Six Poet turnovers resulted in 28 points for the visiting
University of Redlands as Whittier College football fell 53-14 to
the Bulldogs at Homecoming on October 18. It is the fourth
straight loss for the Poets, who are now 1-4 overall and 0-2 in
SCIAC play.
Redlands got the scoring started with 4:37 left in the first
quarter. They orchestrated a 12-play, 65-yard drive that
ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from Steve Smith to Brenden
Barkate (7-0, UR).
Redlands intercepted their second pass of the game three minutes
later and capitalized on the resulting drive. Zach Schafer
ran 16 yards to pay dirt to put the Bulldogs up by two scores
(14-0, UR). Schafer gained 92 yards on 15 carries in the
game.
The Poets answered late in the second quarter with a fumble
recovery from Steffen Santos '09. The offense then took the
ball 47 yards on seven plays leading to a 16-yard touchdown pass
from Taylor Fallon '12 to Shawn Briggs '09. Just over a
minute later, the Bulldogs responded with another Smith-to-Barkate
touchdown pass, this time from 16 yards out. After a failed
two-point conversion, the teams headed into halftime with the score
20-7.
After Whittier went three-and-out to open the second half, Redlands
extended their lead with a 5-play, 60-yard drive. Smith threw
his third touchdown pass of the day, finding Mike Davis from 12
yards out. The Poets responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive
capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Fallon to Anthony Pomponio
'09 (26-14). Pomponio was held under 100 yards rushing for
the first time this season, but contributed with three receptions
for 32 yards.
Redlands quickly squashed any attempt at a Poet comeback on the
next two possessions.
First, Jeff Stewart ended a 57-yard drive with a four-yard
touchdown run at the 4:32 mark. The two-point conversion
failed. On the opening play of the ensuing Poet drive, Conor
Drake intercepted a pass and went 24 yards to the house.
Drake did the same thing just over two minutes later, making
another interception and scampering 24 yards into the end zone
(46-14, UR).
The final touchdown of the game came in familiar fashion for the
Bulldogs with 11:40 remaining in the game. Chris Yeakey
picked off a Mike Hachadorian '12 pass and returned it 46 yards to
cap a 53-14 victory for Redlands.
For the Poets, Fallon went 15-for-27 for 137 yards and two
touchdowns, but threw five interceptions. Josh Ollison '11
caught five passes for 44 yards and Shawn Briggs '09 had four
receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Poets were led by Sean MacNeil '09 with 5.5
tackles. Santos recorded a sack and a fumble recovery.
Brandon Johnson '10 also had a sack. TC Collymore '10 and
Travis Driskoll '12 each had interceptions.
The Poets are on the road for their next contest when they take on
Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00pm.
