LA VERNE, Calif. - The Whittier College Poets
handed the University of La Verne Leopards their 6th
overall loss and 4th in SCIAC play 34-21 in front of a
raucous crowd of 576 as Whittier College controlled the afternoon
on both sides of the ball.
The Poets defense was stifling as they forced five turnovers,
which included three interceptions, two forced fumbles, four sacks
and held the Leopards scoreless in the 2nd
quarter. The defensive front was led by Eddie
Newton (9 tackles, 1 int.), Brandon
Johnson (6 tackles), Aaron Alonzo (3
tackles-2 for losses, forced fumble, 2 sacks) and Brett
Dunham and Chaisson Sears who each
recorded an interception.
The Poets (2-4, 1-3 SCIAC) also controlled the tempo of the game
on offense as they had possession of the ball for 36:42 compared to
the Leopards who had it for 23:18. The Poets struck first
only needing 30 seconds to get on the board as freshman quarterback
Kelly Maguire scored from 14 yards out at the
12:13 mark in the first quarter. In the second quarter
Ryan Muratalla capped an 8 play, 63 yard drive
with a 1-yard touchdown run of his own at the 12:38 mark.
But the big play that turned around the game and put the Poets
up 21-7 going into the half was a fake punt that turned into a Poet
touchdown run by Garrett Carr who scampered 53
yards into the end zone.
The Poets came out of the half determined to win their third
game of the season as they began the third quarter with an 80 yard
scoring strike from Maguire to Josh Ollison at the
13:10 mark to put the Poets up 28-7.
Despite a scoring strike by the Leopards to keep them in the
game, the Poets' Roman Ferreira connected on two
45 yard field goal attempts to close out the third quarter and put
the Poets up 34-14, a lead that the Poets would not relinquish.
Despite an early scoring strike for the Leopards in the fourth
quarter, the Poets defense stood strong as the Poets held on for a
34-21 win.
The Poets rushed 53 times for a total of 316 yards mostly behind
the duo attack of Muratalla and Maguire as they each rushed for 97
yards. Maguire was also 5-11 on passing attempts throwing for
122 yards with a touchdown.
The Poets return home on Saturday, November 7 to face the
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags with kick off being at 7:00pm.
