THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - For the ninth consecutive game Whittier couldn't figure out Cal Lutheran University. The Kingsmen jumped out to a 21-point halftime lead and rolled to a 45-14 win in the CLU's and WC's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Mt. Clef Stadium.

The Poets (1-2, 0-1 SCIAC) had difficulty moving the football all game long as they managed only 160 yards of offense to Cal Lutheran's 419. CLU averaged 6.7 years per play while Whittier was held to just 3.0 per play.

The game was tied at seven through the first quarter but the Kingsmen (2-1, 1-0 SCIAC) exploded for 21 second quarter points. Rian Younker returned an interception seven yards to make the score 14-7 and Jericho Toilolo tossed two touchdown passes in the final two minutes to give CLU a 28-7 lead at the break.

Brian Stuart capped a 12-play, 71-yard, drive that ate up 6:35 with a two-yard touchdown run to extend Cal Lutheran's lead to 35-7 with 8:17 to play in the third quarter.

Oreese Hoyes ended the Poets' scoring drought on the ensuing kickoff as he returned it 93 yards for his first score of the season. His touchdown cut the lead to 21 points but that would be as close as Whittier would get.

CLU tacked on 10-points over the final 23 minutes en route to the 31-point win.

Whittier was held to just 74 yards rushing and 86 yards through the air. Alesana Sausau was 7-of-17 for 63 yards with two interceptions and Rodrigo Muratalla led the effort on the ground with 41 yards.

Defensively the Poets were led by Brandon Epstein who totaled a game-high 13 tackles which includes one for a loss. Jared Cato chipped in with a pass breakup and eight total tackles and Brandon Johnson had a game-high seven solo tackles.

Whittier returns to action next Saturday evening as they travel to Orange, Calif., to face Chapman University at 7 pm.