SevenPeat: Seniors deliver share of West Crown

By Will Moore – Sports Writer

The California Vulcans entered Saturday afternoon’s Senior Day matchup against the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University wondering who would spark the team to a crucial division win while still searching for an fifth consecutive NCAA playoff berth.

The Vulcans would find that spark from the very players that were being honored at Adamson Stadium, defeating Edinboro 34-28, while earning a share of the PSAC-West title for the seventh consecutive season and advancing to fourth in the latest NCAA Super Region 1 Rankings.

Senior defensive lineman Thomas Mulabah tied career highs by recording nine tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss, setting the all-time school record in that category with 33, while helping to stifle an Edinboro rushing attack that could only muster 37 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Meanwhile, senior defensive back Patrick Swearinger patrolled the secondary, collecting his sixth-career interception to set-up a Peter Lalich touchdown pass to Mario Washington.

While it was a day to honor the senior class, Juniors Peter Lalich and Lamont Smith helped propel the Vulcans to victory, with Lalich passing for 289 yards and three touchdowns while Smith rushed for 129 yards on 18 carries, setting him within 38 yards of 1,000 for the season.Following Saturday’s victory, California finds itself ranked 18th in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll while jumping to #16 in the D2Football.com poll. With their standing in the latest Regional Rankings, the Vulcans are in a position from which they would host a first-round NCAA playoff game.