Millersville, Pa. - Millersville had No. 5-ranked California Vulcans on the ropes Saturday at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium. Despite being down to the third-string quarterback, the Marauders had two fourth quarter chances to pull within one score thanks to a pick six by Brendan Sherman and a perfectly executed on-side kick. But near misses kept the Marauders from pulling off a monumental upset.

California quarterback Michael Keir entered Saturday's game with a PSAC-best 70.3 completion percentage, averaging 327 yards per game and seven touchdowns to one interception, but the Marauders frustrated the 2016 All-America quarterback into 15 of 31 passing, holding him to 164 yards while intercepting him twice. Jhet Janis thwarted a California drive just before the half, and Sherman cut Cal's lead to 26-13 with 9:42 left in game when he stepped in front of a Keir pass and took it 37 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time Keir had been intercepted more than once in a game since Oct. 22, 2016--a streak of 10 consecutive games.

Millersville fell behind 23-0 at the half but Cal's offense, which finished with a season-low 285 total yards, was helped by three first half interceptions, a lost fumble and a safety on a muffed punt attempt. Millersville out-gained Cal 103-43 in the third quarter but was limited to 15 total yards on 16 plays in the fourth.

Cal's second score came on a Keir to Jordan Dandridge eight-yard touchdown connection but was set up at the Millersville 18 with Millersville quarterback Collin Shank could not handle a snap, and it was recovered by Corey Bopp.

Shank was injured on a scramble the following drive. After driving deep into Cal territory, Shank's replacement, Stephen Flanagan, threw an interception on his first pass attempt, ending Millersville's drive at the Cal 28. The Ville defense quickly responded when Tommy Halloway sacked Keir and ripped the ball free. Tykeem Dixon recovered at the Cal 26. With Millersville facing a third-and-11, Flanagan hit Kevin Wiggins in the right corner of the end zone, but Wiggins was unable to tap his foot in bounds. Millersville's field goal try was blocked.

Two drives later, MIllersville punter Tyler Reiman dropped a snap in his own end zone and fell on it for a safety, putting Cal in front 16-0. Millersville drove into Cal territory once more the following drive but Shank was picked off by Brendan Edwards. While the Millersville's Jaleel Robinson and Tanner Dean forced and recovered a fumble at the Cal 25, Shank was intercepted on the first play of the drive, and Cal strung together a nine-play, 68-yard drive for a 23-0 lead with 1:34 left in the half. Despite the turnovers, Shank threw for 102 yards, including one 54-yard strike to Wiggins, before exiting late in the second.

Flanagan, who replaced Shank for good just before halftime, piloted an 11-play, 78-yard drive to start the third quarter. He scrambled in from 15 yards out for his first career TD. Flanagan completed 6 of 10 passes for 40 yards in the third and rushed for 35. The Marauders looked to close the gap again at the start of the fourth when a Janis punt return set up the offense at the Cal 39. But Cal's defense put the clamps on Millersville through the fourth. The Marauders managed just 15 yards on 16 plays in the final 15 minutes. Still, both offensive possessions entered into Cal territory. After Sherman's interception return cut Cal's lead to 23-13, kicker Tyler Reiman squibbed the kickoff up the center of the field and quickly fell on it to regain possession for the Marauders. Millersville pushed to the Cal 43 before facing a fourth-and-11. Flanagan lofted a deep pass to and sprinting Wiggins, who had separation between himself and two defenders, but Wiggins was unable to make the catch.

The Marauders had only one more chance to score, and the drive ended in three plays.

Millersville totaled 214 yards of offense, rushing for 47 on 31 carries. Shank and Flanagan combined to complete 15 of 32 passes for 167 yards--three more than California.

Sean Dugan led Millersville with nine tackles and one tackle for loss. Tommy Halloway recorded two sacks and forced a fumble, finishing with five tackles.

The schedule gets no easier for the Marauders on Sept. 23. After facing the reigning PSAC champs in California, the Marauders now travel to face the defending PSAC East champs in Kutztown. Kickoff is 6:05 p.m.