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From IUP Sports Information
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – A 21-game regular season win streak came to an end for No. 2 IUP football Saturday night as the Crimson Hawks fell to rival California (Pa.), 36-24, in the 10th annual Coal Bowl at Adamson Stadium.
The Vulcans outscored IUP 26-10 in the second half, putting the game away with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Lamont McPhatter with 4:45 to play in the game. He was named the Coal Bowl Most Valuable Player.
It was the third straight win for the Vulcans, who improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. IUP is now 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the division.
Cal improves to 7-3 in Coal Bowl games and has won seven straight home games over the Crimson Hawks dating back to 2008.
The loss also ended IUP’s 12-game division win streak. The Crimson Hawks’ last regular season loss came at Cal, 31-28 on October 8, 2016.
IUP raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, putting together a pair of 11-play drives that combined for 164 yards. Junior running back Samir Bullock scored the first touchdown from 1-yard out and senior quarterback Lenny Williams Jr. put the Crimson Hawks on top by double-digits with a 3-yard score.
The Vulcans used a strong passing attack to get back in the game, scoring a touchdown at the end of the first quarter before adding a field goal midway through the second as IUP took a 14-10 lead to the locker rooms.
Cal intercepted Williams on the Crimson Hawks first drive of the second half, capitalizing with a touchdown to take a 17-14 lead.
That score was quickly matched as freshman Qashah Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to put IUP back on top 21-17. It marked the first time since 2012 (Pat Brewer, 92 yards) that an IUP player returned a kickoff for a touchdown. It was the third longest kick return in program history.
Cal answered with a 4-play, 56-yard drive to take a 24-21 lead. It was one of three scoring drives by the Vulcans that consisted of six or fewer plays.
The Crimson Hawks seemingly retook the lead on their next possession, as Williams hit freshman tight end Grant Smith for a 22-yard touchdown on 4th-and-2, but an ineligible player downfield penalty negated the play and IUP settled for a 44-yard field goal by Dillon Sarka.
It was the second such penalty for the Crimson Hawks, also wiping out a 46-yard reception earlier in the game. IUP came into the game as one of the least penalized teams in the nation, but was flagged 10 times for 91 yards in the loss.
The Vulcans took the lead with a touchdown at the end of the third, but the point after was blocked by the Crimson Hawks to keep the Cal lead at 30-24.
Midway through the fourth the Crimson Hawks took advantage of a poor Cal punt, driving down to the Vulcans’ 5-yard line after a 12-yard pass from Williams to Smith. Two plays later, however, McPhatter jumped Williams’ pass to the end zone and iced the game with his return.
