RELEASE DATE: 9/10/05
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

California (PA)           88        Mansfield       12

Ronnie Montgomery Sets New School Record for Kickoff Return Yards in Game – Brandon Field Hits School Record 73 yard Punt

Mansfield – Quarterback Joe Ruggiero completed 16-of-22 passes for 305 yards including touchdown passes of 52, 11, and 59 yards to lead California (PA) University to a 88-12 win over Mansfield University in a PSAC crossover game at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.

The 88 points set a school record for points in a game for California. It was also a school record for points given up by Mansfield.

Ruggiero passed for more than 200 yards in the first quarter alone as California took a 28-0 lead on a 52-yard TD catch by Antoine Bagwell, a 1-yard run by Brandon Lombardy, 8-yard run by Bagwell and 11-yard reception by Mark Huddleston.

Cal upped it’s lead to 34-0 less than a minute into the second quarter on a 80-yard punt return by Mark Huddleston before Mansfield got on the board when Tyrone Robinson caught a 5-yard TD pass from John Hengehold giving Cal a 34-6 advantage at the half.

Bagwell scored his third touchdown of the game on Cal’s first possession of the second half on a 59-yard pass from Ruggiero and added his fourth TD three minutes later on a 14-yard run. Brandon Lombardy scored on a 13-yard run less than a minute later and Brandon Jackson caught a 30-yard pass from Matt Humbert to put California up 62-6 going into the fourth quarter.

ReMaro Rush scored on runs  of 11,4,  before Mansfield Rodney Davis scored on a 37-yar pass from Bandon Hunt making the score 75-12.

Rush finished off the scoring with touchdown runs of 54 and 4- yards 54, and 4 yards in the final quarter.

California gained 757 yards in total offense with Rush running for 126 yards on 11 carries and Bagwell running for 115 yards on 13 carries. Bagwell also caught three passes for 110 yards.

John Hengehold completed 14-of-30 for 123 yards and a touchdown and Ronnie Montgomery set a school record with 10 kickoff returns for 266 yards. He was just two returns and 10 yards from tying the NCAA record in both categories.

Brandon Fields punted nine times for 405 yards including a school record boot of 73 yards in the third quarter. Poohbear McNeal was held to 37-yards on 17 carries while Brandon Hunt completed 7-of-11 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman Rodney Davis caught a team high six passes for 56 yards with Tryone Robinson pulling down four passes for 21 yards and Ozzie Mathis three for 48 yards.

Ryan Kassak had a game high 12 tackles while Ronnie Montgomery adding nine.

California improves to 2-0 overall while Mansfield falls to 0-2.