Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Two interceptions and three fumbles proved costly Saturday afternoon as the Poet football team dropped their second straight contest and their home opener 42-33 to Puget Sound.
With the loss the three game winning streak against the Loggers comes to a close for the Purple & Gold and it's the first time Puget sound has won a game since 2010 snapping a 20 game losing streak.
Whittier took the initial lead on their first drive as Anthony Walker (San Diego, Calif.) ran it in from two yards out to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive. The Loggers though responded with an 11-play drive that went 75 yards over the next 6:14. Braden Foley scampered in on third and goal from the three and things were all tied up.
In the second quarter, Puget Sound capitalized off of two Poet turnovers, the first coming on the first play from quarterback Steven Rivera (El monte, Calif.) who had the ball stripped in the backfield. Then with the game still tied, defensive back Connor Savage picked off an errant pass from Rivera, which was followed by a 12 play 71 one yard drive capped off with a touchdown from tight end Josh Gilbert giving the Loggers their first lead of the afternoon.
Midway through the second quarter, the Poets had a drive going deep into Logger territory thanks to a big 35 yard pickup from Rivera to Diante Jackson (Oakland, Calif.) down the seam. But four plays later, Nasser Abdelrasul jarred a ball loose from Jackson, which was again recovered by Puget Sound. On their ensuing possession Foley and Gilbert connected for a 35 yard gain before running back Kupono Park muscled his way in for the third consecutive touchdown of the half for the Loggers giving them a 21-7 lead into intermission.
On the first Poet drive out of the half, Chris Lopez (Glen Avon, Calif.) found Cody Mucino (Henderson, NV) in the back of the end zone from 13 yards out that pulled Whittier within seven. After the Poet defensive unit forced a three and out, Lopez was picked off by Wuesthoff, which was returned inside of the Poet 20 setting up a 19 yard pass play to Calma giving the Loggers a 28-14 lead.
But Whittier didn't go away and Lopez brought them back on their next two possessions. Two big completions of 14 and 18 yards to Makale Ruiz-McCobb (Pomona, Calif.), one of which was a one handed grab, along with a 14 yard pickup by Jackson set up a 36 yard field goal by Alex Jungsten (Orangevale, Calif.), which he drilled between the uprights keeping the Poets in striking distance after three quarters of play.
Opening up the fourth quarter PS was forced to punt giving the Poets good field position near midfield. After another big 15 yard pickup by Ruiz-McCobb, Lopez found Jackson on a fade route in the corner of the end zone and after a good two point conversion to David Lantow (San Francisco, Calif.), the Poets had pulled within three 28-25 with 11:38 to play.
After both teams swapped three and outs and time winding down the Poet defense again came up big forcing yet another Logger punt but this time from deep in their own territory. But when the Poets thought they would be receiving a ball at midfield with great field position, punter Jeff Walton boomed a 74 yard punt that pushed the Poets back inside of their own 20.
Whittier was forced into their fourth straight three and out and after a short 24 yard punt from Jungsten the Loggers sat in good field position themselves hoping to add to their lead. On 3rd and 8, Foley found Calma down the sideline for a 33 yard gain, and two plays later Park ran it in making it a two possession game.
On the ensuing kickoff the Poets ran into trouble once more fumbling for the third time allowing Puget Sound to add another touchdown to go up 42-25. The Poets however put together one final drive, thanks to an 18 yard run by Lopez, a big 33 yard catch from Ruiz-McCobb, and an 11 yard completion to Matt Asaro (San Diego, Calif.) capped off with a four yard scoring strike to Jackson which moved the score to 42-33.
But it wouldn't be enough to pull off the victory as the Loggers would hold on and run the clock out.
Whittier held an advantage in total yards 481-278, was 46% on 3rd down conversions, saw Lopez finish 18-26 for 206 yards and three touchdowns, while Jackson had a breakout game in his first season with the Purple & gold hauling in 87 yards to go with two touchdowns.
Ruiz-McCobb who is taking part in his first full season finished with five catches for 97 yards, while on the ground Walker broke the 100 yard barrier averaging 5.3 yards per carry with a long of 26.
On defense, Trevor Phillips (La Habra, Calif.) finished with a team high 10 tackles (1 solo, 9 assisted), while Nathan Poole (San Diego, Calif.) and Jacob Former (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each recorded a sack. Billy Thomas (Bellflower, Calif.) and Former also had nine tackles apiece.
Whittier returns to action as they hit the road Saturday, October 5 against Chapman University with kickoff set for 7:00pm.
