Virginia Union University battled to the final whistle in Saturday's NCAA Division II Playoff matchup, but a late rally came up just short as the Panthers fell 27–24 to California (PA) at Willie Lanier Field at Hovey Stadium.

After a difficult first quarter that saw the Panthers fall behind 14–0, VUU responded with resilience, outscoring the Vulcans 17–6 in the second quarter to cut the halftime deficit to just 20–17. Running back Curtis Allen powered the offense, rushing for 128 yards on 21 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown that ignited the Panthers' comeback.

Special teams provided one of the game's biggest highlights, as Zyaire Tart electrified the crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, bringing VUU within 27–24 with 9:41 remaining. The Panthers' defense then forced two consecutive punts, giving Union multiple opportunities to tie the game, but a late drive stalled at the Vulcans' 27-yard line with just over a minute to play.

California (PA) controlled the clock for much of the afternoon, holding a 36:46 to 22:07 edge in time of possession and running 71 offensive plays to VUU's 49. Still, the Panthers' defense produced several key stops, including sacks by Mesa Pennix and Lamumba Howard, and a team-high 12 tackles from Howard.

Offensively, RJ Rosales and Myles Derricott combined for 85 passing yards, with Derrick Pauling-Outlaw hauling in a 20-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Tart contributed 51 receiving yards as well as 149 kickoff return yards.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Dr. Alvin Parker praised his team's fight and highlighted Allen's performance.

"Hats off to California (PA). Those guys have a history of winning, but today's game is something for us to build on," Parker said. "We depend on Curtis Allen for that average yardage. He had about 6.1 yards per carry today, and his 128 yards came in only three quarters because he didn't touch the ball in the first quarter. If we could have come out of the gate a little better, then his numbers would have been even more impressive."

The loss ends Virginia Union's 2025 season at 9–3, marking the program's fourth straight NCAA Playoff appearance and continuing its tradition of postseason excellence.