Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College football team on a night where twenty seniors were recognized for playing in their final home game of their collegiate career got sent off with a 58-27 victory over the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer.
Whittier now runs their record to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in SCIAC play, while Pomona-Pitzer still seeks their first win of the season.
Senior Matt Evans had the game of his career as he took over the reins at quarterback for Chris Lopez who injured himself early in the game. With backup quarterback Kelly Maguire out due to injury it came down to Evans who had never played in a regular season contest before this evening.
Evans came out in the second half to lead a Poets surge throwing for 191 yards on 13-17 passing and four touchdowns to help the Poets outscore the Sagehens 34-7. He also had eight rushes for 27 yards.
The Poets got on the scoreboard first as Lopez led the Poets down the field on their first series capping off an eight play, 59 yard drive with a nine yard scoring strike to Richard Hoover that put the Poets up early 7-0.
On the ensuing drive, Pomona came down the field and Ferguson connected with Tannous for a 62 yard scoring strike and after a missed extra point the Sagehens trailed 7-6. Pomona then came down after a three and out by the Poets and took a 13-7 lead thanks to a one yard touchdown run by Ferguson.
But the Poets answered right back as Eric Cejudo capped off a 13 play, 64 yard drive with a 26 yard field goal that got the Poets within three. Sweeney, the Div. III National Rushing Leader then took over as he scored from 31 yards out that put the Sagehens up 20-10. Sweeney finished the game with 38 rushing attempts for 246 yards and one touchdown.
On the next Pomona series, Ferguson led the Sagehens deep into Whittier territory until he was picked off by Josh Callanan, which then led to a ground and pound rushing attack led by Rufus Osby who finished the game with twelve rushes for 107 yards and a touchdown and Donell Griffin Jr. who finished a four play 62 yard drive with a 14 yard touchdown run that got the Poets within three.
Griffin Jr. finished the day with 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.
The Whittier defense then forced a three and out for the Sagehens and Evans then drove the Poets down the field for eight plays for 56 yards capped off by a nine yard rushing touchdown for Osby that put the Poets up 24-20 going into the half.
Coming out of the break, the Whittier defense yet again forced a three and out thanks to senior Travis Driskell who finished with 10 tackles, three being for losses, while breaking up two passes.
That gave the Poets the ball after a 21 yard punt return by Alex Mitchell and on the first play from scrimmage Evans found Cardell Turner in the back of the end zone for a 41 yard scoring strike that put the Purple and Gold up 31-20.
On the ensuing series for Pomona-Pitzer junior Scott Dinov stripped Sweeney that was recovered by Richard Hopkins at the Pomona 41. The Poet offense then took over and went down the field in nine plays where Evans found Osby out in the flats for a 10 yard score that put the Poets up 38-20.
Whittier again forced another three and out for the Sagehens due to pressure being put on Ferguson by Jacob Former who finished the game with 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 assisted).
Whittier then took over and on a 2nd and 6, Evans connected with senior Oreese Hoyes down the seam for a 52 yard touchdown that put the Poets up 45-20.
Hoyes wasn't done there as he went on the next Whittier series and scored from 15 yards out to gather his second touchdown on the day finishing with three receptions for 79 yards. With his second score, he put the Poets up 52-20 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game.
But the Sagehens wouldn't go away as Tannous ran in his second touchdown of the game with just under three minutes to play. But Whittier wasn't done as Mitchell then took the ensuing kickoff and ran it back 76 yards for his first kickoff return touchdown that put the Poets up 58-27 and a lead they would not let slip away.
Not to be overlooked was the fantastic display from the offensive line, which included Patrick Sweigart, Filemon Bobadilla, Eric Colunga, Efrain Gonzalez, and Tyler Portman who created big holes for the Poet runners and created extensive protection allowing for Lopez and Evans to find open receivers.
Whittier returns to the field as they hit the road for their final two games against Redlands on Saturday, November 5 beginning at 7pm and then traveling to take on the Leopards of the University of La Verne on Saturday, November 12 beginning at 1pm.
