Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – "The Shoes" will remain with Occidental College following a 56-38 loss Saturday evening at Jack Kemp Stadium.

Whittier extends their losing skid to seven in a row and are now 0-7, 0-5 SCIAC.

The Poets put together their best offensive outpouring all season totaling 38 points and a game and season high 585 yards of total offense, which included 203 Passing and 382 Rushing).

Five rushing touchdowns were scored on the evening by the Purple & Gold led by freshman quarterback Miguel Avina (Indio, Calif.) who had two.  Avina was also 8-16 passing for 74 yards.

Oxy got the scoring started on their first possession with a Bryan Scott passing touchdown to Gittelman-Eg.  The Poets would answer on their ensuing series going 12-plays and 65 yards in 6:19 capped off with a three yard score from Joey Willm (Arcadia, Calif.).  But on the ensuing kickoff Oxy struck again, this time from Cordell Harris who would take the ball 96 yards to the endzone that put Oxy back in front.

Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) connected on a 35 yard field goal that ended a short series of 49-yards, which included a huge 34 yard carry from Drew Lewis (Turlock, Calif.), who had his breakout game of his career totaling 105 yards on 10 carries and a score.

Occidental though again answered on special teams, taking the very next kickoff to the house as Rom-Toribio would go 85-yards that put the Tigers in front 20-10.

But the Purple & Gold didn't go away quietly as they would bounce back strong with two rushing touchdowns from Avina.  He capped off an 11-play drive with a one-yard touchdown and immediately following an onside kick recovery, he would then take it in from 14 yards out that changed the momentum heading into the half. 

The Tigers came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders scoring three touchdowns that moved the score to 49-24.  Lewis tried to keep the Poets in striking distance adding a three-yard score that ended the third, but that wouldn't be enough despite Miguel Redmond (San Jose, Calif.) adding another rushing touchdown in the fourth.

Redmond finished the game with his career high of 164 yards on 25 carries.  Willm also registered 71 yards, while Avina had 49. 

Brandon Wolford (Lakewood, Calif.) led the receiving core with four catches for 57 yards, while Bryson Sanders (Manteca, Calif.) finished with five catches and 51 yards.

Michael Campbell (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) got the start under center and was 10-18 passing for 129 yards.

Lorenzo Mena (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Isaiah Guerrero (Riverside, Calif.) finished with six tackles apiece that led the defensive unit, while Malachi Allen (Pico Rivera, Calif.) totaled five.          

Battle for the Shoes Rivalry: As the legend has it, members of the Occidental football team stole Whittier running back Myron Claxton's cleats on the Thursday before the meeting between the teams in 1939. Claxton played in his work boots and led Whittier to a 36-0 win. After the game he went over to the Oxy sidelines and reclaimed his shoes. A few years later the Shoes were bronzed into a trophy and one of the quirkiest rivalries in college football was born. 

It is often featured on the popular show College Gameday.

Whittier has two home games remaining on their schedule.  The first being the University of Redlands this Saturday, November 5 beginning at 1:00pm.