has led offense, rushing for 465 yards and five touchdowns this season. Redshirt freshman Montay Green had added 218 yards and three touchdowns.
The Indiana passing attack has been 122.3 yards per game.The total is the second lowest in the PSAC – better than only Lock Haven (116.3).
Senior Pat Smith has completed 19 of 36 passes this season for 260 yards and three touchdowns. His top target has been junior Tyler Dummermuth with 123 yards and a touchdown.
The Vulcans come into the game off a 24-14 road win over Edinboro last week.
While Indiana’s offense likes the run, California prefers the pass. The Vulcans are averaging 331 yards through the air, the fourth best average in the conference.
Senior Peter Lalich has led the high-octane offense, throwing for 995 yards and eight touchdowns in the opening three games of the season. He has also thrown six interceptions.
Lalich’s top targets have been junior receiver Mike Williams (341 yards and three touchdowns), junior receiver Nadir Brown (150 yards and two touchdowns) and senior tight end Blake Williamson (149 yards).
Senior Lamont Smith has led the Vulcans rushing attack, going for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
The Indiana defense has been the best of the PSAC in ever imaginable category – scoring defense (2.0 ppg), rushing defense (29 ypg), passing defense (121 defense) and total defense (150 ypg).
Senior defensive back Johnny Franco leads Indiana in tackles with 14 with two for a loss. Senior defensive lineman Carl Fleming has added 13 – including 2.5 for a loss.
The Vulcans defensive strength comes against the run as they are second in the PSAC, surrendering 77 ypg.
Senior defensive back Greg Cochrane leads the defense with 23 tackles and an interception. Junior defensive lineman Darnell Harding has added 22 tackles – 4.5 for a loss – and a sack.
Indiana leads the all-time series 58-24-2 but California has won the previous five encounters. The Vulcans won last season’s showdown, 28-10.
Prediction: California 34, Indiana 28
Seton Hill
- Last week: fell to Shepherd, 42-6.
- This week: at West Virginia Wesleyan, 12 p.m.
After a loss in their WVIAC opener, the Griffins (0-3) travel south to Buckhannon to take on the winless West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcasts.
The Bobcats enter the game following a 33-16 loss in the WVIAC opener to West Liberty.
The offense is led by quarterback Nate Montana. The senior has completed 40 of 90 passes through three games for 394 yards and two interceptions. He has thrown for two touchdowns and ran for another.
Montana’s top targets in the passing game are senior receiver Donte Boston – 13 receptions for 145 yards and one touchdowns – and senior tight end Stephen Cambell – 12 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Malcolm Yowk is the Bobats with 33 carries for 98 yards.
West Virginia Wesleyan is averaging just 16 points per game – better than only Fairmont State (12 ppg) and Seton Hill (14 ppg) in the nine-team WVIAC.
The defense is led by senior linebackers Jesse Robertson – 35 tackles and 1.5 sakcs – and Jake Leninsky – 27 tackles and one sack. The defense has given up 101 points so far this season.
The Bobcats won last season’s encounter, 34-10.
Prediction: West Virginia Wesleyan, 21-14.
Slippery Rock
- Last week: defeated Gannon, 38-18.
- This week: at Mercyhurst, 1 p.m.
The Rock (2-1) will make the trek up I-79 Saturday to take on the Mercyhurst Lakers in PSAC-West action.The Lakers (2-1) enter the game after a PSAC-West opening win against Clarion, 22-14.
Merychurst’s offensive success will be dictated by its running game. Redshirt freshman Brandown Brown-Dukes has led the Lakers rushers with 409 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Allen Jones II has added 256 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Anthony Vendemia has completed 29 of 61 passes for 490 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. The junior’s top targets have been Devyn Woods – 142 yards and three touchdowns – and Paris Bruner – 120 receptions and two touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Keith Polson leads the Lakers in tackles with 29.
Sophomore linebacker has added 27 tackles and one sack.
After giving up 59 points in a season opening loss to Notre Dame College (Ohio), the Mercyhurst defense has tightened up and given up only 21 points over the last two wins.
The all-time series is tied 2-2 with the road team never getting a win. The Rock won last season’s game, 17-16.
Prediction: Slippery Rock 35, Mercyhurst 24
Photo Credits: Cal U
