Penn West California’s Eric Willis III makes a diving reception against Kutztown during Saturday’s PSAC football championship game at Adamson Stadium. Willis had five catches for 89 yards in a 21-14 loss. The Vulcans host East Stroudsburg in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs this coming Saturday at 1 p.m.
Penn West California has earned a spot in the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
The Vulcans are glad to be back.
California’s last time in the NCAA playoffs was 2017.
The NCAA Division II football postseason brackets were revealed Sunday. Play begins this coming weekend.
The 17th-ranked Vulcans (8-2), winners of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s West Division, dropped a 21-14 decision Saturday to No. 3-ranked Kutztown in the PSAC championship game.
California will host East Stroudsburg (10-1) Saturday at Adamson Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division II Super Regional. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
California had won eight consecutive games after dropping its season-opener at Charleston, W.Va., 23-19. Charleston is 11-0. The Vulcans played five of their first six games on the road.
Cal was left out of the 2022 national playoffs despite a 10-1 record.
“This is why we play to compete for the conference championship and a chance to play in the national playoffs,” said Gary Dunn, California football coach. “This is what these guys work for year round.
“We knew we had a good group returning and these kids wanted to play for championships. Our losses were to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the region. I didn’t see how they could keep us out.”
Dunn led Cal to the NCAA playoffs in 2016 and 2017.
Cal won its biggest games of the season Oct. 19, knocking off nationally-ranked Slippery Rock.
The Vulcans, if victorious, would meet the winner of the Charleston-Ashland matchup.