District College Football Preview for Saturday, November 26th

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, November 25, 2011 | 12:12 PM

After taking Thursday off for lots of turkey, College Preview is back with just one game this week, and it’s a good one which can be heard right here on the network as Cal U tries to get back to the NCAA Regional Finals and a possible National Championship:

NCAA Super Region 1 Semifinals:
#17 California (10-2) at # 3 Winston-Salem State (11-0)  1pm on WJPA 95.1-FM and the MSA Sports Network

The Vulcans are in the NCAA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Cal U defeated Elizabeth City State 44-0 at Adamson Stadium last Saturday. Running back Lamont Smith and wide receiver Thomas Mayo each scored three touchdowns in the win.

Junior quarterback Peter Lalich threw for 357 yards, his third 300 yard passing game of the season. Lalich is 253 for 400 on the season(63 percent) for 3,344 yards, he has 29 touchdown passes with just nine interceptions.

Mayo is the Vulcan leader in receptions with 73, for 1,230 yards and 16 touchdowns. Chedrick Cherry has 47 catches with five touchdowns.

Smith leads the Vulcans in rushing with 1,078 yards, he has scored five touchdowns. Jeff Knox has only 244 yards, but has a nose for the goal line, he has scored eight times this season.

The Vulcan defense forced four turnovers, posting their first shutout of the season. Rontez Miles was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, Miles has made 65 tackles, including six for loss. Miles also led the PSAC with five picks.

A victory would give Cal U 399 wins for their history, with a chance to pick up number 400 next week in the regional final.

Winston-Salem State received a bye last week as the region’s top seed. The Rams are in the post-season for the first time since 1991. The Rams spent three seasons in Division I FCS in the MEAC from 2007-09 before dropping back to Division II. 

The Rams defeated Elizabeth City State twice, 22-17 on the road in the season opener and two weeks ago in the CIAA championship game 38-18.

Nicholas Cooper is the main threat for the Rams, running for 1,462 yards and 17 touchdowns, he finished ninth in the country in rushing in D-II. Cooper has cracked the 100 yard mark in eight games this season. 

QB Kameron Smith has thrown for 2.036 yards on 156 of 267, he has 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

His main target is Tehven Brantley with 37 catches, seven for touchdowns. Domonique Fitagerald has five touchdown catches.

Senior DB Alvin Keaton was the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year with 85 tackles, 12 for loss and two inteceptions and forced fumbles.

This is the first ever meeting between the teams. The winner gets the winner of the Kutztown (11-1) at New Haven (10-1) game next Saturday, site to be determined. 
 

Tags: California