WHITTIER, Calif. – A three-point first quarter gave way to a 34-point second period as Cal Lutheran handed Whittier a 59-0 loss Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Gavyn France led the Poets with 16 tackles, while Julian Mercado added 10 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Whittier's defense held Cal Lutheran to a field goal on its opening possession despite the Kingsmen reaching the one-yard line. Mercado delivered a six-yard sack before Ethan Silber broke up a third-down pass, forcing Cal Lutheran to settle for a 3-0 lead.
The Poets moved into Kingsmen territory on their first drive. James Mertz connected with Ashton Keyes for a 15-yard gain before scrambling for 13 yards on fourth-and-five to reach the Cal Lutheran 30-yard line. However, a tackle for loss and penalties stalled the drive.
Cal Lutheran carried its next drive into the second quarter and scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 10-0. Mertz found Alex Cobbs for a 16-yard completion on Whittier's ensuing possession, but the Poets were unable to sustain the drive.
The Kingsmen added four more touchdowns during the quarter, capitalizing on favorable field position and a Whittier fumble to build a 37-0 halftime advantage. Nigellus Irving connected with Brandon Solaita for 19 yards late in the half, but the drive ended with another punt.
Whittier produced another goal-line stand early in the third quarter. After Cal Lutheran reached the one-yard line, France and Ricky Catano stopped a rushing attempt for no gain before Diego Villanueva dropped the quarterback for an 11-yard sack. The Kingsmen ultimately settled for a field goal to make it 40-0.
A safety and a touchdown extended Cal Lutheran's advantage to 49-0. Wilder Bundra then connected with Cobbs for a 32-yard gain, moving Whittier to midfield late in the third quarter, but the possession ended with a punt early in the fourth.
Mercado stopped a third-down rushing attempt for a two-yard loss on the Kingsmen's next drive, forcing their first punt of the afternoon. Cal Lutheran later returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown to push the score to 56-0.
Donte Irving answered with a 47-yard kickoff return to the Kingsmen's 45-yard line. Julius Padilla added consecutive four-yard runs, and Bundra found Cobbs for seven yards as Whittier advanced to the Cal Lutheran 25. A sack pushed the Poets back, however, and an incomplete fourth-down pass ended the drive.
The Kingsmen added a late field goal to complete the scoring.
Cobbs finished with four receptions for 58 yards, while Solaita caught three passes for 20 yards. Also, Donte Irving totaled 98 yards on three kickoff returns.
Along with France and Mercado's big days defensively, Jordan Barber contributed eight tackles, as Mercado and Villanueva accounted for Whittier's two sacks.
Whittier travels to the University of La Verne on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a 1 p.m. SCIAC matchup. The contest will conclude the regular-season slate used to determine seeding for the Poets' final game of the season. Catch all the action on FloCollege.
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