Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2021) – Sophomore linebacker Cade Ignacio (Long Beach, Calif. / St. Anthony) picked up the lone touchdown of the day for the Whittier College football team in its Senior Day clash with 2021 SCIAC Champion University of Redlands on Saturday afternoon.

The Poets had the Bulldogs pinned deep in their own territory following a change of possession. Junior Matt Buchanan (Los Banos, Calif. / Pacheco) brought the pressure to the opposing quarterback, bursting through the line unblocked to push the signal-caller backwards. The pressure forced a check down to the running back, however, the intended target couldn't get enough separation from Ignacio in time to turn the play into a positive gain. In fact, Ignacio caught the ball in the end zone, giving him and his teammates something to celebrate in the final home game of the season. Prior to the game, Whittier's 14 seniors were celebrated with each of their families in attendance.

Head Coach Mike Neale and the Poets found varying degrees of success throughout the game, having to contend with the conference's very best all-around team. Seven different players ran the football, with a fake punt from junior Sean Aldana (Los Angeles, Calif. / Salesian) serving as a highlight for the home team. The junior's run was the Poets' longest play from scrimmage of the day though a 21-yard gain from senior wide receiver Hakim Williams Jr. (Covina, Calif. / Covina) also stood out on the home team's highlight reel. Williams, along with fellow senior Moises Gonzalez (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Poly) each recorded three catches for at least 40 yards. Gonzalez, who set the program's career receptions mark last week at California Lutheran University, moved the record-setting total to 161 where it will remain for the foreseeable future. Additionally, Gonzalez and Williams will go down as one of Whittier's most prolific receiving duos with both players combining for nearly 300 catches for over 4,000 yards. 

Defensively, every-down players Andres Ruvalcaba (Chino, Calif. / Salesian) and Enrique Santana (Inglewood, Calif. / Salesian), who will both be seniors next season, were each able to finish the game with double-digit tackles. Linebacker Santana also forced and recovered a fumble for the Poets in the first quarter to tip the momentum the Poets' way. Although the Poets had a rough go of things in 2021, they managed to have standout moments in each game despite sporting the SCIAC's smallest roster in terms of both physical size and quantity of options. However, with the team armed with Division III's first known NIL deal and its status as the only Division III program within a 20-mile radius of Downtown Los Angeles, better days seem imminent for the Whittier football team.

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