FOOTBALL: La Verne Drops League Opener To Redlands
Phi Van Le caught six passes for a game-high 78 yards against the Bulldogs (Roberto Bonilla photo)
The University of La Verne football squad dropped its SCIAC opener, falling 37-7 to nationally-ranked University of Redlands Saturday at Ortmayer Stadium.
The Bulldogs, ranked 17th in the National Football Coaches Association (NFCA) poll and 20th in the D3football Top 25 poll, scored the game's first 18 points and held the Leopards offense scoreless en route to their first road win of the season.
La Verne (0-3, 0-1 SCIAC) got its only score on defense when Rocky Keawekane intercepted Redlands quarterback Steve Smith at the Leopard 40-yard line and proceeded to slither through several would-be tacklers on his way to a 60-yard touchdown return and cut the deficit to 18-7 with 21 seconds left in the first half.
The Leopards however were unable build momemtum in the second half as seven possessions in the final 30 minutes resulted in four punts, one interception and two turnovers on downs.
Redlands (3-0, 1-0 SCIAC) held La Verne to 161 yards of total offense, yielding 31 yards on the ground. Conversely, the Bulldogs amassed 475 yards on offense, including 319 rushing yards. The tandem of Zach Schafer (175) and Jeff Stewart (130) each went over the 100-yard mark.
The Bulldogs got on the board with a 37-yard field from Joe MacMillian with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter to grab a 3-0 lead. Redlands would later take an 11-0 lead on a Smith touchdown pass to Tom Romaine followed by a two-point conversion with 2:51 remaining in the opening frame.
La Verne twice drove inside the Bulldog 20-yard line late in the second quarter but did not score as the Leopards missed a field goal and suffered an interception on its ensuing possession.
As in the first half, the Bulldogs opened scoring with a field goal as MacMillian connected on a 43-yarder to push the lead to 21-7. Schafer would get the next two scores, earning TD runs of 15 and 36 yards to extend the margin to 34-7 early in the fourth quarter. MacMillian would tack on another field goal - this time from 35-yards out - to close the scoring.
Leopard quarterback Anthony Andre passed 118 yards completing 14 of 28 attempts. Phi Van Le had 6 receptions for a game-high 78 yards in the defeat.
La Verne continues SCIAC action next Saturday to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Zinda Field. Kickoff is 7 pm.
