Vulcans fall in close rematch with Frostburg State
CALIFORNIA ëƵ Unfortunately for the PennWest California football team, the rematch against Frostburg State wasnëƵt a replay of the game these two teams played a month ago.
The Vulcans came away with a five-point victory in a non-conference game that day.
On a cold Saturday afternoon, over a windswept field at Adamson Stadium, Frostburg got revenge for that loss, taking a 23-21 victory in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Unranked Cal finished the season with a 9-4 record while 24th-ranked Frostburg moved to 11-2 and will take on third-ranked Kutztown next week.
Harrison FritzëƵs 20-yard field goal with 4:06 to play provided the winning points.
ëƵWe just came up short,ëƵ said Cal head coach Gary Dunn. ëƵGive Frostburg State credit. People were writing us off two or three weeks ago but I couldnëƵt be prouder of this group.ëƵ
Cal made some critical errors in the second half, including the loss of a fumble that Frostburg turned into a touchdown that tied the score, 14-14, with 2:02 left in the third quarter. KJ Smothers scored on a 3-yard run to make it 20-14 as the extra-point attempt was no good.
Cal regained the lead, 21-20, when DëƵAvay Johnson pulled in the second of his two touchdown receptions. After FritzëƵs field goal, Cal drove to FrostburgëƵs 28-yard line. But Harry RadcliffeëƵs 45-yard field goal attempt was just short.
ëƵThe run game started working for them in the second half,ëƵ Cal strong safety Keith Charney. ëƵBut they made more plays than us.ëƵ
It took the Vulcans two plays to cover 93 yards and take a 14-7 lead at halftime.
Following a punt by Frostburg that gave Cal the ball at its own 7-yard line, the Vulcans needed just a 59-yard run by Kendrick Agenor to set up a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Roman Purcell to Johnson with 30 seconds left in the half.
Cal opened the scoring after recovering the second Frostburg State fumble in the first 6:35 of the first quarter. Southmoreland graduate DaëƵSjon Craggette bulled over from one yard out to cap a 62-yard, 11-play drive.
Frostburg evened the score with 4:43 left in the half when Cruiz Paul-Unstead caught a 7-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Brooks.
Cal saw another opportunity to score slip away when Radcliffe missed a 44-yard field goal with 10:31 left in the second quarter.
ëƵGetting a win, getting to a second-round game, we knew it was going to be a battle,ëƵ said Frostburg head coach Eric Wagoner. ëƵOur first half looked like the last time we played. We talked about stopping the turnovers. Cal capitalized on our mistakes.ëƵ
Purcell finished 15 of 28 for 196 yards while Agenor carried the ball 16 times for 121 yards. Johnson had four catches for 68 yards and two TDs.

