SLIPPERY ROCK — The third quarter did not end the game. But it decided it.

Slippery Rock University scored three touchdowns while limiting California (Pa.) to four net yards in that period Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium in securing a 42-21 homecoming football victory over the Vulcans.

“This was the best game our defense has played all season,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We shut them down, got them off the field.”

The Rock (8-0, 5-0) can clinch the PSAC West title with a win at home against Clarion this Saturday.

SRU had a 14-13 lead at halftime, immediately answering deficits of 6-0 and 13-7. Brayden Long tossed a 49-yard touchdown strike to Logan Ramper to help The Rock take a 7-6 lead in the first quarter. Chris D’Or capped a 78-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring run with 3:15 left in the half.

Both touchdowns were on possessions that followed a pair of Davis Black 1-yard scoring runs for California (5-2, 4-1).

“It was huge getting those points back right away,” Long said. “Football is a game of momentum. We had to snatch that back.”

But SRU drove inside California’s 15 on two other possessions in the first half, only to come up empty. Kevin Roberts had a 25-yard field goal attempt blocked and Long was sacked as time expired in the second quarter.

“Our guys were mad,” Lutz said of halftime. “We left a lot of points on the field in the first half and they knew it. Our defense was holding us in. But we came out firing in that third quarter.”

And how.

SRU ran a fake punt for a 17-yard gain on the first possession of the second half. The Rock was able to punt and pin the Vulcans inside their own 10 as a result. A short punt resulted in a Rock possession at the Cal 38. Five plays later, Long scored on a quarterback sneak.

Later in the quarter, Jalen Dangerfield stepped in front of a Black pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown and a 28-13 SRU lead. The play marked The Rock’s first defensive touchdown since 2021.

“That was the one that got us,” California coach Gary Dunn said. “It turned the game. We had four turnovers and went 3 of 14 on third down. You’re not going to beat a good football team with numbers like that. And we couldn’t get field position in the third quarter when we had the wind.”

Dangerfield, a defensive back turned linebacker, credited the coaches for setting up that play.

“I trust what our coaches tell us. They know what they’re doing,” he said. “I was supposed to drop back into coverage on that play and the ball was thrown right to me.”

Josh Stokes and Savion Harrison also secured interceptions for The Rock. Eddie Faulkner had two quarterback sacks and Cottrell Hatchett contributed 10 tackles and a sack.

“Our defensive coaches came up with different blitz schemes and mixed them up well,” Lutz said. “We got to him (Black). We got constant pressure and that resulted in some of those interceptions.”

Isaiah Edwards scored on a 35-yard run late in the third quarter and Khalid Dorsey scored on a 63-yard burst early in the fourth, giving SRU a 42-13 lead and ending the competitive portion of the game.

“I don’t like the way we came out in the third quarter,” Dunn said. “We let it get away from us.”

SRU had a 532 to 226 edge in total yards. Dorsey rushed for 100 yards, D’Or for 95, and Long threw for 299 yards. Black completed only seven of 22 passes for 102 yards.

Notes: SRU is 8-0 for only the fourth time in program history. ... The Rock won its sixth straight game against California and its ninth consecutive homecoming against the Vulcans. ... SRU is 52-6 in its last 58 home games. ... Stokes has five interceptions on the season. ... Seneca Valley graduate Josh Miller had three assisted tackles and half a QB sack for California.

California (Pa.) 6 7 0 8 — 21

Slippery Rock 7 7 21 7 — 42

FIrst Quarter

CAL — Davis Black 1 run (kick failed), 5:50

SRU — Logan Ramper 49 pass from Brayden Long (Kevin Roberts kick), 4:55

Second Quarter

CAL — Black 1 run (Anthony Beitko kick), 6:26

SRU — Chris D’Or 6 run (Roberts kick), 3:25

Third Quarter

SRU — Brayden Long 1 run (Roberts kick), 9:27

SRU — Jalen Dangerfield 23 interception return (Roberts kick), 6:06

SRU — Isaiah Edwards 35 run (Roberts kick), 1:53

Fourth Quarter

SRU — Khalid Dorsey 63 run (Roberts kick), 14:00

CAL — Black 4 run (Demonte Martin pass from Black), 5:43

Individual Statistics

Rushing: California, Eric McKan III 18-99, Davis Black 13-9, Omari Hopkins 2-9, Bobby Boyd Jr. 3-7. SRU, Khalid Dorsey 8-100, Chris D’Or 11-95, Isaiah Edwards 3-39, Reis Wtkins 1-17, TEAM 2-(-2), Brayden Long 4-(-16).

Passing: California, Davis Black 7-22-103-3. SRU, Brayden Long 21-35-299-0.

Receiving: California, Eric Willis III 3-16, Omari Hopkins 2-68, Jack Colecchi 1-11, Demonte Martin 1-7. SRU, Cohen Russell 6-98, Kyle Sheets 5-50, Chris D’Or 4-44, Logan Ramper 3-56, Kanm Kruzelyak 3-51.