Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – In a matchup between the top two scoring offenses in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Whittier was unable to bounce back after four early turnovers that proved costly in their 62-38 loss to No. 8 Cal Lutheran University Saturday afternoon.
The loss snaps the Poets two game winning streak and drops them to 3-4, 2-3 SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran improves to 6-1, 5-0 SCIAC.
In 2011, Whittier was on the lopsided loss to Cal Lutheran 56-0 but this time around the outcome was different as Whittier held the advantage in almost every offensive category at halftime despite being down 35-24.
Cal Lutheran capitalized on several turnovers early in the contest extending their winning streak to 25 games within SCIAC play. Whittier and Cal Lutheran combined for 1,172 total yards of offense, including 834 through the air.
Whittier was without starting tackle Tony Jarjoura but saw the rest of the offensive line led by senior Patrick Sweigart create great pass protection for Chris Lopez and Steven Rivera. Lopez finished 12-18 for 193 yards and one touchdown before relinquishing the ball to Rivera in the second half who finished 10-18 for 190 yards and a score.
Three receivers eclipsed the 100 yard plateau including Dameron Fooks (160 Yards), Kimble Tillman (117 Yards), and Eric Rogers (183 Yards), while Anthony Walker led the rushing attack with 99 yards and three touchdowns.
The Kingsmen scored 28 points off of turnovers, converting four takeaways into four quick touchdowns to take an early lead. CLU held leads 21-0 and 28-10 behind Romello Goodman who rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter, while Rogers caught two touchdown passes in the second.
But once Whittier kept possession of the ball, the Poets were able to burn the CLU defense for big plays to mount a comeback. Tillman sparked this comeback hauling in two long receptions that set up two touchdowns from Walker in the second quarter that narrowed the Kingsmen advantage to 35-24 at halftime.
In the first half, Whittier combined for 346 yards, a mark that CLU usually gives up in one game. CLU opened up the second half with a 24 yard touchdown reception to Alix Moise that extended the Cal Lutheran lead to 42-24.
On CLU's next possession, Goodman was stripped by Tyquion Ballard, which led to a one yard touchdown run from Walker, due in large part to a 42 yard reception by Fooks that brought the Poets down to the CLU one yard line. From there they punched it in to again pull within eleven.
The Poets had an opportunity on the next Cal Lutheran series to get the ball back and cut into the lead when the Kingsmen were faced with a 3rd and long situation, but quarterback Zach Shultis was able to maneuver around in the pocket and escape would be tacklers finding Matt O'Brien in the end zone for a 16 yard scoring strike that moved the score to 49-31.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Tillman struck again tip toeing down the sideline for a 28 yard touchdown reception that pulled the Poets within 52-38 but on CLU's ensuing possession, Shultis found Pablo Torres for a five yard touchdown. This would give Cal Lutheran the cushion they would need as David Sandler would connect on a 26 yard field goal helping the Kingsmen come away with the victory.
Whittier finished with 534 yards of total offense (392 Passing; 142 Rushing), while Cal Lutheran finished with 638 (442 Passing; 196 Rushing).
On defense, Whittier was led by Charles Scicli who finished with a team high 14 tackles (9 Solo, 5 Assist) to go with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Ballard was also a big component to the defensive unit finishing with 12 tackles (7 Solo, 5 Assist), while forcing a fumble and recovering one as well.
Whittier hits the road next Saturday, November 3 when they travel to Occidental College to take on the Tigers for the annual "Battle of the Shoes" rivalry with kickoff set for 7:00pm.
