Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Football team had their senior day spoiled Saturday as the University of La Verne came away with a 41-14 victory at Memorial Stadium. 

For the second straight year the Purple & Gold have gone winless as they finish 2016 0-9, 0-7 SCIAC.

The Poets had no answer for the two headed ground attack by Dallas Parent (173 Rushing Yards/Touchdown) and Robert Fernandez (108 Rushing Yards). 

Whittier trailed 14-0 after the first quarter but managed to outscore the Leos 7-6 in the second getting a touchdown from Miguel Redmond (San Jose, Calif.) who brought it in from five yards out, which was setup by an impressive 89 yard punt return by Drew Lewis (Turlock, Calif.).

La Verne capitalized with touchdowns on back to back fumbles by the Poets inside of their own 30 that jump started the second half and would add a third later in the frame that moved the score to 41-7.  Whittier would again be setup for another touchdown by Lewis following a 28 yard punt return in the fourth quarter.  On the very next play, Matthew Valencia (Commerce, Calif.) found freshman Lucas Leppke (Santa Clarita, Calif.) up the seam who then took it 50 yards for his second score of the season.

Whittier totaled just 96 yards of total offense with season lows of -1 yard rushing and 97 yards passing.

Valencia was a perfect 5-5 on the day for 73 yards and a touchdown.  Michael Campbell (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) was 5-11 for 24 yards. 

Eric Voss (Temecula, Calif.) totaled eight punts on the day averaging 40.4 yards per punt with a long being of 61.

Lewis was big on special teams taking six kickoff returns for 137 yards averaging 22.8 yards per return, while averaging 33.8 yards per punt return. 

Defensively, Gregorio Verdugo (San Diego, Calif.) finished with a career high 17 tackles (6 Solo/11 Assisted), Isaiah Guerrero (Riverside, Calif.) registered 16 (6 Solo/10 Assisted), and Austin Brasher (El Segundo, Calif.) totaled 11 (3 Solo/8 Assisted).