California (PA) 57, Cheyney 0

September 15, 2007

California junior RB Brandon Lombardy rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns to lead the 15th-ranked Vulcans (4-0) to a 57-0 non-league football victory at Cheyney (0-3) Saturday.

It was also the largest margin of victory in a Cal shutout since late in the 1949 season, when Cal beat Bethany 65-0. The win was the 13th-straight for the Vulcans vs. Cheyney and the 36th under six-year head coach John Luckhardt, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on Cal’s career wins list.

The Vulcans start the season with four wins for the second time in six seasons under Luckhardt. Cal opened the 2002 campaign with four wins before finishing with a 6-5 overall record.

Lombardy rushed for TDs of five and six yards in the first half, then cruised a season-longest 54-yard TD run on the first play of the second half to give Cal a 34-0 lead. It was the 13th time in the last 15 games Lombardy reached the century mark in rushing, and he raised his career TD total to 33, third-highest in Cal history.

Soph. PK Tyler Lorenz added a pair of first-half field goals and combined with Fr. Kevin Hagerman to convert all seven PAT kick attempts.

Sr. WR Jermaine Moye (20-yard pass), RB Freddie Bacco (1-yard run), Daine Williams (2-yard run) and RB Windell Brown (55-yard run) also contributed TDs for the Vulcan offense.

The Cal defense held the Wolves to 90 yards total offense, including minus four net rushing yards. The Vulcans also recovered four of Cheyney’s five fumbles, with three leading to touchdowns.

Sr. LB Gary Butler had one of Cal’s two sacks, a five-yarder in the third quarter for a safety. Jr. DL Kirby Griffin led the Vulcans with five tackles, including a sack, another tackle for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass break up.

Cal drove 66 yards on its opening possession for a 7-0 lead. The Vulcans then took advantage of excellent field possession, starting five of the next six possessions inside Cheyney’s 33-yard line, to build a 24-0 lead with 10:27 left in the second quarter.

After Lombardy’s sprint down the right sideline on the first play of the second half gave the visitors a 34-0 lead, Cal added Butler’s safety and three more TDs to put the gam'e out of reach.

The Vulcans now get a week off to prepare for their next outing, a Sept. 29 meeting with PSAC West rival Clarion at Hepner-Bailey Field at Adamson Stadium. It will be Family Day and Take-A-Kid-To-The-Game Day at California, and the Clarion contest will be broadcast statewide on SPORTSfever TV (3 p.m. kickoff).