CALIFORNIA — Anthony Saunders had seen enough.

Slippery Rock University’s senior cornerback stepped in front of a Cody Schroeder pass at The Rock 17-yard line, coming up with an interception that preserved SRU’s 28-26 college football upset win over 13th-ranked California (Pa.) at Adamson Stadium on Saturday.

The play stifled a furious Vulcan fourth-quarter rally. SRU (5-4, 4-2) took a 28-13 lead into the final frame.

“They had been throwing out patterns along the sideline against us all day,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “Anthony snuffed it out and jumped the route.

“I guess they went to the well once too often.”

Saunders made the theft despite playing with a broken hand and a huge cast and wrapping over that arm.

“He’s pretty much been playing with one arm,” Mialik said. “He went up, pulled down the ball with his good arm and cradled it against his chest.

“The best word to describe Anthony Saunders is competitor.”

The takeaway was the only one by The Rock all day. SRU had a pair of punts blocked — one recovered for a touchdown — and quarterback Nigel Barksdale lost three fumbles. One of those was returned 31 yards for a score by Rontez Miles. Another cost SRU possession inside the Cal 10-yard line.

“We have to protect the football better, but Nigel had a great game and the ball was slippery out there,” Mihalik said.

Much of the game was played in a steady rain.

Barksdale rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown. He threw for 283 yards and a TD, as well. Being dragged down while delivering the ball, Barksdale lofted a 4-yard scoring toss to Andrew Bridgeforth with 11 seconds left in the first half.

“He continues to pile up yardage for us,” Mihalik said. “If not for the problems in our punt game, we might have blown them out today.”

SRU scored on its final possession of the first half and on the first possession of the third quarter to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead.

Brett Crenshaw had two short rushing touchdowns for The Rock, which built that 28-13 advantage. But California (7-2, 5-1) valiantly fought back in the final quarter.

Cody Schroeder threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams on fourth-and-goal to cut SRU’s lead to 28-20 with 14 minutes left. Schroeder completed a pass on fourth-and-10 earlier in the drive.

The Vulcans converted a number of third-and-long and fourth-down plays on the day.

“That was frustrating,” Mihalik admitted.

Ja’wan Bryant blocked a James McCombie punt and Jeff Knox Jr. recovered the ball in the end zone with 7:06 to play. Cal’s two-point conversion pass failed and SRU was clinging to a 28-26 lead.

The blocked punt was the Vulcans’ second of the day. The first one resulted in a first-and-goal at the Rock 2-yard line in the second quarter. SRU’s defense stiffened and Cody Nuzzo’s 25-yard field-goal attempt hit the right upright.

Despite missing the two-point conversion, Cal wasn’t done. Following a punt, the Vulcans took possession at their own 29 with 1:58 to play. Aided by a personal foul penalty and three pass completions, Cal reached the SRU 21-yard line.

On second down, Saunders produced his interception, returning the ball 13 yards to preserve the win.

“Our defense was spectacular today,” Mihalik said. “Teams get into our red zone, but we don’t let them score. That’s the way those guys have played.”

Quindell Dean paced The Rock with 11 tackles, Saunders adding eight. SRU won its third game in a row.

“There’s always a win at some point that jump-starts a particular team,” Mihalik said. “This might have been ours today.

“These guys have always believed they could play with the best in the West. Today, they proved it.”

The Rock rushed for 185 yards despite leading rusher Akeem Satterfield missing the game with a hip injury.

SRU hosts Lock Haven at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU 28, California 26

Slippery Rock 7 7 14 0 — 28

California (Pa.) 3 7 3 13 — 26

SRU C

22 First Downs 21

54-185 Rushes-Yards 31-89

283 Passing Yards 224

15-22-0 Comp.-Att.-Int 23-46-1

468 Total Yards 313

3-3 Fumbles-Lost 0-0

7-61 Penalty Yards 13-88

First Quarter

C — Cody Nuzzo 42 field goal, 6:35

SRU — Nigel Barksdale 9 run (Kurt Brackman kick), 3:39

Second Quarter

C — Rontez Miles 31 fumble return (Nuzzo kick), 12:13

SRU — Andrew Bridgeforth 4 pass from Barksdale (Brackman kick), :11

Third Quarter

SRU — Brett Crenshaw 2 run (Brackman kick), 11:48

C — Nuzzo 21 field goal, 5:24

SRU — Crenshaw 4 run (Brackman kick), 3:53

Fourth Quarter

C — Mike Williams 2 pass from Cody Schroeder (Nuzzo kick), 14:00

C — Jeff Knox Jr. recovered blocked punt in end zone (pass failed), 7:06

Individual Statistics

Rushing: SRU, Nigel Barksdale 26-119, Brett Crenshaw 11-36, Jimmy Zubik 12-28, Jaimire Dutrieuille 3-16, TEAM 2-(-14). Cal, Lamont Smith 15-55, Cody Cook 11-27, Jeff Knox Jr. 4-8, TEAM 1-(-1).

Passing: SRU, Nigel Barksdale 15-22-283-0. Cal, Cody Schroeder 23-46-224-1.

Receiving: SRU, Jaimire Dutrieuille 5-96, Ken Amos 3-69, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 2-37, Jimmy Zubik 2-16, John Schademan 1-49, Bobby Joyce 1-12, Andrew Bridgeforth 1-4. Cal, Mike Williams 8-66, Trey Johnson 6-55, Kowan Scott 5-73, Cody Cook 2-21, Lamont Smith 2-9.