Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Whittier College Football team was held in check Saturday afternoon as they saw their winless streak extend to seven games as they drop to 0-7, 0-5 SCIAC.

Redlands (3-4, 3-2 SCIAC) used a 28-0 first quarter run, which proved too much to overcome for the Purple & Gold. 

Defensive back Aaron Mandell set the tone early with his pick-six on Whittier's third play from scrimmage. He snagged the misfired pass and ran it 31 yards to the house for the opening score.

Two Redlands possessions later, Kevin Russell orchestrated an efficient two-play, 71-yard drive into the end zone for the 14-0 lead.  After finding space for a 26-yard rush, he connected with junior wide receiver Yoshio Hasegawa on a 30-yard strike for the score.

The next Whittier drive ended the same as the first, with the Bulldogs hauling in an interception.  This time, Adam Goss nabbed it for a 34-yard return to the Poet 20-yard line. It did not take long for Redlands to capitalize, as an 18-yard carry from Cole Blackburn and a Whittier penalty set up Russell's four-yard jaunt into the end zone.

The Bulldogs finished out the opening quarter with another touchdown, as Russell led the team down field for 59 yards.  On first and 10 at the Poet 15-yard line, Russell hit Alex Andrighetto on a direct route over the middle for six points.

Early in the game the Poets were denied on their first seven drives of first downs.  The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter.  Russell found Blackburn for the Bulldogs' score with 4:18 remaining on the clock but saw Whittier put together a nine-play, 70 yard drive in 3:35 on their ensuing series.  The drive included a 13 yard rush by Josh Thomas (Compton, Calif.), a 13-yard pick-up for Leo Alvarez (Walnut, Calif.) and Justin Moore (Folsom, Calif.) finished things off with his feet scrambling out of the pocket and finding freshman Nick Krska (Happy Valley, OR) down the sideline for the 21-yard touchdown reception.

Bulldog kicker Sean Murray finished off the scoring in the first half with a school record, 54-yard field goal that moved the score to 38-7.  He exceeded the previous mark by four yards, which was set back in 2005 by Sean Conway.

Late in the third, Colin Spencer added to the Bulldogs' scoring when he returned an Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) punt 47 yards to the house and UR would add another two scores late from Christian Guzman who hauled in an 18-yard touchdown catch followed by an eight yard carry from Noah Magana that sealed the victory for the Bulldogs. 

The Poets were held to just 179 yards of total offense (43 Rushing/136 Passing), and were 3-of-19 on third down attempts.  Redlands racked up 532 yards of total offense (240 Passing/292 Rushing). 

Moore led the passing attack going 18-for-35 for 133 yards and a touchdown.  Thomas rushed eight times for 38 yards and Krska hauled in three catches for 49 yards with a long being of 22. 

Defensively, two Poets had doubled digit tackles.  Gregorio Verdugo (San Diego, Calif.) finished with 12 (six solo/six assisted), Diego Villasenor (Linda, Calif.) had 10 (5 solo/5 assisted), while Timothy Hillman (Calabasas, Calif.) collected nine (3 solo/six assisted), while forcing a fumble.

Tyquion Ballard (South Central, Calif.) had an all-around game finishing with five tackles (3 solo/2 assisted) that went with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a break-up.

Whittier returns home this Saturday, November 7 as they take part in their final home game of 2015 when they host Claremont-M-S on senior day beginning at 1:00pm.