Marauders strike first but Cal grinds out win

Saturday, September 12

Millersville, PA

12:00 PM

Millersville University

0-2

California (PA)

2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
California (PA)	7	13	10	10	40
Millersville	9	0	0	8	17

Marauders strike first but Cal grinds out win

9/12/2026 3:43:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Drew Folmar's home debut as Millersville's head football coach started with a bang as the Marauders raced to an early two-score lead, but visiting California (Pa.) slowly and methodically ground out a 40-17 win behind four touchdown passes from Eric Gibson and three touchdown catches from Kenny Lewis IV.

On the Marauders' first offensive snap, Tommy Hunsicker connected with Kyreek Bradshaw for a 34-yard completion. Millersville turned that into a field goal, and after the defense turned over Cal on downs, Hunsicker capped a 76-yard drive with an 18-yard connection to Nakhi Bullock. But that's when Lewis IV asserted himself. The wide receiver scored touchdowns of 16, 52 and 18 yards on the next three Cal possessions.

"We got those early scores, but we just couldn't sustain it," said Folmar. "They started wearing us down, and we couldn't stop the bleeding at the mid-point of the game."

The shifty Lewis finished with 99 of his 139 yards after the catch. Gibson completed 29 of 40 passes for 384 yards. The Cal ground game totaled 193 yards for 577 yards of total offense. This was a California team that produced 42 points in the first half of the season opener against Charleston and is coming off back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances.

"They chipped away," said Folmar. "We missed some tackles, but it wasn't for a lack of effort. We told them after the game that yes, we need to work on wrapping up and getting guys on the ground, and also on offense, not turning the ball over and putting the defense in a bad spot or giving up a big kick return that puts them in a bad spot. That's a good football team over there. We need to get some things corrected. That's our job as coaches, and the kids are going to keep working."

Millersville, however, still seemed within striking distance into the fourth quarter. Jayden Walters hauled in a 41-yard score from Millersville back-up QB Eddie Corkery to make it a two-score game once again with 8:13 to play. After the first quarter touchdown, Millersville totaled seven punts and an interception in the next eight drives. The team's offensive response was hampered after losing Hunsicker late in the second quarter when he was hit after throwing a pass. He had started the game 7 of 10 for 99 yards and had scrambled for a timely third down conversion. Corkery, making his collegiate debut, completed 8 of 22 passes for 115 yards with an interception and touchdown.

"Your quarterback run is limited without Tommy," said Folmar. "The other guys, they are good quarterbacks, but that isn't a part of their game, and they have some things they do better, so we have to adapt and adjust. We prepare for that going into games, and that's part of football, preparing for anything that can happen throughout the course of a game. Eddie is not afraid. He's going to let it rip. We are trying to win the game, so we weren't going to line up and hand the ball off. He prepares, and he made some good throws. We needed to have some things go our way, but we need to make them go our way."

The Vulcans put the game out of the Marauders' reach on Da'sjon Cragette's TD run with 4:04 remaining.

Bryce Beutler led the Marauders' defense with 11 tackles. Max Hostetter intercepted a pass. It was also a big day for Millersville's freshmen. Amir Anderson recorded his first career sack and finished with two tackles for loss. Isaiah Ambush shared a sack with Tyler Hurst late in the game. Newcomer Jayden Walters hauled in four catches for a team-high 96 yards.

Despite the loss, it was a memorable day for Folmar, who last led the Marauders out tunnel when he was the starting quarterback in 2000.

"It was special to be back here," said Folmar. "The kids have worked hard since the day I got here, and this is all about the Marauder Pride. You walk through Pucillo today, and you see the mural of Coach Carpenter on the wall. You think back to the experience I had here, and that's why I'm back now. It shaped me in so many ways, and that's what we are trying to do for these kids. We want to do what coach did when he arrived. The program wasn't in the best place, but he kept chipping away and never lost sight of his standard and vision. That's what we are trying to do every day. At some point we are going to make him proud of what we've done. It's awesome being here. You have a moment in the middle of the game, thinking about all the times I played out there. But at the end of the day, it's a football game, and we are coaching up these kids who are playing their butts off."

Millersville's challenging early season schedule continues next week at home when it hosts Slippery Rock, which is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation.

"You want to win every football game, but our No. 1 objective is always to win the East, and we have three good opponents that are helping us prep," said Folmar. "I'm proud of the way the kids are competing to the end and laid it out there. We are going to get another chance against a great opponent next Saturday. They all matter, but when we line up for East play, we'll be better for it playing the teams that are on our schedule."