Josh Scurlock '08 threw two touchdown passes,
including the game-winner, as Whittier College won 28-21 in
overtime against the University of Redlands on November
4. The Poets (2-6, 1-4 SCIAC) pick up their first conference
win against the second place Bulldogs (3-5, 3-2 SCIAC).
Scurlock completed 10 of 22 passes for 169 yards and two
touchdowns. His favorite target was Albert Williams
'08, who made four receptions for 80 yards and a
touchdown. Shawn Briggs '08 had two catches
for 48 yards and a touchdown. Briggs leads the Poets with 35
receptions this season. Nick Papageorge '08
also caught two passes for 35 yards. Anthony Pomponio
'09 and Anthony Cappelletti '09 combined
for 108 yards on the ground. Pomponio also scored a
touchdown. The Poets' offense did not turn the ball over in
the game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Arlo Castelo
'09 led the way with 12 tackles and a forced fumble.
Ruben Chavez '07 finished with seven
tackles. Tommy Terhune '07 and Chris
Tarver '08 each recovered a fumble and Dustin
Jones '07 intercepted a pass.
After forcing the Bulldogs to punt on the first drive of the game,
Scurlock orchestrated a ten-play, 72-yard drive capped off by a
Jacob Limon '08 one-yard touchdown run to give
Whittier the 7-0 lead. Redlands answered on their next
possession with a 14-yard touchdown run with 4:43 remaining in the
first stanza. They added one more touchdown with ten seconds
remaining in the quarter on a 74-yard punt return to take a 14-7
lead after one quarter. The Poets tied the score with 1:12
left in the half, when Scurlock found Williams in the end-zone for
an 11-yard touchdown strike. The pass completed another long
drive for Whittier, this one eight plays for 74 yards. The
score would remain 14-14 at the half.
Long touchdown drives continued to be a theme for the Poets in the
second half. With 7:42 left in the third, Pomponio ended an
eight-play, 73-yard drive with a 14 yard touchdown run. The
score remained 21-14 until Redlands found the end-zone with a
one-yard touchdown run with just 23 seconds left in
regulation. In overtime, Whittier started with the ball and
on their second play from scrimmage, Scurlock found Briggs for a
25-yard touchdown strike for the 28-21 lead. The Bulldogs had
one more chance to extend the game, but a fumble recovered by
Tarver sealed the victory for the Poets.
Whittier wraps up their season on November 11, when they travel to
conference leader Occidental College for a 7pm showdown.
