CALIFORNIA — A change in quarterback couldn't change Slippery Rock University's football fortunes against an upper echelon PSAC West opponent Saturday.

The Rock inserted running back and former North Hills High School quarterback Ryan Lehmeier behind center in its 31-10 loss to California (Pa.) at Adamson Stadium.

California has won 27 of its last 29 games over the past three seasons.

The Vulcans (8-1, 6-0) are ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division IIand Saturday's win clinched at least a tie for their second consecutive PSAC Westtitle. SRU(4-5, 2-4) suffered a 35-14 loss to 15th-ranked Edinboro the previous week.

"The way things were going, we felt having Ryan behind center was our best chance to move the football,"SRUcoach George Mihalik said.

Regular quarterback Brandon Frohnapple played three of the first four series Saturday, but SRU's offense failed to generate a first down.

The one series Lehmeier was at quarterback, he broke off an 80-yard run to set up Corey Manfull's 4-yard touchdown and give The Rock a 7-3 lead with three seconds left in the first quarter.

California put together touchdown drives on its next three possessions to grab a 24-7 advantage.

Daine Willians scored on runs of three and four yards for the Vulcans and Windell Brown broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown jaunt.

Still, a C.J. Bahr 28-yard field goal at the end of the half gave The Rock reason for optimism. But The Rock rarely had the ball in the third period.

A lengthy California scoring drive ended with Williams' third TD of the day — this one a 1-yard plunge — with 2:45 left in the period.

"We had the ball for three plays in the second half when nine minutes were left in the fourth quarter,"Mihalik said. "Our defense kept putting them in third-and-10, third-and-12, third-and-24 ... then we'd give up a big play. That was frustrating."

California converted 11 of 21 third downs, SRUjust one of 12. The Vulcans had a huge edge in time of possession, 40:41 to 19:19.

Williams had 25 carries for 99 yards for California. Lehmeier had 13 carries for 141 yards for SRU.

The Rock hosts Lock Haven at 1 p.m. this Saturday.

"We're still in the process of evaluating our quarterback position,"Mihalik said. "We want to win these last two games. We need to have a winning season."

California 31, SRU 10

Slippery Rock 7 3 0 0—10California 3 21 7 0—31SRU C7 First Downs 2330-191 Rushes-Yards 57-21256 Passing Yards 1747-19-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 16-28-0247 Total Yards 3861-1 Fumbles/Lost 1-04-40 Penalties-Yards 7-82

First QuarterC — Kevin Hagerman 20 field goal, :41SRU— Corey Manfull 4 run (C.J. Bahr kick), :03

Second QuarterC — Daine Williams 3 run (Hagerman kick), 12:00C — Williams 4 run (Hagerman kick), 6:04C — Windell Brown 41 run (Hagerman kick), 1:49SRU— Bahr 28 field goal, :05

Third QuarterC — Williams 1 run (Hagerman kick), 2:45

Individual Statistics

Passing: SRU, Brandon Frohnapple 1-3-7-0, Ryan Lehmeier 6-16-49-1. California, Kevin McCabe 16-28-174-0.

Rushing: SRU, Ryan Lehmeier 13-141, Corey Manfull 16-48, Brandon Frohnapple 1-2. California, Daine Williams 25-99, Brandon Lombardy 13-68, Windell Brown 5-63, Freddie Bacco 4-8, Team 3-(-6), Kevin McCabe 7-(-20).

Receiving: SRU, Josh Prigorac 3-21, Terry Grossetti 2-17, Jermale Cromerdie 1-10, Devin Goda 1-8. California, Marcel Pestano 5-54, Brandon Lombardy 3-35, AJJackson 3-29, Josh Gumbert 2-38, Chase DeCarlo 1-11, Cory Garver 1-6, Daine Williams 1-1.