WHITTIER, Calif. – The Poets hosted the CETYS Universidad Zorros from Tijuana, Mexico, at Wallace "Chief" Newman Memorial Field on Saturday night. Whittier picked up their first win, 56-20, since bringing the program back in 2026, marking the program's first victory since 2019.
Poets' quarterback
James Mertz commanded the offense with four touchdown passes, with
Marco Joseph hauling in two of them. One of Joseph's scores included a 76-yard connection with Mertz. The offense rushed for 310 total yards, with 182 of them coming from
Ashton Keyes. Keyes also found the end zone twice while averaging 26 yards per carry.
Whittier's defense was also dominant, recording two sacks and three interceptions, highlighted by a pick-six from
Ethan Silber.
The Poets started hot with a four-minute touchdown drive on the first possession of the game. Mertz found
Alex Cobbs, who lunged into the end zone to put Whittier up 7-0.
Preston Yado capped off the drive with the extra point.
After a missed field goal from the Zorros, the Poets got the ball right back. Mertz delivered a strike to a wide-open Joseph downfield to extend the Poets' lead to 14-0. Whittier regained possession due to the defense forcing a CETYS punt. Mertz capitalized with a 47-yard rushing score and put the Poets up by three scores.
The defense kept the pressure on and stonewalled the Zorros' offense on fourth down to get the ball back. Moments later, Keyes' first touchdown gave Whittier a 28-point lead on a 66-yard run. The Poets continued to pour it on with a defensive touchdown from Silber to take a 35-0 lead. CETYS responded with a touchdown of its own but muffed the hold on the extra point.
CETYS got the ball back with 1:30 left in the half and were knocking on the door before
Gavyn France came away with an interception. The Poets were not done, as Keyes ended the first half with a 76-yard touchdown run to put Whittier up 42-6.
In the middle of the third quarter, Mertz hit Joseph for a pitch-in-catch. Joseph did the rest and wound up in the end zone for his second score of the night, giving the Poets a 49-6 advantage. On Whittier's next drive, Mertz found
Eddie Don in the back of the end zone for six. Yado kicked his eighth PAT of the night to complete the scoring for the Poets.
The Zorros capped off the night with two more touchdowns, but it would not be enough as the Poets secured the 56-20 win.
Whittier College football will take on the Azusa Pacific Cougars on the road to kick off SCIAC play on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:00 P.M. Tune in to FloSports to catch all the action.
Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
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