The biggest test for a promising University of California football team comes Saturday in the form of Indiana.
The Crimson Hawks are ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II, have an undefeated record and feature one of the best 1-2 punches in the running game of any team in the division.
Plus, it’s the Coal Bowl game, which adds to the aura.
Rankings and tags aside, it’s Cal vs. Indiana, and that alone makes the game worth watching.
“I love all the PSAC Western Conference games,” Cal head coach Gary Dunn said. “They are all rivals for us. Anytime you get to play the defending conference champion, you look forward to it.
Turnovers will be key in determining which teams win. Cal’s true freshman quarterback Noah Mitchell threw four interceptions in last week’s win over Edinboro and can’t experience a similar situation if the Vulcans hope to win this game.
“We trust him in some of the mistakes he made,” Dunn said. “He has to develop, like any player. Every week he learns a little more.
Defense will be essential to the result.
Cal needs a similar effort from safety Lamont McPhatter II, who is off to an exceptional start to the season.
McPhatter had two interceptions and an 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown last Saturday as the Vulcans earned a 40-35 victory over previously undefeated Edinboro. He also made seven tackles, including five solo tackles. McPhatter’s fumble return for a touchdown was his third career score. Two of them were intercepted in 2017.
McPhatter has three interceptions, a fumble recovery and a quarterback sack in four games this season.
“It’s always a good week, a fun week,” said McPhatter, a transfer from Ball State. “They like to run the football. We must stop them. I am an aggressive player. I like defense because you can hit people.
Dunn said there was no difference between a Tuesday practice and a Saturday game for McPhatter. He goes hard all the time.
“We tell our guys to fight for every play on the field,” Dunn said. “(McPhatter) is a great example of that. The ball seems to find him because he plays hard.
Cal’s defense will have to deal with IUP’s vaunted rushing attack, particularly running back Samir Bullock and quarterback Lenny Williams. The two totaled 433 yards and three touchdowns. Williams passed for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Obviously it’s a big game because it’s Cal, but it’s also a big game because it’s next,” IUP head coach Paul Tortorella said. “I’d be lying if I said Cal was just a normal game, but we’re trying to stay on track and worry about the next game.”
Tortorella said Cal is a much better team than the 2-2 record indicates.
“The first two games on the road against really good competition, they could have won those games very easily,” he said of losses to Ohio Dominican and Kutztown.
Kick-off is 6 p.m.
Waynesburg to Thiel
Kick-off: 3 p.m., Saturday
Nothing brightens the outlook more than a victory.
The week seems to go by faster, practice seems easier and attitudes change.
Just think about what a long winning streak would mean. Waynesburg can do that by beating the Tomcats in this Presidents’ Athletic Conference game. That would mean two wins in a row and move out of the basement in the standings.
Waynesburg rallied from a 7-0 deficit with a 10-point fourth quarter against Geneva last week.
“We fought until the end,” Waynesburg head coach Chris Smithley said. “It was a good win for us. We came back in the fourth quarter and I was really proud of our kids.
Smithley said Waynesburg (1-2, 1-3) needed to take advantage of opportunities during the game.
“It took us a little less than three quarters to finally get it done,” Smithley said.
Smithley has turned to Tyler Perone to be the team’s quarterback, and he will get the nod against Thiel. Jake Dougherty, who played a lot early in the season, could also see action.
“We prepared some things for him,” Smithley said. “Perone is going to take most of the shots.”
Thiel (0-3, 0-4) has rushed for just 11 yards this season while allowing 1,074.
Wash & Jeff in Bethany
Kick-off: 2 p.m., Saturday
The W&J Air Show lands this week in Bethany, Virginia, looking for a fifth straight victory to start the season and a third straight in the Presidents Athletic Conference.
Quarterback Jacob Adams and receiver Andrew Wolf have produced eye-popping numbers thus far and Bethany (2-1, 2-2) has posted respectable defensive numbers. Adams passed for 1,167 yards and 15 touchdowns. Wolf was Adams’ favorite receiver, catching 27 for 711 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Bethany is allowing just 113 rushing yards per game and 119 passing. Although this series has been lopsided in favor of W&J, the game is still emotionally charged and hard fought.
Bethany’s offense depends on its running game, with fullback Raekwon Wright and quarterback Carlin Bason combining for 553 yards and four touchdowns.
