Box Score Photos by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Homecoming and Alumni Weekend was spoiled Saturday as the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University came in to Memorial Stadium and pulled off the 34-9 victory.
Whittier remains winless on the season at 0-6, 0-4 SCIAC.
The Poets got off to a slow start giving up 27 points in the first half and totaling -5 yards of total offense. CLU scored on all three possessions in the first quarter with rushing touchdowns from Isaac Seymour and Adam Friederichse and Friederichse finding CJ Pride for a 42 yard hookup.
In the second, the Kingsmen added another score this time from Campbell who rushed it in from ten yards out.
This put the Purple & Gold in a tough hole at the break. In the second half, the defensive unit stood strong holding the high powered Kingsmen offense to just seven points, while adding nine points themselves.
Whittier got the opening kick-off in the second half and put together a long drive of 13-plays for 68 yards. During the series, Miguel Avina (Indo, Calif.) found Miguel Redmond (San Jose, Calif.) in the flat who took it 14 yards before taking it himself a few players later for 12 yards. The Poets got the ball into the redzone and had 1st and Goal from the CLU 10 but couldn't get it in as Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) would come on to convert a 23 yard field goal.
Cal Lutheran would come down on their ensuing possession and would get another rushing touchdown but this time from Chris Beeson that moved the score to 34-3. They looked to add another grabbing 1st and Goal with 13:30 to play in the fourth after going 82 yards in 6:25 but they would get stopped on 4th and Goal from the three turning the ball over on downs.
Whittier would grab that momentum and run with it, literally, as they would rush it eight times out of the next nine plays covering 94 yards led by a combo attack from Drew Lewis (Turlock, Calif.) and Redmond. Lewis had runs of 22 and 16 yards, while Redmond connected on a 21 yard rush up the sideline. Lewis would then cap off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown.
The Poets finished with a mere 128 yards of total offense (39 Passing/89 Rushing). Avina finished with 34 yards passing going 4-9, while Lewis finished with six receptions for 60 yards. Redmond led the receiving core with one catch for 14 yards.
Defensively, Austin Brasher (El Segundo, Calif.) finished with 12 tackles (5 Solo, 7 Assisted) a breakup, a tack for a loss and a sack, while Nicholas Markarian (Chino Hills, Calif.) registered 11 tackles with a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss. Malachi Allen (Pico Rivera, Calif.) had a big game as well finishing with six tackles and had two sacks for a combined 13 yards lost.
The Poets travel this Saturday, October 29 as they take on Occidental College at 7:00pm in the annual "Shoes" Rivalry game, the longest standing Rivalry game in Division III West of the Mississippi.
