Mercyhurst Game Notes
California (Pa.) Game Notes

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CALIFORNIA, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University football team will play its final conference game of the season on Saturday, November 9, when the Lakers travel to California University of Pennsylvania for a showdown with the Vulcans. Kickoff from Adamson Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

The Vulcans lead the overall series 3-2-0 over Mercyhurst, but the Lakers earned a resounding 40-7 victory over California last season at Tullio Field, which gave Mercyhurst a share of the PSAC West regular season title. It was California's worst loss to a PSAC opponent since 2003 when it lost to Shippensburg 35-0. It was also Mercyhurst's largest margin of victory against a nationally-ranked opponent - shattering the previous record of 10 points against then #3 California back in 2010. The Lakers won that game 31-21 over the Vulcans.

The Lakers (5-4, 3-3 PSAC West) need one victory over the last two weeks of the season to assure themselves a winning record for the second consecutive year. It would be the first time since the 1991 and 1992 seasons, under head coach Jim Chapman, that Mercyhurst had back-to-back winning campaigns. The 1991 squad posted a 5-4-0 record while the 1992 team went 5-4-1. Prior to that, Mercyhurst had winning seasons from 1983 to 1989 under head coaches Tony DeMeo and Ken Brasington.

Last week, Mercyhurst earned a 19-6 victory over visiting Edinboro on Senior Day at Tullio Field. The Lakers used a smothering defense, allowing the Fighting Scots just 148 yards of total offense and just 51 yards rushing on 38 carries. The 51 yards allowed on the ground were the fewest allowed by the Lakers since last season's 38-29 win at Gannon on October 13 - the Golden Knights had 11 yards rushing in that contest. The 148 yards allowed were the fewest given up since allowing 123 yards to C.W. Post on September 17, 2011 - a 34-7 win.

Over the last seven quarters, Mercyhurst has allowed just 270 yards of total offense to IUP and Edinboro.

Redshirt sophomore Brandon Brown-Dukes left the game in the second quarter with an injury, but the depth of the Lakers' running game paid huge dividends. Despite losing the reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year, senior Allen Jones II rushed for 148 yards - his third 100-yard game of the season, and redshirt sophomore Richie Sanders added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the win. As a team, the Lakers ran for 266 yards against the Fighting Scot defense.

Brown-Dukes' status is questionable for Saturday's contest at California.

Senior defensive lineman Dustin Galich was named the ECAC Division II Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Lakers with 11 total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for a loss. He needs one tackle over the last two games to become the 28th player in school history to record 200 career stops. He leads the squad with 51 total tackles this season.

The Vulcans (6-3, 4-2 PSAC West) enter Saturday's contest with one of the stoutest defenses in the conference. California has given up just 150 points in nine games this season (16.7 per game), and 35 of those came in last Saturday's 35-17 loss to Slippery Rock. The Vulcans also allow just 325 yards of total offense per game to opponents all season, despite giving up 521 yards to The Rock last Saturday.

California is also a perfect 4-0 at Adamson Stadium this season while the Lakers are just 1-3 away from home.

Jeff Knox, Jr. leads the Vulcan ground attack with 507 yards and five touchdowns this season. As a team, California averages just 121.7 yards rushing per game, while the Lakers, in comparison, average 238.7 on the ground - second in the PSAC.

Cody Schroeder and James Harris have split time at the quarterback position nearly right down the middle. Schroeder is 85-of-151 for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns while Harris is 73-of-143 for 1,061 yards and eight scores. Mike Williams is the favorite target - he has caught 46 passes for 697 yards and four touchdowns.

Defense, as it has the past two weeks for the Lakers, should again be the name of the game on Saturday. The Vulcans allow 325 yards per contest while the Lakers allow just 337 yards per game to its opponents. Dewey McDonald leads the Vulcans with 73 total tackles, two interceptions, and nine passes defended. Meanwhile, keep an eye on Cal's playmaker on defense - BJ Stevens. He had 51 total tackles (third on the team) and leads the Vulcans with 6.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.