LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Football team (3-5, 3-3 SCIAC) used the ground game and new quarterback Will Reid (Portland, OR) to beat the University of La Verne, 31-21, Saturday afternoon, grabbing the season series over the Leopards.
After an interception by Cole Smith (Gaston, OR) on the first possession of the game, the Bulldogs only needed to go 17-yards, which they did in five plays for a touchdown from Isaiah Alvarado (Coachella, CA) scoring from a yard out.
With 5:11 on the clock in the first, Redlands' offense again got great field position thanks to another interception, this time from Matt Lising (San Diego, CA).
The three plays after the takeaway included a five yard completion from Jayden Mckey (Tracy, CA) to Scott Blankenship Jr. (Long Beach, CA), a two-yard rush for Alvarado, and then a 20-yard rushing touchdown for Alvarado as it was 14-0 Bulldogs inside the first 12 minutes.
Despite getting into Leopard territory twice in the second quarter, the offense was not able finish with any points as they went into the break up seven, 14-7.
With the opening possession of the second half, the U of R offense started at the La Verne 49 after a 30-yard Cal Breen (Bainbridge Island, WA) return with an additional 15 yards tacked on after a personal foul by the Leopards.
With the great field position, Taylor Bowie (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) ran for 14 yards followed by Reid connecting with Breen for 10 yards and Aidan Petruescu (La Habra, CA) finishing off the drive with a 39-yard field goal.
The very next possession saw La Verne respond to make it a three-point game, 17-14, with 5:06 left in the third quarter.
On the third total possession of the half the Bulldogs made it 24-14 as Reid found Evan Aguon (San Diego, CA) for a 61-yard touchdown catch and run. It was the longest reception for Aguon since a 53 yarder in September 2022 against Pomona-Pitzer.
Later in the quarter Reid made it 31-14 with 1:18 to play as he beat the defense with his legs, rushing for a 13-yard score.
La Verne kept things competitive in the fourth when they scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass that made it 31-21, but the Bulldog defense got two more stops to secure their second road win of the season.
After coming in for Mckey, Reid completed eight-of-13 passes for 110 yards with one touchdown and most importantly did not turn the ball over. On the ground Bowie led the rushing attack with 58 yards, Alvarado with 48, and Calel Olicia-Aramboles (Westfield, IN) another 30.
On defense Jaeden Thorn (Seattle, WA) finished with seven total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss (TFL), a sack, and a recovered a fumble. Lising had a pick, six tackles, and a TFL, Smith had four tackles and a pick, Laurence Williams (Corona, CA) had the third pick and added three tackles and Javier Sandoval (San Bernardino, CA), Anthony Hall (Seattle, WA), Jax Lee (Richland, WA), and Andrew Placido (Hayward, CA) also had TFL's.
Redlands combined for 309 yards of total offense with 182 rushing and 127 passing. The defensive unit held the Leos to just 33 yards rushing but did surrender 225 yards through the air. Petruescu led the special teams with seven points coming on a 39-yard field goal and four extra points. He also had six kickoffs for a combined 370 yards, averaging 61.7 yards per kick along with two touchbacks, and then provided a pair of punts for 73 yards, averaging 36.5 yards per punt.
The Bulldogs return to Ted Runner Stadium next Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. when they host Pomona-Pitzer on senior day.
