REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Football team saw their quest for the AQ to the NCAA Division III National Championships and the opportunity to play for the 2023 SCIAC Championship Title fall short Saturday night as they would drop a 20-7 contest to Pomona-Pitzer on the road.
The Bulldogs move to 5-4, 4-3 SCIAC, while Pomona-Pitzer improves to 6-3, 5-2 SCIAC, claiming the Sun Division Title. The Sagehens will now face Chapman University next weekend for the 2023 SCIAC Championship Title and the AQ.
After a scoreless opening 1st Quarter, Pomona-Pitzer found the offense in the 2nd Quarter putting up 20 points to go into the break up 20-0. In the second half Redlands' defensive unit held the Sagehens scoreless giving the UR offense opportunities to get back into the contest, but they managed only seven points in the 3rd Quarter.
Redlands gathered 248 Yards of Total Offense with 84 Rushing and 164 Passing. Jordan Ford (Compton, CA) finished 9-for-29 for 157 Yards and a touchdown. Tony Williams Jr. (Indio, CA) had 18 carries for 73 yards averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Seth Weller (Olympia, WA) caught three balls for 72 yards and a score, with a long being for 32 yards. Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA) added two catches for 42 yards and Cal Breen (Bainbridge Island, WA) hauled in two catches for 23 yards.
Defensively the Bulldogs totaled 65 tackles, four quarterback hits, two pass break-ups with 9 TFL's for a combined 34-yards lost. They also had two sacks, two interceptions from Scott Tinsley (Capitola, CA) and Laurence Williams (Corona, CA), a fumble recovery from Dre Owens (Pico Rivera, CA) and blocked an extra point from Nathan Davis (Fontana, CA).
The Bulldogs received a short field on their second possession thanks to a fumble recovery by Owens. This set UR up on the PP40. They would take it down to the PP5, but that's where the drive would end as Ford would get stopped on a 4th and 2 turning the ball over on downs. The Sagehens would then travel 96-yards on 12-plays spanning 6:27 to put up seven points. Redlands was unlucky on their ensuing series as a 4th and 5 punt by Vicente Garcia (Fontana, CA) would get blocked and returned for a touchdown putting PP up 14-0 in just a span of 1:37.
After another three and out by the Bulldog offense PP would use a full field to put up more points before the half this time covering 75-yards on 15-plays taking 8:43 off the clock. Davis would get the block on the extra point but the Sagehens would still lead at the half.
Redlands was able to put up points on their first drive out of the half thanks to Aguon who returned a short punt 33-yards setting UR up at the PP19. After a run and a penalty Ford was able to connect with Weller from 32-yards out that cut the deficit to 13. But these would be the only points scored by the Maroon and Grey the rest of the way. They did get down to the PP22 in seven plays covering 44-yards, but an incompletion on 4th and 5 would turn the ball over on downs ending that threat. They then drove down to the PP12 on another drive using a 32-yard pass completion to Aguon, but again a 4th Down pass was broken up turning the ball over.
Tinsley and L. Williams finished with a combined 16 tackles and each recorded an interception. Kamdin Karmann (Riverside, CA) added another eight tackles and Jaeden Thorn (Seattle, WA) with another seven and a pair of quarterback hits.
Redlands will host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps next Saturday, November 11 at Ted Runner Stadium for the 3rd Place game occurring at 1:05pm. These two teams met once on the year with the Bulldogs falling 31-17 on the road.
