Seton Hill looked to make it two PSAC West wins in a row as they made the short trip down Interstate 70 to take on California at Hepner Bailey Field.  Seton Hill led throughout most of the contest but California scored the final 14 points of the contest to escape with a 38-34 victory.  SHU falls to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in PSAC West play. 
 
The Griffins took the opening kickoff and drove all the way to the Cal 25 yard line but was forced to turn the ball over on downs after failing on a fourth and five play.  The defense then forced a three and out from Cal on their first possession.  After a SHU three and out, Cal drove 12 plays and 51 yards and had to settle for a 27 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.  SHU found the end zone on their next drive.  A big play on the drive was a 21 yard pass from Christian Strong to Jarvis McClam.  Two plays later Strong hit Eric Brown with a 24 yard TD pass to take a 7-3 lead with 33 seconds to play in the first quarter. 
 
SHU then forced another Cal punt on their next possession and drove 76 yards in 12 plays to take a 14-3 lead.  The big play on a drive was a 25 yard pass to Brown.  Khalil Howard capped the drive with a 1 yard TD run with 9:04 to play in the quarter.  After forcing another three and out by the Vulcan offense the Griffin offense marched 60 yards in five plays for another touchdown.  Strong hit Norman Darden with a four yard TD pass to increase the SHU lead to 21-3 with 2:30 left in the half.  Seton Hill took the 21-3 lead into the halftime break. 
 
California took the opening drive of the second half and went 65 yards in 4 plays to cut the SHU lead to 21-10 early in the third quarter.  SHU answered with a field goal drive to build the lead back to 14 points.  Strong hit McClam with a 35 yard pass to get the ball to the Cal three but three straight incompletions ended the drive and Jesser Boulnemour hit from 20 yards to put SHU ahead 24-10.  Cal came right back with a 7 play, 58 yard drive to trim the lead to 24-17 with 8:19 left in the third quarter.  The Griffins built the lead back to 14 points after a 69 yard bomb from Strong to Ardell Brown gave SHU a 31-17 lead with 6:03 to play.  Cal just took two plays to find the endzone on their next drive and SHU led 31-24 with 5:29 to play in the third.  SHU held the 31-24 lead after the third quarter. 
 
On the third play of the fourth quarter, Boulnemour hit from 21 yards out to build the SHU lead to 34-24.  Cal then went on a 90 yard, 11 play drive to cut the lead to 34-31 with 9:43 to play in the game.  SHU then went three and out on their next drive and Cal scored on a 37 yard TD pass to take a 38-34 lead with 7:12 to play.  SHU then turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, giving Cal the ball at the SHU 34 with 6:15 to play in the game.  Phillip Moreland intercepted a pass to stop the Cal drive, giving the Griffins the ball at their own 13 yard line.  Strong hit Darden for 16 yards on a 4^th and 9 play.  On the next play he hit McClam for 14 yards to get the ball into Cal territory.  Strong then hit Ty George on a 4^th and 2 to get to the Cal 21.  After an incompletion and sack, Strong was picked off on a third down pass at the Cal goal line with 28 seconds to play.  Cal then took a knee to end the contest.
 
Christian Strong finishes 44-65 for 473 yards and 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.  The 44 completions tie a school record held by Andrew Jackson vs IUP in 2014.  His 473 yards are also the second most thrown for in a game in school history. Jarvis McClam finishes with 15 catches for 179 yards.  McClam's 15 catches also ties a SHU single game record.  Josh Falatovich led the defense with 11 total tackles. 
 
Seton Hill will host Indiana (PA) next Saturday at 3 PM.