CALIFORNIA — This was not the mood Zack Newsock envisioned after putting together his first career 300-yard passing game.

Slippery Rock University's sophomore quarterback completed 32 of 54 passes for 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns Saturday against California (Pa.) at Adamson Stadium.

But Newsock could not get past four turnovers that proved costly in The Rock's 48-26 loss to the Vulcans. The defeat dropped SRU (5-1, 4-1) into a first-place tie with California (5-1, 4-1) and Indiana (Pa.) in the PSAC West.

“When you have four turnovers, it's hard to win,” Newsock said. “Especially at those points in the game ... I can't throw interceptions. I can't fumble.”

SRU trailed 28-10 when Newsock had a pass deflected just across the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Jawan Turner, who returned it 12 yards to The Rock 18. That set up a two-play touchdown drive with 2:34 left in the first half.

The Rock trailed 38-17 at halftime, but was driving on its first possession of the second half when Newsock was intercepted by Chaz Veal on a sideline route at the Vulcans' 17. The score was still 38-17 when Newsock lost a fumble inside the California 10-yard line with 5:04 left in the third quarter.

“We stayed in this game in the second half,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “We had plenty of time to get back in it. Just too many mistakes.

“Cal played great and we played our worst game of the year.”

And it wasn't all Newsock.

SRU surrendered 31 points in the second quarter. The special teams unit allowed a 74-yard kickoff return to Terrell Roberson — who took the ball to The Rock 11-yard line — moments afrer Newsock directed a 9-play, 76-yard drive that pulled SRU within 35-17.

The vaunted Rock running game managed only 66 yards on 33 carries. And receivers dropped a few passes.

“They were geared up to stop our run and plays were there in the passing game,” Mihalik said. “But you can't throw interceptions. You can't drop passes. We had trouble with the snap at times.”

California coach Mike Kellar admitted his defense was stacked up to control the run.

“SRU uses a zone running game we hadn't faced before,” Kellar said. “A lot of their offense is based on that running game. I wasn't sure how we would do against it.”

Shamar Greene was limited to a season-low 55 yards rushing and SRU became one-dimensional. Newsock's touchdown passes were 17 yards to Julian Durden and nine yards to Taishon Tucker.

The Rock rolled up 28 first downs and 436 yards offensively. But the Vulcans produced 500 yards, including 121 yards rushing by Nick Grissom.

“We couldn't stop them in the second quarter,” Mihalik said. “We had breakdowns in all three phases today — offense, defense, special teams.”

SRU had a few errant snaps while in the shotgun formation. Charged with six fumbles, The Rock lost only one.

“But we lost yardage at critical times,” Newsock said. “I have to catch some of those snaps.”

California quarterback James Harris threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns. He had a miserable game last year at Slippery Rock, completing just three of 21 passes before being lifted after the first half.

The Vulcans committed no turnovers Saturday.

“We played a clean game and when you do that offensively, you're going to be tough to stop,” Kellar said. “You can say that about any offense these days.”

Cal's Garry Brown caught a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter, had 105 yards receiving in the first half, and finished with nine catches for 111 yards on the day.

“He's just a stud. He goes up and gets the football,” Kellar said. “He's as competitive a player as I've ever been around.”

The Rock will look to get back on track Saturday at the “Big House” in Michigan, when it faces Mercyhurst at 1 p.m. The Lakers have won two straight games, including a 45-38 upsetof Gannon Saturday.

Notes: Harris has thrown 134 consecutive passes without an interception. ... California won its 10th straight homecoming game and snapped a three-game losing streak vs. SRU. The Rock leads the series 45-30-3. ... SRU's Mike Wainauskas booted a career-long 41-yard field goal in the first quarter. ... Isaiah Coleman and Marcus Martin had 10 tackles each while Butler graduate Bob Vernick had nine tackles for SRU. ... Rock right guard Kirk Nypaver suffered a leg injury and left the stadium on crutches.

Slippery Rock 3 14 2 7 — 26California 7 31 0 10 — 48SRU C28 First Downs 2033-66 Rushes-Yards 40-174370 Passing Yards 32634-58-3 Comp.-Att.-Int 19-35-0436 Total Yards 5006-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-04-29 Penalty Yards 6-66First QuarterC — Paul Butler 32 pass from James Harris (Cody Nuzzo kick), 11:27SRU — Mike Wainauskis 41 field goal, 2:49Second QuarterC — Nick Grissom 25 run (Nuzzo kick), 14:54C — Garry Brown 12 pass from James Harris (Nuzzo kick), 12:44C — Brown 5 pass from Harris (Nuzzo kick), 6:42SRU — Julian Durden 17 pass from Zack Newsdock (Wainauskis kick), 4:48C — Terrell Roberson 4 run (Nuzzo kick), 2:34SRU — Durden 2 run (Wainauskis kick), :45C — Nuzzo 24 field goal, :03Third QuarterSRU — California penalized for holding in end zone, safety, 5:04Fourth QuarterC — Nuzzo 23 field goal, 14:53SRU — Taishon Tucker 9 pass from Newsock (Wainauskis kick), 13:19C — Kowan Scott 33 pass from Harris (Nuzzo kick), 10:11Individual StatisticsRushing: SRU, Shamar Greene 13-55, Teddy Blakeman 5-24, Julian Durden 3-13, Brett Crenshaw 3-2, Zack Newsock 5-2, Josh Weakland 2-(-5), TEAM 2-(-25). California, Nick Grissom 21-121, Terrell Roberson 14-49, John Franklin III 3-5, Derrick Fiore 1-4, TEAM 1-(-5).Passing: SRU, Zack Newsock 32-54-368-3, Josh Weakland 2-4-2-0. California, James Harris 19-35-326-0.Receiving: SRU, Drew Scales 6-57, Shamar Greene 5-62, Jaimire Dutrieuille 5-51, Taishon Tucker 4-50, Nick Davis 4-24, Leroy McClain 3-36, Julian Harrell 3-31, Julian Durden 2-42, Teddy Blakeman 1-10, Cornelius Raye 1-7. California, Garry Brown 9-111, Kowan Scott 4-86, Paul Butler 4-81, Mark Thomas 1-45, Nick Grissom 1-3.