Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Football team was unable to reclaim the coveted "Shoes" back Saturday evening as they fell 62-15 to the Tigers of Occidental College at Memorial Stadium.
Whittier remains winless on the year at 0-4, 0-2 SCIAC and have now been outscored 195-45 by their opponents.
In front of a crowd of almost 3,000 strong the Purple & Gold had no answer for the Oxy duo of running back Kwame Do and quarterback Bryan Scott. Scott who leads the SCIAC Conference in almost category finished 24 of 27 for 280 yards, four passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Do surpassed the 3,000-yard mark for his career tacking on 205 yards rushing on 26 carries, while picking up two receiving touchdowns.
The Poets looked like they were in for a shootout with Oxy following their opening touchdown drive. Whittier answered with a 10-play 62 yard drive of their own, which included nine carries and a reception from Sam Bettencourt (Downey, Calif.). But on 1st and Goal, Justin Moore (Folsom, Calif.) would end up fumbling the ball into the endzone spoiling the Poets first opportunity.
After the Tigers would put up 28 points in the second quarter Whittier would finally find the endzone with under a minute to play thanks in large part to Romell Smothers (Brea, Calif.) who broke off a 64-yard kick-off return and Brandon Takata (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) who hauled in a 20-yard completion that set up 1st and 10 from the Tiger 15. Two plays later, Moore would scamper in from seven yards out that gave WC points right before the half.
But these would be the only points scored for the Purple & Gold until the 13:40 mark in the fourth when Moore would cap off a 12-play, 74-yard drive with a six yard touchdown run on 4th and Goal. He would find Benton Bray (Kingsburg, Calif.) for the two-point conversion but it wouldn't be enough as the Tigers Chris Rom-Toribio would break off an 84 yard run two possessions later right up the middle that put the finishing touches on the lopsided victory for Oxy.
Whittier was held to just 310 yards of total offense, 88 on the ground and 222 through the air. The Tigers totaled 660 yards of offense (372 rushing and 288 passing).
Moore was 10-of-23 for 122 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Senior Joseph Anderson (Cypress, Calif.) played quality reps as well going 8-for-20 for 100 yards.
Bettencourt led the rushing attack with 56 yards on 20 carries, while catching four passes for 53 yards. Smothers led the receivers with four catches for 78 yards averaging 19.5 yards per catch with a long of 40. He also returned kick-offs with five of them going for 182 yards averaging 36.4 yards per return.
Defensively, Austin Brasher (El Segundo, Calif.) was in double digits with 14 (6 solo/8 assisted) and was joined by Tyquion Ballard (South Central, Calif.) who had 12 (4 solo/8 assisted), and Diego Villasenor (Linda, Calif.) who had 11 (3 solo/8 assisted).
Whittier looks to get into the win column as they travel to the University of La Verne this Saturday, October 17 with kick-off set for 1:00pm.
History of the Shoes:
Since 1946 the Poets and Tigers have played for a pair of bronzed cleats, worn by 1940 Whittier graduate Myron Claxton, in a rivalry game that has grown to be called the
"Battle for the Shoes".
On the Thursday evening prior to the scheduled meeting of the teams in 1939, members of the Occidental football team stole the All-American running backs shoes from the locker room, forcing Claxton to play in his work boots. Even so, Claxton led the Poets to a 36-0 victory as they went on to win the SCIAC title that year.
Following the game Claxton, who was the final draft pick of the Giants in the 1940 NFL draft, went over to the Oxy sideline and retrieved his shoes, "bringing them home". Seven years later members of the Orthogonian Society, which Claxton was a member, had the shoes bronzed and the teams have played for the coveted "Shoes" trophy ever since.
All-Time Series Score:
Oxy holds leads the all-time series between the institutions 56-50. There have been two ties.
72nd Battle for the Shoes:
Oxy leads the rivalry series 37-35 since the teams have played for the coveted "Shoes."
