Box Score Photos by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College football team held a 24-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter Saturday but it wouldn't be enough as the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University would rally to earn a 34-24 victory to open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
Kingsmen quarterback Nick Isham proved deadly both in the air and on the ground as he threw for 148 yards and a touchdown, while using his legs for 127 yards rushing and a score.
CLU would find the endzone on their opening drive with a 7-play 70-yard drive, which finished with Isham running it in from eight yards out. They would threaten again getting a 1st and Goal from the Whittier seven, but the Poet front seven would prove deadly as Christmas would fumble right at the goal line, being picked up by Gregorio Verdugo (San Diego, Calif.) in the endzone.
On the Poets ensuing drive, TJ Jordan (Orcutt, Calif.) would lead the offense eight plays for 74 yards, which included a 42 yard completion to Justin Vlahos (Bakersfield, Calif.) and a 22 yard rush from Erek Brown (San Dimas, Calif.). This would set up a 1st and Goal from the six but after three straight incompletions, WC would settle for a 23 yard field goal from Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) that cut the lead in half 6-3.
CLU would start off the second quarter putting together a 16-play 80-yard drive that covered 5:24, which ended in a one yard rushing touchdown from Ricky Johnson. Trailing 13-3, Jordan would again find Vlahos for a 37-yard strike down the sideline but again it would end in another field goal from Voss, this time being from 37 yards out.
On the next kickoff, Cal Lutheran would get great field position following a 62 yard return from Johnson that setup a 15 yard hookup from Isham to Andrew Worthley, which took just twenty seconds.
The Poets would find themselves in a hole 20-6 but would again call on Voss for a 32 yard field goal that capped off a 10-play 65-yard drive, which included another big reception from Vlahos, this time for 24 yards.
In the third, the Poets would hold the Kingsmen scoreless, while adding two scores themselves to get back into the contest. The first came from Marcell Blow (Lompoc, Calif.) who rushed it in from a yard out, which was setup thanks to a Steven Rivera (El Monte, Calif.) to Romell Smothers (Brea, Calif.) hookup good for 31 yards.
The second came at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Rivera found Smothers up the seam for a career high 65 yard touchdown reception that gave the Purple & Gold their first lead of the evening 24-20.
But with 7:39 remaining in the contest Cal Lutheran would mount their comeback led by Isham who broke off a huge 25 yard run from the CLU 31-yard line into Whittier territory. He again would carry the ball three more times during the drive, which included a clutch 11-yard run on third down, which set up a first down from the nine yard line.
From here the Kingsmen would punch it in from a yard out from Johnson giving them back the lead 27-24. Following a Whittier punt on their next possession, CLU would put together one final scoring drive and because of a roughing the passer penalty on 3rd and 7, the Kingsmen were able to sustain their drive en route to Jordan De Leon breaking off a 16-yard rush that put the game out of the reach for the Poets.
CLU held the edge on total yards 461-448 and outrushed the Poets 280-129. Whittier was 7-of-18 on third downs, while Cal Lutheran was 8-of-17.
Rivera despite being benched for the first quarter, came out strong throwing for 220 yards on 14-27 passing and a score. Brown rushed for 61 yards on 15 attempts and Vlahos totaled a career high in receptions and yards with nine receptions for 173 yards averaging 19.2 yards per catch.
Defensively, Trevor Phillips (La Habra, Calif.) and Sam Bettencourt (Downey, Calif.) led with tackles, finishing with 14 a piece. Phillips had a fumble recovery, while Kevin Tapia (Pasadena, Calif.) forced a fumble.
Whittier hits the road for their first road contest this Saturday, October 11 when they take on Occidental College beginning at 7:00pm in the "Shoes" Showdown, which is the longest standing rivalry game in all of Division III West of the Mississippi.
