In its post game story, IUP's sports information department called the Coal Bowl loss to California "gut-wrenching." I can imagine it must have been. Losing to a rival in a battle of unbeatens is tough to take no matter how you look at it, but Saturday's loss was especially crushing for IUP. Coal Bowl IV was easily within their grasp, but four special teams plays in the final two minutes proved to be the difference.

The Crimson Hawks took their first lead of the day (24-17) with 6:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, California fumbled the ball back to IUP, as they approached the Crimson Hawks red zone. The Hawks were set up with a seven point lead, the ball, and a running game that had been pounding the Vulcans all afternoon. IUP set off on a drive with two objectives: 1) use up as much time as possible and 2) extend the lead to two scores. Their plan came so close to working to perfection. IUP methodically moved the ball into scoring position with a drive that consisted of ten straight running plays. The Crimson Hawks impressively ran five minutes off the clock in advancing to the Cal 13 yard line. Faced with a fourth and six, the Crimson Hawks lined up for a field goal attempt with 1:03 remaining. Three points would have sealed the game.

Much to the elation of the home crowd, the field goal attempt failed, leaving Cal with life. A little bit of life. The Vulcans still had 80 yards to go, and only 63 seconds to work with. But the Vulcans would need just one play. Peter Lalich connected with Nadir Brown for an 80 yard catch and run, closing the gap to a single point, with the PAT pending. Then the unthinkable happened. The extra point was no good. IUP retained a one point lead, and the Vulcans would have to attempt a last gasp on-sides kickoff. Remarkably, the Vulcans recovered the kick and took posession for one final drive. NOTE: because of a dead ball personal foul penalty on IUP following the touchdown, the kickoff was at midfield, instead of the 35 yard line. Thanks to the penalty, Cal's drive began at the IUP 44 yard line.

California was able to complete three passes and move into position for a field goal attempt with three seconds left. Keep in mind that the kicker would be the same one the just missed the game tying PAT a few minutes before. But with a second chance and the game on the line, Cody Nuzzo converted a 30 yard field goal giving the Vulcans a miraculous 26-24 victory.

Sports teaches us many lessons about life, and this was a fine example of that. You never know what twists and turns will come your way, and you never know when a negative can turn into a positive. The catastrophe that was a missed PAT actually helped the Vulcans win the game. Who knows what might have happened if that PAT been converted. Maybe IUP would have moved into scoring position and won it the last minute. Maybe it would have gone to overtime and IUP would have prevailed. But those scenarios couldn't happen because Cal was forced to find a different path to victory. And they did it.

It was a fantastic victory for California, and it clearly asserts them as the team to beat in the PSAC Western division. For IUP, it is a crushing defeat. They have to shake it off as soon as possible and focus on winning the rest of their games. It is highly unlikely that they will make it into the PSAC championship game, but they can still make it to the NCAA playoffs, and if they do, they could earn another shot at California.


Quick Notes from the remainder of the Week 4 schedule:


- Kutztown has been devastated with injuries and their season is quickly getting away from them. The PSAC championship and the post season are already off the table, but this is a proud team that can still salvage a winning season. I am sure they also still have memories of the 49-7 beat-down Shippensburg delivered to them last year...

-West Chester is back. The Golden Rams are 3-0 in Division II and their offense is humming beautifully with Mike Mattei under center.

-Lock Haven finally put some points on the board. They were still far short of victory, but they took some baby steps in the right direction.

-A driving rain storm in Erie may have been just what Clarion needed to help slow down Gannon's passing game. The Eagles played great defense in limiting Gannon to just 112 total yards of offense, but the rain appeared to hinder Liam Nadler's normally effective passing attack.

-Even after 400 games, there are still a few things Denny Douds had not seen or done with his Warriors football team. On Saturday, two different Warriors - Eric Deery (167 yards) and Kendrick Williams (151 - )rushed for more than 150 yards.

-Mercyhurst might be the biggest remaining obstacle in California's way.

-LIU Post held a 27-21 lead on Bloomsburg in the fourth quarter, and even had an opportunity to extend it to two scores. But the Huskies responded the way championship caliber teams do. Twenty one unanswered points in the final period propelled the Huskies toa 42-27 victory.

-I'm running out of superlatives for Shippensburg's offense. Sadly, I'm also running out of ways to sugar coat how bad Millersville is.

The PSAC goes back to cross-over action this Saturday. Later in the week, we'll take a look at the full schedule. Questions, comments and complaints can be sent to me at chuck.bitner@d2football. Don't hesitate to add comments to the blog as well.