CLAREMONT, Calif. – A battle between the top teams within their respective pods took place Saturday afternoon with the Bulldogs of the University of Redlands being edged 35-17 by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.  

Redlands moves to 4-3, 3-2 SCIAC dropping them into second place within the SUN pod trailing Pomona-Pitzer due to head-to-head despite having the same conference record.  Claremont-M-S improves to 6-1, 4-1 SCIAC and still lead atop the SURF Pod.

The Maroon and Grey put up 309 Yards of Total Offense with 153 Yards Passing and 156 Yards Rushing, averaging 4.7 Yards Per Rush.  The UR defensive unit also held the high-powered rushing attack of the Stags to just 102 Yards on the ground. 

Both teams put up ten points in the opening period to keep the game deadlocked.  It would be the middle two quarters that proved the difference as CMS would outscore the Maroon and Grey 21-0 over the next 30:00 minutes to lead 31-10.  Despite a score in the 4^th Quarter it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback for Redlands. 

An early interception thrown by Jack Wilson (Minneapolis, MN) on Redlands' opening possession led to a Stag field goal from 27-yards out.  UR was able to respond on their ensuing drive with Wilson connecting with Graig Padgett (Steilacoom, WA) for nine-yards on a 3^rd and 6 before finding Markelle Raymond (Fresno, CA) for a 42-yard touchdown reception.  On the next kickoff the Stags were setup in great field position as Kirby Baynes returned it 66-yards, which ended in a Justin Edwards seven-yard touchdown putting CMS back on top.   

The Bulldogs were able to put together a 13-play, 61-yard drive that covered 6:42 and included 11 carries, but they were only able to get three points out of it as Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA) would connect on a 23-yard field goal tying the game up. 

Claremont-M-S put together a lengthy drive with a minute left in the 1^st Quarter and carried that over into the 2^nd Quarter ending in an Edwards one-yard touchdown run moving the score to 17-10.  Two drives later CMS looked like they would put more points up as they got down to the UR 37, but a pass from Walter Kuhlenka would be picked off by Cole Smith (Gaston, OR) ending the threat.    

After a three and out by the Bulldogs CMS would come down and add to their lead only needing two plays to find the endzone with Kuhlenka connecting with Mason Cotton for 33-yards followed by Bryce DesJardin going for 35-yards ending in the score.  This would move the score to 24-10 at the break.   

Out of the half the Stags took the opening kickoff and marched 77-yards in 13-plays ending in a 13-yard touchdown run for Edwards.  These would be the only points put up by CMS the rest of the game as the UR defensive unit stood strong.  Ending the 3^rd Quarter the Bulldogs sustained another long drive that carried over into the 4^th Quarter.  Tony Williams Jr. (Indio, CA) broke out for a 22-yard run and Wilson connected with Kaleb Hatten (Modesto, CA) for 29-yards all leading to a 5-yard touchdown for Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA) cutting the CMS lead to 14.  Across the final 13:00 minutes the Redlands defense forced three Stag punts and picked up a turnover on downs, but the Maroon and Grey could not capitalize as they would be kept out of the endzone the rest of the way.         

Wilson finished 9-of-20 for 116 yards throwing for a pair of touchdowns, while Jordan Ford (Compton, CA) was 3-for-10 for another 37 yards, including four rushes for 19-yards.  Williams Jr. led the ground game carrying the ball 18 times for 101 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per rush with a long being for 22 yards.  He also caught three balls out of the backfield for another 36 yards, with a long being for 21 yards.     

Raymond had the longest reception for the game, which went for 42-yards ending in a Bulldog touchdown.  

Defensively Jacob Sega (Oceanside, CA) had a big game totaling double-digit tackles with 13 (5 Solo/8 Assisted) to go with 0.5 a TFL and a pass break-up.  Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) posted another nine tackles (5 Solo/ 4 Assisted), Luke Purcella (University Place, WA) with eight assisted tackles along with 0.5 a TFL, Dre Owens (Pico Rivera, CA) adding seven tackles (5 Solo / 2 Assisted) along with a TFL and Smith would haul in an interception to go with a pass break-up and a pair of tackles.            

Redlands returns home to Ted Runner Stadium next Saturday, October 28 for Senior Night when they take on the University of La Verne beginning at 7:00pm.