#21/19 BLOOMSBURG (1-0, 0-0 PSAC) vs. CALIFORNIA (PA) (1-0, 0-0 PSAC)
Saturday, September 13, 2014 - 2:00 p.m.
Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium
FAN INFORMATIONGAME COVERAGESERIES HISTORY- Series Record: BU leads 13-8-2
- Streak: BU W-2
- First Meeting: Cal won, 6-0 at home in 1928
- Last BU win: 28-26, 2010 NCAA Playoffs at Cal
- Last CAL win: 27-24, 2008 NCAA Playoffs
- Largest BU win: 26-12 at home in 1957
- Largest CAL win: 42-14 at Cal in 1972
- BU Record at Home: 8-2-1 / Road: 5-5-1 / Neutral: 0-1
RELATED LINKSÂ
-Bloomsburg has won 14 straight home openers since 1999.
-Saturday's game is the 24th meeting all-time between BU and Cal. The Huskies are 13-8-2 all-time vs. the Vulcans and 8-2-1 at home.
-BU and Cal have not met since the 2010 NCAA Division II Playoffs when the Huskies scored a first round win on the road, 28-26.
-No PSAC team allowed fewer points in Week 1 than the seven surrendered by the Huskies in a 24-7 win at Stonehill. Gannon also matched that mark in a 23-7 victory over Southern Connecticut State.
-The Huskies turnover margin of +5 after one week is good for third in the nation. Only Ohio
Dominican and Notre Dame (OH) rank higher within Division II (+6).
-Bloomsburg won the time of possession battle at Stonehill 33:19-26:41 including 19:38-10:22 during the second half.
THE GAMEPerennial powers from the PSAC East and West meet on Saturday when the Huskies welcome California (PA) to Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium. This time, though, the matchup means a little extra as the crossover contest will count toward the PSAC divisional standings. The PSAC adopted a new rule for 2014 with mandated conference matchups in all sports counting toward the division standings. In past years, crossover games were considered "non-conference" games.
While the Huskies have had a long run at the top of the Eastern Division, the Vulcans have been dominant in the Western Division. Saturday's game pairs the top PSAC's two winningest programs over the last 15 years – Bloomsburg has scored 132 victories since 2000 while Cal is next in line with 114. Only IUP (111) and West Chester (103) have also eclipsed the 100-win mark over that time period.
Both teams recorded wins in Week 1 – while Bloomsburg made the eight-hour trip for a 24-7 win at Northeast-10 member Stonehill, California stayed at home and defeated CIAA member Virginia State, 33-24.
SERIES HISTORYThe Huskies and Vulcans first met in 1928 and have played 23 more times since then with Bloomsburg owning a 13-8-2 all-time series lead. Conference scheduling rules have kept the two teams apart during the regular season since 2009 when Bloomsburg won at Cal, 17-7, in Week 2. The schools met again in the 2010 NCAA Division II Playoffs with the Huskies again coming away victorious, 28-26, at Adamson Stadium. Cal has not made the trip to Redman Stadium since 2008 when the Huskies won, 24-17.
NUMBERS TO KNOW> 5 - The five turnovers caused by the Huskies defense were the most since forcing Edinboro into five turnovers in Week 2 last season (a 47-35 BU victory).
> 7 - Seven Huskies made their first career start in Week 1 at Stonehill.
> 12 - Number of 100-yard rushing games from senior
Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) with BU. He rushed for 105 yards last week vs. Stonehill in his return to the program after sitting out 2013.
> 14 - Bloomsburg has won 14 straight home openers since 1999.
> 33 - The Huskies have reached 100 yards rushing as a team in 33 straight games dating to Week 3 of the 2011 season vs. IUP. Bloomsburg has reached 200 yards rushing in 32 of those games, with the game vs. Shippensburg last year being the only exception.
> 131 - Years of combined service on the Bloomsburg coaching staff among all current staff members.
> .668 - The winning percentage for the Huskies all-time in 40 seasons at Redman Stadium (139-68-4).
ABOUT CALIFORNIA (PA)> Cal was selected second in the PSAC West Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning three first-place votes
> It is the first year since 2005 that Cal did not earn at least a share of the top spot in the PSAC West preseason polling
> The Vulcans finished 2013 with a 7-4 record and tied for third in the PSAC West for the second consecutive year
> Return 13 starters including preseason All-American candidates in senior center Jack Abercrombie and senior punter Andrew Cerett
> Four starters that combined to miss only one start on the offensive line last year return this fall (Abercrombie, Jeremy Seaman, Tyler Peerson and Mike Price), but are young at wide receiver where they replace all three starters from last year
> Senior kicker Cody Nuzzo is the school's all-time leader in PATs and field goals attempted and is tied for the school record for career field goals made (32) after kicking four last week, a new Vulcans record
> Senior Jeff Knox Jr. is now playing linebacker, but led the team in rushing last year and has also played in the secondary
LUCKY SEVENLast Saturday marked the seventh time in head coach
Paul Darragh's head coaching tenure that the Huskies have allowed 14 points or less.
IN ELITE COMPANYThe run of success for the Huskies over the past 15 years is nearly unparalleled in college football. Bloomsburg has won seven or more games in 15 consecutive seasons – a streak that is impressive at any level. Only four schools in the divisions of NCAA (FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III) have a longer streak of seven or more victories – Florida State and Virginia Tech in the FBS; Northwest Missouri in Division II and Mount Union in Division III. The 15-year streak is also a PSAC record, surpassing the previous mark of 13 straight years set by IUP from 1984-1996.
MOVIN' ON UPBloomsburg jumped forward in both national NCAA Division II polls this week, advancing three places to No. 21 in the AFCA poll while leaping six spots to No. 19 in the D2Football.com rankings.
ROOKIES DEBUT UP FRONTThe Huskies had a different look than in previous years when they debuted Week 1 at Stonehill as three players made their first collegiate starts on the offensive line.
Christian Whiteside (Broomall/Marple Newtown) (LG),
Nick Reed (Dallastown/Dallastown) (RG) and
John Garland (Hatfield/North Penn) (RT) all started for the first time, helping pave the way for the Huskies to finish with 211 yards rushing and the line also did not allow a sack.
FINLEY MAKES MOST OF OPPORTUNITYDamin Finley (Elkins Park/Milford Academy) made the most of his first career start in Week 1 at Stonehill. Starting in place of senior D.J. Robinson at cornerback, Finley caused two turnovers – first he delivered a forced fumble and fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage by the Skyhawks. Later in the first quarter, he made a nifty tip and interception on a deep ball attempt from Stonehill. He finished the game with a career-high seven tackles.
WINNING VS. THE WESTBloomsburg has been dominant in PSAC crossover contests over the past 15 years. Since 1999, the Huskies are 43-14 vs. PSAC West teams and are 23-5 against Western foes at Redman Stadium.
WELCOME BACK EDDIERunning back
Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) made his return Week 1 at Stonehill after returning to school for his senior season after sitting out last year due to personal reasons. Mateo shook off the rust by rushing for 105 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. Listed third on the Huskies depth chart, Mateo was the "hot hand" at Stonehill, earning the most carries out of the Bloomsburg running back stable.
THIS TIME THEY COUNTUnder new rules adopted by the PSAC for this season in all sports, all mandated conference matchups will count toward divisional standings. As such, the Huskies PSAC crossover contests against Western Division members California (PA) and Mercyhurst will go toward BU's PSAC East standings. The lone exception will be the final week of the season - the PSAC slate ends the season with a week of crossovers including the PSAC Championship Game, but those games will not count toward the divisional standings as the title game will be set following the penultimate week of the season.
Â
