Bloomsburg Athletics

CALIFORNIA, Pa. — The Bloomsburg football team's defense delivered another outstanding performance Saturday afternoon, holding California (Pa.) to just 169 yards of total offense and 42 yards rushing, but a late fourth-quarter touchdown lifted the Vulcans to a 7-6 victory over the Huskies in the 2026 regular-season finale at Adamson Stadium.
 
Bloomsburg (7-4) controlled the tempo for much of the afternoon, holding California (Pa.) (8-3) scoreless through the first three quarters while building a 6-0 advantage behind two field goals from Patrick Kashynski. The Huskies' defense limited the Vulcans to just 3.1 yards per play and forced seven punts, but California broke through with the game's only touchdown in the final 90 seconds.
 
The defensive effort capped an impressive season for Bloomsburg, which finished 7-4 overall and 4-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division play. The Huskies allowed just 274.2 yards and 20.5 points per game during the 11-game campaign, including only 86.1 rushing yards per contest.
 
Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) led the defensive charge with a game-high 10 tackles, including seven assisted stops, while Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) added nine tackles. Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) continued to disrupt opposing backfields with four tackles, two tackles for loss, a seven-yard sack and two quarterback hurries. Zay Pusateri (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg South) added five tackles and two pass breakups, while Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) recorded an interception.
 
The Huskies' defensive front was particularly effective against the run, holding California to just 42 yards on 20 attempts, an average of 2.1 yards per carry. The Vulcans managed only four rushing first downs, and their longest rushing play covered eight yards.
 
Bloomsburg's offense established an early rhythm with a methodical 14-play, 54-yard possession that began late in the first quarter and consumed 8:08 off the clock. The Huskies steadily moved downfield before Kashynski connected on a 43-yard field goal with 13:48 remaining in the second quarter, giving Bloomsburg a 3-0 advantage.
 
The defense continued to keep California off the scoreboard throughout the first half, allowing the Huskies to carry their three-point lead into the locker room.
 
Bloomsburg's defense and special teams helped create another scoring opportunity early in the third quarter. The Huskies took possession deep in California territory and advanced the ball to the Vulcans' 14-yard line before Kashynski converted a 31-yard field goal with 10:38 remaining in the period. The four-play, six-yard possession extended Bloomsburg's lead to 6-0.
 
The Huskies maintained their advantage through the remainder of the third quarter and much of the fourth, continuing to frustrate the California offense with disciplined tackling and pressure at the line of scrimmage.
 
California finally broke through with 1:18 remaining in regulation when quarterback Sam Stoner connected with Damar Olds on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Harry Radcliffe converted the extra point to give the Vulcans their first lead of the afternoon, 7-6. The scoring possession covered 39 yards in six plays and took 2:08 off the clock.
 
Bloomsburg finished with a 198-169 advantage in total offense and dominated time of possession, controlling the football for 37:10 compared with California's 22:50. The Huskies also held a 134-42 advantage in rushing yards.
 
Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) led Bloomsburg's ground attack with 62 yards on 11 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, and added two receptions for 23 yards. Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) contributed 45 rushing yards on 16 carries, while quarterback Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) added 22 yards on the ground.
 
Etheridge completed 14 of 30 passes for 64 yards. Alex Achenbach (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) led the receiving corps with six catches for 16 yards, while Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) added four receptions for 13 yards.
 
Cole Richards (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) provided another strong special teams performance, averaging 42.3 yards on six punts, including a season-long 58-yard effort. Kashynski was perfect on his two field goal attempts, connecting from 43 and 31 yards.
 
The season-ending numbers further underscored Bloomsburg's defensive consistency. According to the PSAC's 2026 overall statistics, the Huskies finished second in the conference in total defense and rushing defense and sixth in scoring defense.
 
Garcia finished the season as Bloomsburg's leading tackler with 94 stops, including seven tackles for loss and two interceptions. Booker registered 76 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and a team-leading seven sacks, while Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) collected 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Together, Booker and Donohue accounted for 29 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, anchoring a defensive unit that recorded 21 sacks and 11 interceptions.
 
The Huskies also finished among the PSAC's most effective defenses in critical situations, limiting opponents to a 35% third-down conversion rate across the season.
 
Offensively, Clancy finished with a team-leading 894 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 202 carries, averaging 81.3 yards per game. Wolfe paced the receiving corps with 39 catches for 520 yards and five touchdowns, while Achenbach contributed 42 receptions for 405 yards.
 
Bloomsburg's seven victories included a 27-21 road triumph over nationally ranked Shepherd, a 20-14 Homecoming victory over Millersville and a 22-15 overtime win against West Chester. The Huskies finished 4-2 away from home and won both of their overtime contests.
 
Despite Saturday's heartbreaking finish, Bloomsburg concluded the season 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC East, finishing third after being selected to finish fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bloomsburg held California to 169 total yards, including just 42 rushing yards on 20 carries.
- The Huskies finished with a 198-169 advantage in total offense and held the ball for 37:10.
- Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) registered 10 tackles, bringing his season total to 94.
- Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) recorded two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries, finishing with 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the season.
- Louden Murphy (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) blocked a third-quarter punt, setting up Bloomsburg's second field goal.
- Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) recorded his second interception of the season.
- Patrick Kashynski connected on field goals of 43 and 31 yards.
- Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) led Bloomsburg with 62 rushing yards and finished with 104 all-purpose yards.
- Cole Richards (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) averaged 42.3 yards on six punts, including a 58-yard effort.
- Bloomsburg finished the season second in the PSAC in total defense and rushing defense and sixth in scoring defense.
- The Huskies held opponents to less than 100 yards rushing in eight of their 11 contests.