CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst football team dropped a 31-21 contest to California (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition on Saturday. The host Vulcans scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to earn their win

MU led by as many as 11 points before Cal charged back. The Vulcans recorded safeties and touchdowns on both offense and defense to account for 18 points in the final 9:42.

Quarterback Doug Altavilla finished 20 of 41 for 257 yards and one touchdown for Mercyhurst (4-5, 3-3) while his top target, wide receiver Brad Novak, had five catches for 107 yards and the TD.

Novak moved into fifth place all-time in Mercyhurst history for career touchdown receptions (13) and became the seventh receiver in Laker history to reach the 100-career reception mark. He now has 102 grabs.

For the Mercyhurst defense, defensive back Jake Tarasovitch had 11 tackles while linebacker Joseph Scro had another strong performance with 10 tackles, including 1 1/2 for-loss, and a forced fumble.

Defensive lineman Andrew Welton added two sacks and two forced fumbles and linebacker Austin Drew made a sack. Linemen Austin Brooks and Uwaila Omorogbe recovered fumbles.

Mercyhurst wasted little time in building a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter. After a 31-yard kickoff return by Cameron Thompson, the Lakers sprinted the rest of the way in three plays: Altavilla found Novak and running back Garrett Owens with passes of 41 and 11 yards, respectively, before a 16-yard run by Owens to paydirt put Mercyhurst ahead 7-0 just 1:13 into the ballgame.

On Cal's first possession, Welton recorded a sack and fumble, which Omorogbe recovered. Two plays later, Owens scored his second touchdown of the game from three yards out and Mercyhurst held a 14-0 advantage 2:37 into the contest.

After trimming its deficit to 14-3 on a 31-yard field goal by kicker Will Brazill, the Vulcans pushed back further on a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Keir to receiver Tom Greene with 6:09 remaining in the second quarter. That helped Cal pull within 14-10.

Altavilla connected with Novak on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:56 left in the second before another Brazill kick -- this one from 21 yards -- lessened Mercyhurst's lead to 21-13 at halftime.

That 21-13 score held until the fourth quarter when Altavilla was called for intentional grounding in the end zone with 9:42 left in the game. That safety pulled the Vulcans within 21-15.

Then, the next safety occurred with 3:10 to go in the game as a Laker punt was blocked before it was declared a safety. California was within 21-17.

After receiving the free kick, California traveled 36 yards in five plays, finishing with a Keir 7-yard run. That enabled Cal to take a 24-21 lead. Mercyhurst's next possession ended with a fourth-down interception that Cal's Todd Coles Jr. returned for a 32-yard touchdown return.

Mercyhurst's final possession ended with a turnover-on-downs as time expired.

Keir completed 24 of 43 throws for 208 yards. He accounted for the passing TD and his go-ahead rushing TD. Running back Jalen Bell added 22 carries for 92 yards and Greene made five receptions for 104 yards.

The Vulcan defense was led by linebacker Luke Hrapchak, who had 10 tackles, including one for-loss, and a forced fumble. Cameron Tarver had four tackles-for-loss

The Lakers will return to action with their final home game of the season when unbeaten Indiana (Pa.) visits Tullio Field for a 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 4.