Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPphotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands cast a cloud over Memorial Stadium Saturday as they rolled past the Whittier College Poets 40-3 en route to staying undefeated in SCIAC play.

With the loss the Poets drop to 2-5,  1-4 SCIAC, while Redlands improves to 5-2, 5-0 SCIAC.

The Bulldogs fired off 33 unanswered points through three quarters of play due in large part to great field position with more than half of their possessions beginning in Poet territory on the afternoon.

After a three and out on their first possession, Whittier would get the ball back in Bulldog territory following an interception by Josh Pride (Oakland, Calif.) but on the ensuing series Brandon Pickens (Gilroy, Calif.) would be sacked fumbling the ball giving it back to the maroon and grey.

UR would get on the scoreboard with a 43 yard field goal from Sean Murray, which would be the lone points scored in the first quarter.  Paul Avila would open the second quarter with an eight yard run that capped off a 13-play 78-yard drive before another Murray field goal moved the score to 13-0.

With 8:04 to play in the half Pickens would be picked off by Michael Tootle in Poet territory, but an ensuing 50 yard field goal by Murray would miss wide left giving the Poets the ball back with an opportunity to get on the scoreboard before the break. 

But three plays later Pickens would be picked off for the second straight time but this time by Aaron Mandell who returned it 62 yards for the score putting the Bulldogs in front 20-0 at halftime.

Out of the break, Redlands would open things up with a 41 yard return on the opening kickoff that setup a 19 yard hookup, Kevin Russell to Sam Angelo.   Murray would add another two field goals that moved the score to 33-0 but with 14:09 to play in the fourth Whittier would fall lucky as Sam Bettencourt (Downey, Calif.) would recover a Devin Appleton fumble deep in Redlands territory, which would end in a 33 yard field goal by Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.).

These would be the lone points scored by the Poets on the day as Redlands would add another score from James Ramirez that put the game out of reach.

Whittier combined for 186 yards of total offense (156 Passing/30 Rushing), while Redlands had 328 (189 Passing/139 Rushing).

TJ Jordan (Orcutt, Calif.) finished 8-16 for 121 yards and loved connecting with Justin Vlahos (Bakersfield, Calif.) who hauled in five receptions for 88 yards with a long being of 36.

Marcell Blow (Lompoc, Calif.) rushed for a season low 38 yards, while Kyle Kerlee (Denair, Calif.) averaged 38.8 yards per punt.

Defensively, Diego Villasenor (Linda, Calif.) finished with 10 tackles (5 Solo/5 Assisted), while Kevin Tapia (Pasadena, Calif.) and Gregorio Verdugo (San Diego, Calif.) had seven tackles a piece.  

Whittier hits the road next Saturday as they take on Claremont-M-S, Saturday, November 8 beginning at 1:00pm.