Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestphotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens spoiled Homecoming Saturday afternoon for the Poets as they prevailed 17-10 in overtime forcing Whittier to wait another week to achieve their first win of 2013.

After two interceptions, a fumble, and two missed field goals, Whittier still saw themselves in the game after four quarters of play but in OT after a touchdown grab by Brett Harper the Poets Anthony Walker (San Diego, Calif.) was stripped by Brett Lingle, which was recovered by Brian Friel helping the Sagehens secure their first victory of the season.

Whittier jumped out in front 10-0 in the first eight minutes of play but was held scoreless for the rest of the game.  The first drive for the Purple & Gold was 7 plays for 65 yards capped off with a one yard touchdown run by Walker.  On their next possession Whittier would sit in good field position at their own 40.  They would eventually make their way down to the PP18 in 12 plays but wound up coming away with just a 28 yard field goal from Alex Jungsten (Orangevale, Calif.). 

With 4:05 remaining in the quarter, Pomona-Pitzer would add their first points of the game from Alex Bresler who ran it in from two yards out capping off a 6 play, 54 yard drive pulling the Sagehens within three.

The Poets took the ball on their next possession with two minutes to play in the frame and made their way down to the PP31 but Jungsten ended up missing the 48 yard field goal wide that kept the game at 10-7.

The Sagehens came away with a big interception of TJ Jordan (Orcutt, Calif.) inside of the redzone midway through the second thwarting a Poet drive and then went the other way in 4:08 covering 53 yards in 9 plays that was finished by Michael Well and a 34 yard field goal that tied the game up at 10-10.  On the ensuing kickoff freshman Cody Mucino put the Poets in the driver seat to take a lead into the half after a long 44 yard return that placed WC at the PP 37.

But after just a two yard game during the series the Poets were forced to attempt a 37 yard field goal but for the second straight time Jungsten missed it wide.  There was however an offside penalty on the play by PP allowing Jungsten to rekick with no time on the clock but this time from 32 yards out but again it would be missed by keeping the game knotted up at 10 at the half.

The second half again saw a strong defensive stand by both teams with no points being added despite opportunities on both sides.  Well for Pomona-Pitzer had a field goal look from 36 yards out in the third quarter but missed it wide.  Whittier on their next series started from their own 20 and after two incomplete passes by Jordan he then threw his second interception of the day down the sideline in PP territory. 

PP wouldn't be able to capitalize on the turnover though after the Poets defensive unit forced a three and out.  Opening up the fourth the Poets grabbed their first take away of the game stopping Pomona-Pitzers longest drive, which was 8 plays for 53 yards. PP had the ball on the WC12 looking to go in front but junior defensive back Masson Blow (Sacramento, Calif.) came away with an interception in the end zone, which stopped the Sagehen threat.

In the final possession for Pomona-Pitzer in regulation Nick Alcantar (Northridge, Calif.) and Kyle Cook (La Mirada, Calif.) both forced fumbles but they were both fallen on by the Sagehens with the second coming as time expired. 

Pomona-Pitzer had the ball first in the extra session, starting at the Whittier 25-yard line. After a pass interference penalty gave the Sagehens a first down, a holding penalty backed them up to the 20-yard line, where they faced a 2nd-and-15. Alex Bresler, though, found Harper in the back of the end zone with a 20-yard touchdown pass to give the Sagehens its first lead of the game at 17-10.

The Sagehens still had to stop Whittier one last time though in order to get the win, as the Poets took over on the Sagehen 25-yard line trying to answer. Two straight rushes netted seven yards, but Lingle then stripped running back Walker of the ball, and Friel fell on it to end the game, sealing the win for PP.

Whittier totaled 337 yards of total offense with 224 of them being from the ground.  Pomona-Pitzer totaled 302 yards holding the advantage in the air with 168 yards. 

Walker rushed for a season and career high 209 yards on 37 attempts averaging 5.6 yard per carry.  Justin Vlahos (Bakersfield, Calif.) led the receiving core with two catches for 43 yards with a long being of 41 yards.

Trevor Phillips (La Habra, Calif.) and Billy Thomas (Bellflower, Calif.) each recorded seven tackles a piece and a tackle for a loss.  Thomas also had a sack for an eight yard loss.  The other two sacks came from Cook and Austin Ford (Arcadia, Calif.). 

Whittier remains at home this coming Saturday, October 26 when they host Claremont-M-S at 7:00pm.