IUP 20, California 9
October 19, 2002
Miller Stadium ** Indiana, Pa.
Elice Parker rushed for 92 yards and all three touchdowns to lead IUP to its
seventh straight victory, a 20-9 victory over California in a Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference West game Saturday afternoon at Miller Stadium.
IUP, ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region and 10th in the
American Football Coaches Association national poll, is now 7-1 overall and
3-0 in the PSAC West. The Vulcans dropped to 5-2 and 1-2 in the division.
The Indians played the entire second half without starting quarterback Brian
Eyerman, who sustained a concussion in the second quarter.
Eyerman was injured on Parker’s second touchdown run of the game with 9:17
remaining in the first half. He stayed in the game for the remainder of the
half before giving way to backup Kevin Weidl for the final 30 minutes.
Despite missing the second half, Eyerman set a new IUP career record for
passing yardage. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 70 yards, giving him 7,402
in his career. Eyerman entered the game tied for the school record with Tony
Aliucci, who played at IUP between 1988-91. The game marked the first time
in 14 contests that Eyerman failed to throw a touchdown pass.
Carmelo Ocasio led the IUP receivers with three catches for 52 yards but saw
his 11-game streak with at least one touchdown reception come to an end.
Wesley Clemons rushed 19 times for 100 yards for California, which lost to
IUP for the 18th straight time dating back to the 1985 season. Dustin
Strayer completed 19 of 36 passes for 238 yards, including 10 to Garvin
Graves, good for 132 yards. Dedric Anderson added three catches for 70
yards.
IUP scored twice in the first half to take a 14-0 lead at intermission. Neal
Wood forced a Graves fumble on California’s first possession of the game, and
Trent Jones recovered at the Vulcan 39. The Indians covered the distance in
six plays, with Parker scoring from the three for a 7-0 IUP lead with 11:17
left in the first quarter.
The lead grew to 14-0 on the strength of a seven-play, 90-yard drive that was
highlighted by a 41-yard run by fullback Justin Spence and a 27-yard completion
from Eyerman to Ocasio. Parker went in from the two with 9:17 remaining
before halftime.
California marched 55 yards, with Strayer connecting with Graves on a 36-yard
gain, to reach the IUP one late in the second quarter. But Strayer fumbled on
a second and goal play, and Andrew Battle recovered to keep the Vulcans off
the scoreboard.
The defenses dominated throughout the third quarter, with California finally
putting points on the board on a 25-yard field goal by Gary Amos with 1:07
left in the period. The 45-yard scoring drive was sparked by a 43-yard pass
from Strayer to Anderson.
IUP then put the game out of reach when Mike Howard picked off a Strayer pass
and returned it to the California 38. Two plays later, Parker ripped off a
28-yard touchdown run to give IUP a 20-3 lead with 6:41 left in the game.
California tacked on its lone touchdown of the game with 2:53 left on a
10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard scoring pass from Strayer
to Graves. Kris Griffin recovered the ensuing on-side kick for IUP, and the
Indians were able to run out the clock.
Spence gained 71 yards on nine carries for IUP while Weidl hit on 4 of 7
passes for 72 yards in his reserve role. Battle led the IUP defensive effort
with 10 tackles and three sacks while Kevan Scott had a pair of sacks among
his 17 total tackles for California. The Vulcans outgained IUP 333-289 on
the day.